Big crowds expected at 'Twilight' conclusion

MODESTO -- The love saga of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan comes to a conclusion Thursday as “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2" opens in movie theaters across the nation.

Locally, movie theaters are showing the final - presumably - chapter in the vampire love story starting at 10 p.m. The four-book, five-movie tale has captured the imagination of preteens and up, particularly women, since the the original "Twilight" introduced readers to vampire Edward Cullen and teenager Bella Swan.

In Los Angeles, people have been camping out all week in anticipation of Thursday night's premiere to see what Variety terms "Bella reborn as a bloodthirsty, butt-kicking vampire mama."

Locally, there haven't been any reports of tent cities but heavy crowds are expected.