The Hunger Games

[Mugsy]

I totally ordered the next two books with express shipping from Amazon. Can't wait.

huntergrayson, just out of curiousity, what did you pay for the books? I'm always curious if I overpay here.

[huntergrayson]

Amazon has them for a decent price - I think the second one was $10 and the third was $9 or vice-versa. I'm a Prime Member so I get free shipping (which is really a great value - $79 a year, free two day shipping for everything and they have their own streaming library). They haven't shipped them yet though - I think because I ordered it with TGWTDT Blu, which technically doesn't come out until Tuesday. I really would like to finish them before the movie.

[Mugsy]

Okay, I don't feel so bad. I bought books 2 and 3 at the grocery store (!) for $14.95, so I had them in my hands, ready to read. Instant gratification and all.

[Deleted]

[Eric Cartman voice]I saw The Hunger Games movie, who wants to touch me?[/Eric Cartman voice]

Seriously, it was good. Sometimes it was very good. Jennifer Lawrence does the fucking job, man; she is a great Katniss and she OWNS this movie. She plays every scene just right.

The movie spends a lot of time establishing the dystopian world and the oppressive dictatorship. I swear they used the Winter's Bone set for District 12 - it was that same dirty Hicksville-type place. I was surprised the extras didn't spit tobacco and show missing teeth. There's a very affecting scene in District 11 (I'm sure everyone who's read the books can guess when that happens). The Capitol looks really futuristic and sci-fi (and ugly, but that's appropriate).

Eh, I haven't really sorted out my thoughts yet (I guess I was too eager to do the "I've seen it!" bragging. I'm sorry; I couldn't resist . Film, good; Jennifer Lawrence, very good. That's about all I can manage for now.

[Babycakes]

Grrr.....so jealous.


Okay, seething over. I figured the film would hinge on Jennifer's performance, but how was everyone else? Was there real chemistry with Peeta? Was Gale as wooden as Liam looks? Did the arena scenes come close to the books? Did they flesh out the other characters since everything wasn't totally from Katniss' perspective? How was the bloodbath at the cornucopia? Do we see how Peeta ended up with the careers?

As you can see, I'm a wee bit eager!

[kostgard]

I'm jealous too. I was actually going to take Friday off work and see this (well, I was going to for a number of reasons, but this was pretty high on the list), but my stupid boss went and scheduled an important meeting on that day.

I pretty much have the same questions as Babycakes. Spill any details you can!

[Deleted]

Mar 19, 2012 20:41:56 GMT -4 Babycakes said:

Grrr.....so jealous.


Okay, seething over. I figured the film would hinge on Jennifer's performance, but how was everyone else? Was there real chemistry with Peeta? Was Gale as wooden as Liam looks? Did the arena scenes come close to the books? Did they flesh out the other characters since everything wasn't totally from Katniss' perspective? How was the bloodbath at the cornucopia? Do we see how Peeta ended up with the careers?

As you can see, I'm a wee bit eager!

No problem, Babycakes! I think the reason most reviewers have only really singled out JL is that she is the real standout and kind of overpowers everyone else. The other actors are all fine, but it's JL's movie and they let her have it. JL had chemistry with everyone; you completely believed in all her relationships. Liam Henderson and Lenny Kravitz didn't do any great acting or anything but the chemistry is right. They're both in this movie for about 10 minutes, but even in such a short time, you get what they both are to Katniss, because JL sells it.

Josh Hutcherson is very likeable as Peeta and yes, there is chemistry. Not necessarily 'madly in love' chemistry, but that's appropriate - you believe in his crush and the cave scene works. The size difference between he and JL is noticeable in a couple of scenes, though.

I guess the answers to the rest of your questions definitely need spoilers. The arena scenes are fine, but they don't have that 'epic' feel of, say, LOTR (I know, I know - that would've been asking a lot) or any really special effects like Snow White and the Huntsman seems to. It's more standard action movie-type stuff. Some of the CGI looks quite fake, like the 'on fire' clothes and the hounds at the end, but not laughably bad and it's pointed out that these things are fake so that covers them a bit. The only other tributes who are fleshed out are Rue and Cato. Rue's death will make you cry, don't worry about that. I think they did a better job fleshing out Cato than the books did, as they give him this speech at the end, where he loses it and rails against his life (being raised as a killing machine). Thresh doesn't make much of an impact, unfortunately. Foxface is hard to remember, because she never says anything. They should have chosen someone with a really unusual face that is hard to forget.

The film spends a lot of time on the dystopian element. There are several scenes with President Snow and Seneca Crane. The two of them have all these conversations on how to keep the people of the districts in line via the Games. There doesn't seem to have been any doubt in the filmmakers' minds that the other movies would get made; this is clearly setting up Catching Fire. You see some of the districts already fighting back, for example.

The bloodbath at the cornucopia was done well, although keep in mind the version I saw will have 7 seconds less footage than yours. Even though a lot of the violence is just suggested (you see the weapon thrust down, then come up again covered in blood, but not enter the victim) it's still very disturbing, so I didn't feel like I needed to see anything more (apart from Thresh killing Clove - that was obviously cut and is unclear). And no, they don't ever show Peeta without Katniss, so we don't see how he took up with the Careers.

Phew! Hope that's everything you wanted to know. You guys will definitely enjoy it and it's only 3 days away now!

[Babycakes]

Thanks ronette. Great overview. I'm slightly disappointed in some of the stuff you mentioned, but they seem minor in the grand scheme of things. Friday can't come soon enough!

[wilbert]

I am ridiculously excited about this movie.

[LurkerNan]

I just read all the books, in order to understand the background in case the movie doesn't cover the details.

Man, downloading books on Kindle is kind of addictive: "Hmmm, I can wait for a real book in a week or start reading the sequel now by just clicking this button..." [Click].