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Topic: The Hunger Games (Read 396 times)

MEGATØN
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The Hunger Games
« Thread Started on Mar 24, 2012, 1:22pm »

Posted a few thoughts on the movie on my blog last night.

I first read The Hunger Games trilogy about a year and a half ago, and though I liked the first book, my enjoyment of the series took a steady nosedive from that point on. By the end of it, I felt really disappointed by the whole thing. But even so, I couldn't skip the movie, and even made time to go see it on opening day.

I'm glad I did, because I really think this is one of those rare occasions where the movie is better than the book.

Visually, there are a lot of semi-shaky hand-held camera shots, off-center angles and shallow or blurred focus. Non-fans of shaky cams might not appreciate that, but I really liked the look. And I think they pegged the feel of both the districts, with their worn out people and drab colors, and the Capitol with its architecture and crazy fashions.

I think what I enjoyed most about the movie in comparison to the book was the expanded perspective. The book was told in the first person, with Katniss as the narrator, but in the movie we get to see a lot of behind the scenes action that the book never mentions. Things like the Gamemakers command center where they control and manipulate what's happening in the arena, Haymitch's campaigning to gain sponsors, and some of what's going on back in the Districts as they watch their Tributes die.

And not being in Katniss' head negates my main complaint about the trilogy; the fact that I never liked Katniss very much. Movie-Katniss is much less pessimistic, stronger, but at the same time her character comes across as more vulnerable in ways I wish she had in the book. I'm sure I won't be the only one to mention the scene where she's about to be raised into the arena, and she's not just trembling, but shaking with dread.

It takes over half the movie for the Tributes to make it into the arena, and then when they do, the film's PG-13 rating really becomes obvious. There's surprisingly little violence for a movie about 24 children kiling each other, and although I don't have high hopes, an unrated director's cut would be welcome. (Though I guess we have Battle Royale to scratch that itch.)

I liked Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, but in my mind's eye I had the look of Peeta and Gale reversed. Donald Sutherland was perfect as the menacingly evil President Snow, who we saw much more of in the movie than the book, and Woody Harrelson was great as Haymitch also.

The climactic fight scene took place at night, so it was a bit hard to see, and then it over too quickly. And then after some slow talky scenes, the movie sort of just ended, with very little final suspense, other than a hint of the displeasure of the Capitol with how Katniss and Peeta had bested them.

But overall, I liked it well enough that I'll buy the disc when it's available to add to my collection. I can only hope the next three movies (yes, book 3 is rumoured to be broken into two films) will also add enough to what we got in the books to avoid the dip in enjoyment the trilogy had for me.

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Pupnik
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Re: The Hunger Games
« Reply #1 on Mar 26, 2012, 2:33pm »

Eurgh, what is with the fashion for splitting books in two? The Hobbit is the worst offender just because it is such a short book that you could read in a day, yet they need more time than any of the LOTR books?!?

Anyway, I haven't read the books but from your post perhaps I am better off avoiding them. I'm going to see the film tomorrow though, quite looking forward to it. I love The Running Man and Battle Royale so I expect I will enjoy it.

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Pupnik
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Re: The Hunger Games
« Reply #2 on Apr 3, 2012, 6:33pm »

I did watch this and I really enjoyed it, I really felt for the characters and quite liked the blend of a simple rural life and the inner city fashionistas, kind of made me think of the French Revolution era (whatever era that was... too lazy to look up the dates).

The only bit I really felt it got too ridiculous was when the creatures got let out at the end, they were massive and on 4 legs so would have torn the humans to bits within seconds but somehow they can outrun them easily. I know it is sill to pick holes in films like this but I could believe most of it, but not that!

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Corny
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Re: The Hunger Games
« Reply #3 on Apr 7, 2012, 6:15pm »

So, you'd recommend it or at least wouldn't advise against it?
Cause, you know, I only know 15-year-old girls who liked it so far (no offense)... It's a bit suspicious to me.

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MEGATØN
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Re: The Hunger Games
« Reply #4 on Apr 7, 2012, 8:02pm »

Yeah, it's good enough to watch, especially if you've read the books, but it's still worthwhile even if you haven't.

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Pupnik
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Re: The Hunger Games
« Reply #5 on Apr 10, 2012, 5:02pm »

I'd recommend it, but be aware who the target audience is, it is still a family film, albeit with a somewhat unusal storyline for a family film! It is popular with teenage girls, and with the books especially you can sort of see how it has intentionally aimed itself at them (lots and lots about how pretty the dresses she wears are and which boy she should date! Yikes!) but it is still fun. I liked the film enough to read the books to find out what happens next, and I'd watch the film again now that I have read the books.

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dwastelander
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Re: The Hunger Games
« Reply #6 on Apr 11, 2012, 11:29pm »

First off, know one say a word about the the last two books! I'm on "Catching Fire" and almost done. I'm extremely addicted to these books!

The movie was very good, some complaints about how Peeta and Katniss better connected with each other vs. the movie. Jennifer Lawrence was amazing actor for the movie! Love the scene where shes shaking, it really made me feel for her emotions at that moment. Peeta is probably my favorite character in the books, besides Katniss. I do like Katniss a lot! Stuff I dislike about her but there's stuff I dislike about Gale also.

Peeta is hard not to put down as a person, always the good guy, always the great man with speeches.

Katniss I like in a different way, although she tries to be strong for those she loves, she also is not afraid to show her humanist. But shes a bit selfish at times, that's all I'll say for the sake of spoils.

I want the next movie to come out, but supposedly it doesn't come out until 2013.

« Last Edit: Apr 11, 2012, 11:33pm by dwastelander »

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dwastelander
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Re: The Hunger Games
« Reply #7 on Apr 11, 2012, 11:30pm »

Apr 10, 2012, 5:02pm, Pupnik wrote:

Well its million times better then Twilight, my gosh! Those movies suck!

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Pupnik
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Re: The Hunger Games
« Reply #8 on Apr 12, 2012, 3:16pm »

Yeah, I watched the first two Twilight films purely out of morbid curiosity, the second in particular was hilariously bad. I really want to watch the new one because I want to see the terrible, terrible sex scene and the werewolf falling in love with a baby.

I actually don't like Peeta that much, I found some of the 'romantic' things he says come across as creepy and obsessive. From the books I like Haymitch, Johanna and Finnick, I like Katniss too although I found her a little annoying in the third book.

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justin
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Re: The Hunger Games
« Reply #9 on Apr 12, 2012, 11:52pm »

My wife loved The Hunger Games. I just sat there for most of the film thinking to myself "why did they skip that" and "this makes no sense because blah, blah, has been omitted".

The film on it's own merits would have been great, but it felt too much like Kubricks The Shining (as in too underdeveloped) due to me reading the book.

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