The Hunger Games

We are definitely going to go see it... but have to arrange for a babysitter first.

 

I enjoyed the film, but I didn't feel as connected with the characters; the shaky camera was annoying during fights and chase scenes; and splitting between behind the scenes and the arena was a distraction.

 

I STILL haven't been able to see this yet. May go tomorrow for a matinee showing (I actually have a Sunday off! w00t!) I'm a bit wary of the shaky camera comments, though. I'm not a fan of shaky cameras, or whirling around cameras, AT ALL.

I like the link Baraka_Guru posted--has anyone read the comments section? Someone said something about adults reading YA books that made me pause for a second...I think her point was along the lines of adults having shorter attention spans now, and therefore reading YA books because they're "dumbed down." I have an argument for that building, but it's not completely fleshed out yet...and that may be a topic for another thread, anyway. Hmmm.

 

I dont like shaky camera films either... complete reason why i did not see chronicle. this one wasnt bad at all, and i enjoyed the flick. im not at all into these YA movies, but this one was good. Unfortunately, i can see this thing going the way of twilight adn finding a 13 year old target audience in the second film. (yes i went to see twilight, im married, get off me...) i dont wanna give anything away so i wont... i will say most non-horror movies have a love story, and having not read the books, im afraid that this one may stray form the awesome post apocalyptic plot potential, and get settled on the damned love story. love is great and all, but i tend to enjoy the tragic yet often overcome evilness in human nature. i think this series has a lot of potential, but they could very easily lose what makes it creative and special, in an effort to sell more tickets to teenage girls. but i have high hopes!

 

I saw it the other day. I haven't read the book, so maybe it's different if you have more background. I was underwhelmed. It was OK and fairly entertaining, but no more so than one of the better made-for-TV movies, in my opinion. I left wondering what all the fuss was about.

 

I read the "Hunger Games" in 3 sittings. A very easy and engaging read. Started on "Catching Fire" but haven't been quite as gripped by it as yet. I was a bit disappointed by the triangular love aspect, finding it a bit too reminiscent of the whole Team Edward/ Team Jacob nonsense surrounding the Twilight saga. (trudged through that trilogy as favor to my daughter). I'm finding "Catching Fire" already leaning too heavily on the same love conflict in the opening chapters - I'm hoping it improves as the story progresses.

I'll wait until it comes out in DVD. Don't really want to subject myself to a theater full of teenagers and young twenty somethings.

I haven't watched any trailers, but might watch the one posted here.

 

My daughter and her boyfriend just stopped by. They're going to see it tonight and offered to let me tag along. So I guess I won't be waiting after all.

 

Went and saw it tonight (after eating sushi, yum!)


I really wish there hadn't been a time constraint-- I very easily could've sat through another hour of film. Some things felt very rushed: Katniss and Gale's bond, Peeta's injury/blood poisoning, Haymitch in general. I mean, I get why stuff was glossed over, but the movie would've been so much better if it hadn't.

Oh, and I totally cried when Katniss volunteered to take Prim's place. And

when Rue dies, and the following scene.

I think I'm going to reread the book again.

 

since I haven't read the book I can't comment on how faithful the film was, but we saw the film over the weekend and I thought it was very well done. The story was good and the characters engaging, I would read the books based on what I saw (but I never get time to read anymore).

 

SPOILERS!

saw the movie, appreciated that people are going back to the "underneath it all, we're all cavemen more than capable of killing each other for our own survival", but holy shit, could there be a less appropriate place for love? seemed way too forced and the fact that the main character has to overcome her enemies AND the evil dudes behind the control panel AND has the good fortune of Deus Ex Machina working for her every four fucking hours AND has a whole afternoon to get close to, execute a plan with, and then mourn the death of some nobody. it just seemed like the artifice of the movie was being reinforced again and again. I made the mistake i told myself I would never make and i watched the movie first, but if people are going on about how similar the movie is to the book, I might just save the time and not even bother. If I want a love story, I'll play Starcraft II. If I want the "trapped on an island and only way to escape alive is to kill everyone else", i'll reread Battle Royale. If i want dystopian view of the world i'll read Martin Amis or George Orwell (or Alan Moore for that matter). this seems to be trying to mash too much together at once.