I know I said I had no interest in seeing The Hunger Games, that I was perfectly happy with my memories of the book. So I lied…sue me.
You see, HB wanted to go to the movies, and here in Morro Bay we have but one theater (all shows $8.00…and cheap popcorn!). And since HB rarely wants to go see a movie, and this is what was playing, I took him up on the offer to go see a movie.
He loved it. Seriously, he couldn’t stop raving about it.
I had more mixed feelings:
I hated Prim. I thought she was a whiny baby. Same for mom. I seem to recall she had a bit more oomph in the book? Not a lot, but some.
Cinna fell a bit flat for me (maybe it’s ’cause Lenny just isn’t the same without the dreadlocks? He just wasn’t oozing his usual cool.). Same for Haymitch (for god’s sake, Woody, where’s your usual over the top performance??).
Ironically, Katniss was also a bit flat, but that totally worked for me, since she’s flat in the book, too.
Although I was fully Team Gale for the books, I’m switching teams for the movie, and going with Peeta, who had the far superior performance. Of course, he got way more screen time. Which is unfortunate, since Gale was way cuter. The little shit. Although they both look dorky here:
Caesar Flickerman. Oh how I love thee. Hands down, the best performance of the whole movie.
Oh wait. Rue. Rue was awesome, too.
As was the Capitol. It was exactly like I imagined, full of ridiculous people with ridiculous hair.
I think my orange shoes could’ve had a starring role!
Tony and I saw this a few week back at our drive-in movie theater (best way to see a movie since you get to enjoy the weather AND if a movie is bad, you can snark to one another without bothering other people… Please note that I never talk in regular movie theaters!) and I thought it was ok. I was never a huge diehard fan of the books so I don’t think I had the expectations that many others did going in… I just remember thinking that it was funny that Gale only had about 3 minutes of screen time, and I thought it was a shame that they “watered” down the book so much. Haymitch wasn’t as mean/drunk (definitely more sanitized) and the end scene with the wolves wasn’t as gruesome (it wasn’t clear if these were supposed to have been the original tributes). Kind of a shame because I remember when I read the first book thinking that I had some problems with it, but that it would probably make a really cool movie. I still think it could have, but this wasn’t exactly it!
Caesar Flickerman WAS awesome! Jason and I were cracking up every time he came on stage. I really liked Effy too. She wasn’t the same as the book, of course, but they made her so clueless and stern at the same time that it was perfect.
When I saw Peeta standing in the crowd with the greased-down hair, I thought he looked like a total dork, and was saddened that this was so. He got cuter the dirtier he got, but boy, I was expecting something much different. And I must agree with your assessment of Caesar Flickerman. Totally frickin brilliant performance!
Tons of people have raved about Lenny Kravitz as Cinna and I don’t get it – his part was so small and it wasn’t all that special. The movie made me feel sick so I left early.
Oh, now see I loved Cinna. I just think the man is HOT. So if someone is suing, they can come after me for that.
I felt the same about Prim and the mother. Ugh, it felt like someone was running fingernails down a chalkboard. And I was always team Gayle, but after the movie, I changed my mind. He did a GOOD job. As far as Gayle is concerned, we will see where it goes with future movies, but my husband thought he looked a little too clean cut for a District 12 guy.
I still don’t know if I want to see the movie though if I do, it would be for Rue and Cinna. I really didn’t care much for Prim or the mom character in the book either. Not surprised that they’re still flat in the movie.
I want to have a a Capital party where we can all dress up!
FUN idea!
That’s how movie watching is in our house, too. The guy very rarely wants to go, so when he does, I jump at the chance.
I haven’t seen the Hunger Games, though. I might when it comes out on DVD, but I was in no big rush.
Nice review, but I don’t think I would love to watch this movie.
-Emily
I was bothered that I couldn’t recall how she got the Mockingbird pin in the book and apparently it was different in the flick. Very distracting. I also kept laughing at spots that I probably shouldn’t have but not sure the other 6 people in the theatre noticed. I didn’t get any dirty stares, anyway.
I liked Cinna very much. and enjoyed the movie more than I expected to.
Ha! Glad the HB enjoyed the movie. Scott did as well so I’ve been trying to convince him to read Catching Fire so I don’t have to (not big on the potential love triangle bits). I thought that Lenny Kravitiz looked fantastic with the shorn hair but his performance was completely flat to me. Overall I was really pleased but the camera work really bothered me. Not the shakiness but the closeness. I felt I was WAY UP in Elizabeth Banks’ face.
I thought Woody Harrelson as Haymitch was good … better than in the book. And I agree with you on Ceasar. And Prim and Katniss’s mom were kind of ciphers … as were Gale. Still, it was kind of cool to see it all on stage. I love that HB loved it!
Michael loved it too! And he hadn’t read the books, but afterward he read them all in a couple nights. I actually loved the movie, especially Haymitch! I thought what they added was really meaningful and what was left out, I didn’t really miss.
I agree with all your critiques. My biggest problem with Gale (and I was Team Gale for the first book!) was that he looked too well groomed. It’s District 12! You have nothing! You crawl under barbed wire, hunt rabbits in the woods, gut them and barter for goods in the Seam! There are no hair salons or malls and possibly no hot water… shouldn’t you be a little less clean and fresh and coifed?
I have not read the books. I thought I might, but then I saw the trailer for the movie and thought it looked good enough so that I could skip the books. I mean, really, I have no time to read so this was a win for me. I really liked the movie. I liked all the performances, really, but I agree, Stanley Tucci was SO good. I’m looking forward to the next one. Movie, I mean.