![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Much better than I could have hoped for, but not as great as I would have liked, The Hunger Games movie was a solid re-interpretation of Suzanne Collins's book. The movie is pared down, stripped, and the message hamstrung by its PG-13 rating so that the heart of the story is diminished; however, there a lot of things that the movie gets right.
I am amazed at how un-ironic Effie Trinket speaks those words. Good on you Elizabeth Banks. If anything or anyone represented the complete ridiculousness of The Capitol and the stark contrast between the its residents and the Districts, it is Effie Trinket. Loss of Katniss's internal monologue meant that we lost much of her perspective and the way that it highlighted the differences between Panem's Capitol and the districts. Everything was much more subtle, although I think that if Cinna's assistants had been incorporated that could have been another location of the stark change. But, time constraints and all. Although, it's not so much that the differences weren't there, the opulence and abundance, the colors and party atmosphere of The Capitol are obvious. But it was Effie and her crazy remarks, Haymitch's very pointed gaze that really make the difference. But somehow between the joviality and the tributes circumstances that didn't resonate as strongly as I had hoped. I think that has a lot to do with the fact that I read the book and, of course, its a different, much more intimate experience.
Casting, I thought, was excellent. I was always in Josh Hutcherson's corner for playing Peeta, and I think that he did a wonderful job. I really liked that they set up Peeta as the emotional center almost immediately. His gentleness and emotional availability in contrast to Katniss's rebellious practicality was displayed beautifully throughout the film.The car ride to the train station where Hutcherson's Peeta is basically fighting tears while Katniss has withdrawn into her own head, as well as that moment at the close when Peeta caresses the end of Katniss's braid before they're about to swallow the berries are all small, intimate moments that were beautifully representative of Peeta. Hutcherson sold me on his emotional range back when he was wee small. I loved Zathura, the first thing I saw him in, then I saw Little Manhattan and Bridge to Terabithia. He was pretty great, perfect for Peeta.
Jennifer Lawrence, although an unknown quantity because I've only seen her in X-Men First Class and not the much lauded Winter's Bone, proved to be another excellent choice. She captured the duality of Katniss beautifully. Lawrence also has the ability to emote in the subtlest ways. It struck me especially hard during the last scene she had with Lenny Kravitz's Cinna. Lawrence projected terror and desperation with a facial expression. Lawrence is good a subtly and nuance. With a less gifted actress, The Hunger Games would have been immensely boring.
What The Hunger Games didn't do well at all is follow through on the reality of having 12 to 18 year old children fighting to the death. Hampered by the PG-13 rating, the action sequences were rushed and frenzied, I think, to distract from the youthfulness of the actors. To really make an impact, the movie needed an R rating and the violence and brutality really needed to be amped up. There were a few places where the age/violence was startling: the review of previous Hunger Games where the winning tribute beat his opponent to death with a brick, and the death of the male tribute from District 4 at the Cornucopia. There should have been more blood, more violence. I wanted the film to really highlight the youthfulness of the tributes in contrast to the acts they were perpetuating. The initial bloodbath at the Cornucopia should have been that, but the close shots and frenzied camera work made it difficult to track the action so the audience doesn't exactly have to confront that particular horror. Failing to really highlight that aspect of the story diminishes the *point* of the whole exercise.
Overall, I really, really enjoyed the movie. I'm excited to see the sequel (which already has a tentative release date for November 2013, btw). I also feel like re-reading THE ENTIRE SERIES! Cause yeah, I actually like it that much.
I am amazed at how un-ironic Effie Trinket speaks those words. Good on you Elizabeth Banks. If anything or anyone represented the complete ridiculousness of The Capitol and the stark contrast between the its residents and the Districts, it is Effie Trinket. Loss of Katniss's internal monologue meant that we lost much of her perspective and the way that it highlighted the differences between Panem's Capitol and the districts. Everything was much more subtle, although I think that if Cinna's assistants had been incorporated that could have been another location of the stark change. But, time constraints and all. Although, it's not so much that the differences weren't there, the opulence and abundance, the colors and party atmosphere of The Capitol are obvious. But it was Effie and her crazy remarks, Haymitch's very pointed gaze that really make the difference. But somehow between the joviality and the tributes circumstances that didn't resonate as strongly as I had hoped. I think that has a lot to do with the fact that I read the book and, of course, its a different, much more intimate experience.
Casting, I thought, was excellent. I was always in Josh Hutcherson's corner for playing Peeta, and I think that he did a wonderful job. I really liked that they set up Peeta as the emotional center almost immediately. His gentleness and emotional availability in contrast to Katniss's rebellious practicality was displayed beautifully throughout the film.The car ride to the train station where Hutcherson's Peeta is basically fighting tears while Katniss has withdrawn into her own head, as well as that moment at the close when Peeta caresses the end of Katniss's braid before they're about to swallow the berries are all small, intimate moments that were beautifully representative of Peeta. Hutcherson sold me on his emotional range back when he was wee small. I loved Zathura, the first thing I saw him in, then I saw Little Manhattan and Bridge to Terabithia. He was pretty great, perfect for Peeta.
Jennifer Lawrence, although an unknown quantity because I've only seen her in X-Men First Class and not the much lauded Winter's Bone, proved to be another excellent choice. She captured the duality of Katniss beautifully. Lawrence also has the ability to emote in the subtlest ways. It struck me especially hard during the last scene she had with Lenny Kravitz's Cinna. Lawrence projected terror and desperation with a facial expression. Lawrence is good a subtly and nuance. With a less gifted actress, The Hunger Games would have been immensely boring.
What The Hunger Games didn't do well at all is follow through on the reality of having 12 to 18 year old children fighting to the death. Hampered by the PG-13 rating, the action sequences were rushed and frenzied, I think, to distract from the youthfulness of the actors. To really make an impact, the movie needed an R rating and the violence and brutality really needed to be amped up. There were a few places where the age/violence was startling: the review of previous Hunger Games where the winning tribute beat his opponent to death with a brick, and the death of the male tribute from District 4 at the Cornucopia. There should have been more blood, more violence. I wanted the film to really highlight the youthfulness of the tributes in contrast to the acts they were perpetuating. The initial bloodbath at the Cornucopia should have been that, but the close shots and frenzied camera work made it difficult to track the action so the audience doesn't exactly have to confront that particular horror. Failing to really highlight that aspect of the story diminishes the *point* of the whole exercise.
Overall, I really, really enjoyed the movie. I'm excited to see the sequel (which already has a tentative release date for November 2013, btw). I also feel like re-reading THE ENTIRE SERIES! Cause yeah, I actually like it that much.
