The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Key Contrasts Between the Novel and the Film

The Big Picture

The movie adaptation of The Twilight Sage: Breaking Dawn reveals Edward's past in a different timeline from the book, providing a big piece of his history on screen.

Bella's college plans are not addressed in the movie, and significant alterations have been made to Renesmee's storyline to accommodate the character's CGI and aging. The movie diverges significantly from the book with a high-stakes battle scene and the demise of key characters, contrasting with the peaceful resolution depicted in the original story.

The epic conclusion of the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn, was divided into two films, as is often the case with major franchises, despite originally being one comprehensive book. Breaking Dawn showcases the highly anticipated union of Bella (portrayed by Kristen Stewart) and Edward (played by Robert Pattinson), as well as Bella's pregnancy and the subsequent birth of their daughter, Renesmee (portrayed by Mackenzie Foy). The story further delves into the resulting tensions between the Cullen family and the Volturi due to these events. Additionally, after incessantly pleading with Edward for four installments, Bella finally fulfills her desire to become a vampire. However, despite the advantage of two movies to encompass the numerous events within the book, there are still noteworthy changes from page to screen. Some alterations prove to be improvements, while others may be seen as drawbacks. Nevertheless, these changes collectively contribute to an exceptional conclusion to the cherished Saga.

Edward Finally Tells Bella About His Past

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While New Moon gave us a glimpse into Edward's transformation into a vampire, it is Breaking Dawn Part 1 that delves deeper into his early years as an immortal. In spite of Carlisle's teachings to control his instincts and adopt a vegetarian lifestyle (meaning he only feeds on animals), Edward confesses to Bella his temptation to taste human blood. His unique ability to read minds allowed him to hunt down individuals who had committed heinous crimes, satisfying his hunger for human blood by taking their lives.

Bella Plans to Go to College

The conversation depicted in the books actually occurs in Twilight, right before he brings her to meet his parents for the first time. However, in the movies, this is altered to take place in the initial part of Breaking Dawn, happening on the night before their wedding. While it may seem like an unusual timing, it is a significant moment in Edward's history, and we are finally able to witness it on screen.

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After high school, many choose to pursue higher education by attending college. Surprisingly, Book Bella shared this sentiment and actually wanted to experience college. In Eclipse, we discover that she was accepted into the University of Alaska. Ultimately, in Breaking Dawn, Bella decides to remain human for a year in order to attend Dartmouth. However, the movie version of Bella's story does not mention her college plans. If it were up to her, Edward would have transformed her into a vampire on their very first night of honeymoon. Understandably, this subplot was omitted, given its relatively minor relevance to the overall Saga. Nevertheless, it is still gratifying to observe Bella's curiosity about human experiences in the books.

Alice and Jacob Are Friends… Kinda

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Alice, portrayed by Ashley Greene, possesses one of the most potent abilities among the Cullen family— the power to foresee future events. Nonetheless, there are certain limitations to her gift. Specifically, she cannot perceive beings that she has not personally encountered, including shape-shifters and half-vampires. She is only capable of seeing humans and vampires. While this constraint sometimes hinders her, it oddly paves the way for an unexpected friendship depicted in the books. Due to her inability to see Renesmee, who is half-human and half-vampire, Alice experiences excruciating headaches whenever she is in close proximity to Bella. However, in an inexplicable twist, these headaches dissipate in the presence of Jacob, played by Taylor Lautner. Consequently, she finds solace and companionship by sticking by his side whenever he is around. Regrettably, this intriguing dynamic is not showcased in the movie, likely due to the electrifying culmination in the second installment that necessitates her all-encompassing vision. Nevertheless, it remains an intriguing addition to the narrative. In fact, any interaction between the Cullens and Jacob usually provides humorous moments, as both parties harbor a significant amount of disdain towards each other.

The Wolves versus The Cullen’s

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Concerned about Bella's state during her pregnancy, Jacob and the pack make a vow to eliminate the baby if Bella passes away. When, unfortunately, Bella appears to die during childbirth, Jacob discreetly signals to his pack members, indicating her demise. This gesture triggers their aggression, prompting a clash between the Cullens and the wolves. However, Jacob intervenes with astonishing news about his imprinting, instantly diffusing the tense situation. Contrary to the books, the movies capitalize on action-packed moments, filling in gaps and delivering thrilling fight sequences when appropriate. The buildup of tension throughout the film inevitably leads to this climactic confrontation.

Jacob’s Imprinting Is Still Weird

Speaking of Jacob’s imprinting, it becomes even more unsettling in the book. In the book, Jacob portrays his imprinting on Renesmee as a complete transformation of his entire life. His love for Bella, his family, and his loyalty to the pack all fade away, to be replaced by his love and loyalty to Renesmee. It's worth noting that Renesmee is not even an hour old at this point. Quite alarming! However, the movie takes a milder approach in depicting Jacob's imprinting, thankfully toning it down. After Bella's apparent demise, Jacob initially plans to kill the unsettling CGI-baby Renesmee himself. However, upon meeting her for the first time, he suddenly undergoes a shift and imprints on her, completely abandoning his murderous intentions. We catch a glimpse of an older and equally eerie CGI version of Renesmee as Jacob delivers a passionate speech about protecting her.

Bella Has an Audience When She Transforms

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Fans eagerly awaited vampire Bella's appearance in Breaking Dawn Part 2, especially after the unforgettable final shot of her red eyes opening just before the screen went black. In the movie, Edward is the only one present when Bella awakes after her transformation. However, in the book, Edward is joined by every single Cullen, except for Rosalie (Nikki Reed), who warmly welcomes Bella into her new immortal life, holding her hand.

Renesmee’s Growth Rate is Accelerated

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As previously mentioned, a significant number of scenes featuring Renesmee in the film utilize CGI to accurately depict her rapid growth rate. The outcome can be unsettling, but it appears that there were limited options available to portray this aspect. It is worth mentioning, however, that Renesmee's growth rate in the movie is much more accelerated compared to the book. In the film, she reaches the size of an average child, whereas in the book, she only grows to the size of a toddler by the end. This alteration was likely made due to Renesmee's crucial role in Breaking Dawn Part 2, particularly in relation to her ability to showcase visions. Accomplishing this with a toddler would have presented considerable challenges. Moreover, it would have been unsettling, and the film already possesses an abundance of such elements.

The Big Battle

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One of the most significant changes the movie made from the book, and perhaps the most impressive, was the epic battle scene towards the end. Even to this day, fans of the Saga vividly remember the shock and horror they felt when Carlisle was beheaded by Aro (Michael Sheen) during the intense struggle. This pivotal death served as a catalyst for an even larger conflict. In this battle, several major characters meet their demise, including Jasper (Jackson Rathbone), Jane (Dakota Fanning), Seth (Boo Boo Stewart), and Aro. Fortunately, it is later revealed that this terrifying sequence was merely a vision conceived by Alice. Its purpose was to show Aro the consequences of his actions if he does not abandon his plans.

The conclusion of the movie tells a completely different story compared to the book. Surprisingly, the situation remains rather peaceful, despite everyone being prepared for a fight. Renesmee stays on wolf-Jacob's back, ready to escape if necessary. However, just in the nick of time, Alice and Jasper step in and diffuse the tension with their witnesses. The mention of a deadly (yet impressive) battle is absent, as Aro recognizes the disadvantage caused by Bella's shield and backs off.

Aro Has a Bodyguard

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In Alice's depiction of the epic battle, Aro meets his demise at the hands of Bella and Edward. It's a moment that both shocks and satisfies, even if it is ultimately revealed to be a mere hypothetical scenario. However, in the original books, Aro is accompanied by a formidable bodyguard named Renata. Possessing the extraordinary vampire ability to create a protective shield, she serves as Aro's personal guardian, shielding him from any harm. Regrettably, the movie adaptation omits any mention or appearance of Renata, leaving Aro vulnerable to the potential assault from Bella and Edward in Alice's vision due to his lack of protection.

Alice’s Visions Are Limited

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In the books, it is explained that Alice can only see beings that she has encountered in her visions. This means that she is unable to see shape-shifters like Jacob or half-vampires like Renesmee. The movies generally follow this rule, but there are instances in Breaking Dawn where Alice shows Aro her vision, which includes Renesmee, Jacob, and the rest of the pack. Additionally, she is able to see the future of Jacob and Renesmee at the end of the movie. This could either mean that her powers have become stronger and she can see more, or it could simply be a deviation from the original story that we choose to overlook. Twilight has never been a franchise known for its seriousness, so it's not a big deal to suspend our disbelief when it comes to Alice's visions.