'Breaking Dawn': Twilight gets older, wiser, better

Summary:
This article was a review of Twighlight's newest movie in the saga, Breaking Dawn. The title basically conveys all of the major points brought up in the article: "Twighlight gets older, wiser, better."

Source:
This article was found on USA Today's website. This news source is dedicated to describing and depicting monumental events occurring in contemporary America, therefore the article regards the Twighlight series as an integral part of today's pop-culture whether they find it enjoyable or not.

Context/Exigence:
Causal: This article was written on November 11, just fifteen days before the premier of Breaking Dawn Part 1, therefore this article was prompted by the release of the blockbuster.

Purpose:
Throughout the piece, the article both compliments and undermines the quality of Breaking Dawn. The article starts with the phrase "Let's face it: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1 would be a blockbuster if the film were about Edward and Bella watching an apple rot." This asserts the author's viewpoint that whether or not the Twighlight series got better (according to critics) would not have an effect on the the enjoyment level of its crazed fans. This implies that Twighlight's first couple movies were not particularly substantive or entertaining (according to movie critics). However, the article does make a point of saying that it has gotten better---to what extent however is unknown.

Rhetorical Devices:
Jargon that appeals to their audience: "Twi-hard fans"
Extended Metaphor: Watching the series=watching an apple rot; watching the movie = watching the apple being plucked (which is much more entertaining); "forbidden fruit taken"
Communal Memory: Makes comparisons to Gods and Monsters, Nosferatu, and the bible (forbidden fruit taken)
Use of Reservation: "But none of this will be unwelcome news to fans, who waited in tents for tickets this week to see the forbidden fruit taken." States that despite the lack of substance, people who love Twighlight will likely enjoy the film anyway.

Effectiveness:
Though this article may be crystal clear to those who understand his references, I simply lack the experience and reading repetoire to understand some of the specifics of what the author is talking about. I haven't watched Gods and Monsters, nor have I watched Nosferatu, so these comparisons mean nothing to me. While I am constantly told of Twilight's childish/simplistic plot of two teens who can't be together, I have not actually sat through a full showing of the films and therefore have no knowledge of where the series began in terms of substance. This lack of knowledge and experience makes it nearly impossible for me to then know how much the saga has improved, or how good Breaking Dawn is. While I have taken the opinion that Breaking Dawn has improved I still do not know by how much or if it is even a good movie now (according to my standards).