The Hunger Games has been one of the most anticipated movies in 2012. I’ve been personally looking forward to it since last year and I’ve just caught it earlier this evening and here are some of my thoughts.
I’m going to try to be objective in this post as I did go in the theater with an extremely open mind. I did expect that it will not follow the book to each detail, and I was also aware that these 4 details will not be in the movie – but I got more and more disappointed as the movie went on.
But that does not mean that there are no plus points to it.
The gist of it
I’m gonna cheat a bit in this area and refer you to The Hunger Games book review I wrote some weeks back – if you have no idea what the story is actually about. But if you don’t have the time, let’s just say that it is a sadistic annual event where boys and girls up to the age of 18 are sent to an arena to fight it off to the death, until there’s just one left.
What I liked about it
- Capitol citizens costumes.
When I read the book, the people of the Capitol seem like an interesting bunch with weird coloured hair and funky fashion styles in every bright colour imaginable. This expectation was lived up to. Every single extra who plyed a Capitol citizen was dressed intricately to the nines.
- The Hunger Games control room.
In the book, it wasn’t mentioned how the arena was simulated and controlled. So to have a view of the “backend” of the Games is pretty cool in my opinion. It was all very techy, where everything from weather to natural disasters to inserting a falling tree or fireballs or dangerous creatures to the arena is made very simple and at the touch of a few buttons.
- Cinna
Lenny Kravitz as Cinna (the costume designer for district 12) was pure perfection and up to expectations. He was warm, supportive, sincere and a complete badass when it comes to designing. He was the only real thing to Katniss in the Capital, and the character in the movie pulled through. Nice gold eyeshadow 
What I don’t like about it
- Katniss’ personality and family background was completely left out
I’m talking about details like how Katniss is practically an expert with plants. She knows what’s edible, what’s not, what’s that good for and what it’s not. Or how she can’t stand the sight of blood, unlike her healer mum and sister – which wasn’t shown either. Come to think of it, did we even see her actually hunting throughout the show?
It was draggy and rushed all in one
Throughout the entire movie, I realized that a lot of scenes were left out/changed drastically and thus it seems rushed. And strangely it felt like some parts went on forever. For example after Rue died, it was quite unnecessary to show Katniss breaking down (for an extended amount of time). Not going to say what’s changed or left out because there were too many to list. The feeling just wasn’t the same. I understand that this movie is an adaptation of the book but still.
But I guess it’ll be fine if you haven’t read the book and thus have zero expectations.
My rating for this movie?
You need to go with more than an extremely open mind. I went in with an extremely open mind and still it wasn’t enough to satiate me. But Gale is cute though.
Agreed on ur review! Feels a little draggy at rue’s death, and not enough background to fully understand katniss’s motivations.
It’s like we know these characters so well after reading the books, that each detail that they miss will catch our eyes. Some we can still let go, but major ones that define a character will be so obvious and game changing. Now I wonder if the movie would make any sense to someone who hasn’t read the book. It’s like Harry Potter movies 3 -8 all over again, lol.
It’s like we know these characters so well after reading the books, that each detail that they miss will catch our eyes. Some we can still let go, but major ones that define a character will be so obvious and game changing. Now I wonder if the movie would make any sense to someone who hasn’t read the book. It’s like Harry Potter movies 3 -8 all over again, lol.
So I just came back from the movie theater and watched “The Hunger Games” obviously. I loved all about the Capitol, President Snow was well portrayed, all the cast was awesome. BUT, it was as if the Games themselves were not As important? Once the started (didn’t love the bloodbath…) they just kept going on without details and everything too fast. I know it is a movie and the book kicks it in the A*$#@, but I don’t know. As I tell my brother, maybe I should watch it again and leave aside the judgment because the first time for us readers is like a difficult task. Not to compare, expect is too hard. So next time I’ll pretend I know nothing about it (although I already tried the first time) and try enjoy it as if I hadn’t read the book. There is so much I’d like to say but don’t even know where to start.
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three rainbows is too kind. id give it 1/2 a rainbow just cause katniss and cinna were appropriately cast! imagine if it was bella ! LOL