When I first heard that Stephenie Meyer’s book, Breaking Dawn, was going to be made into two movies I wasn’t surprised. After all, the book is 754 pages. So what scenes made it into the movie: Breaking Dawn Part 1?
Warning, spoilers below!
Breaking Dawn Part 1: The Wedding Scene
Ah, Bella and Edward’s wedding. We’ve been looking forward to this scene since Twilight. The scene is lovely with lots of flowers and familiar faces. Bella, played by Kristen Stewart, looks her usual nervous and awkward self until she sees her future vampire husband, Edward, played by Robert Pattinson. Billy Burke, who plays Bella’s father, does a fantastic job looking torn between wanting to support his daughter while wrestling with his gut instinct that says marrying Edward will put Bella in danger.
During the wedding scenes I was thrilled to hear some of Carter Burwell’s music from the original Twilight movie. What a wonderful tie in to hear his beautiful music being played at the wedding and throughout the movie.
Breaking Dawn Part 1: The Wedding Reception
At the reception we see some wedding toasts made by Emmett, Jessica, Esme and Charlie which aren’t in the book. All of the toasts, with the exception of Esme’s, are of poor taste. Emmett makes a sexual innuendo, Jessica pouts about Edward not choosing her, and Charlie warns Edward that he owns a gun and knows how to use it. Who would say these things at a wedding?
Finally Jacob, played by Taylor Lautner, shows up and the film gets back on track. Bella and Jacob are so happy to see each other until Jacob finds out that Bella and Edward are planning a traditional honeymoon. Jacob gets upset and needs the wolf pack to stop him from hurting Bella and Edward.
Breaking Dawn Part 1: The Honeymoon
I was really curious how they were going to shoot the honeymoon scene and still keep their PG-13 rating. No worries, they don’t show anything. I have seen racier television commercials than the scenes in this movie. Most of the honeymoon scenes show the couple playing chess. Major snooze.
Breaking Dawn Part 1: Monster or Baby?
Surprise! Bella’s pregnant and the fetus is growing at an alarming rate. Everyone except Bella and Rosalie want to get rid of the ‟monster” to save Bella.
Breaking Dawn Part 1: Jacob becomes Alpha
Sam decides to get rid of the monster – which means killing Bella too. This scene felt like a combination of Disney’s Lion King and Star Wars. The big black wolf’s booming voice reminded me of Darth Vader’s voice, while the other wolves ‟talking” made me think I was watching a scene from the Lion King. I realize this scene is a hard one to film, but it seemed a little too cheesy watching the wolves talking to each other.
Breaking Dawn Part 1: Drinking blood
Bella continues to get weaker and weaker until they realize she needs to drink blood. I knew I’d have a hard time with the drinking blood scene since I’m very queasy around blood. When they handed Bella the cup full of blood I braced myself for seeing the red blood going up the straw. Luckily the blood was dark and looked like she was drinking Coke. But then she smiled and I could see her blood-stained teeth. Gross! I wasn’t expecting that so it took me a while to recover.
Breaking Dawn Part 1: Wolves vs. Vampires
The producers must have felt they needed to add some action to the film so there is a scene where the wolves attack Carlisle, Esme and Emmett while hunting. Luckily half of the wolves are being distracted talking to Jacob which gives the vampires a chance to escape.
Breaking Dawn Part 1: Birthing Scene
I was dreading this scene too, knowing it would be filled with blood, but it wasn’t too bad. I enjoyed watching a flashback of Bella when she was a baby being held by a young Charlie and Renee. Surprisingly the baby comes out looking like a real baby. Soon after Bella’s heart stops beating.
Breaking Dawn Part 1: Jacob imprints
Jacob enters the Cullen’s house with the intention of killing the ‟monster” because he believes Bella is dead. When he sees Renesmee he realizes he could never hurt her, in fact he will do anything to protect her. While I enjoyed the flash forward scenes of what Renesmee will look like in the future, the idea of Jacob imprinting on an infant was still hard to accept.
Breaking Dawn Part 1: Wolves vs. Vampire again
It must be time for another fight scene. Sam and his gang show up to kill the monster/baby. Jacob saves the day by announcing he has imprinted on Renesmee. The wolves shrug and walk away.
Breaking Dawn Part 1: Ending
So how does it end? We see a lifeless Bella on the table looking like a beautiful porcelain doll. Suddenly her red eyes open and the movie ends.
Breaking Dawn Part 1: Credits
I’m not sure why they made the credits look so amateurish. It seriously looks like a 5th grade film project. You may be tempted to leave the theater at this point but don’t. I promise you that it will be worth it to sit a while longer.