The Hunger Games Movie

Television, Movies Games and Books Other Science Fiction
#21

Yeah, I saw the movie today too.

I did like the riot as foreshadowing, but the gift would have worked too.

Katniss was pretty well cast. Not as sure on Peeta. When I read the book (earlier this week), I saw him as more of a Sam Gamgee type.

This move was one of the few times that shaky cam actually distracted me, but I did like how they occasionally cut to the commentators. I had been wondering how they’d explain the Tracker Jackers.

The Games did seem a lot shorter in the movie, though Rue did tell Katniss that she was out for a couple days from the Tracker Jacker stings.

#22

just read that Catching Fire will come out November 2013…which I’m not too certain of considering according to IMDB they haven’t even started filming it yet?

clicky

#23

I saw the movie last night. Haven’t read the book(s) yet, but they’re here and I will most likely read at least the first and see how it (I hope) grabs me more than the movie did. I liked the film, but for some reason I was expecting Katniss to be a little more bad-assed, at least at some point in the game. Especially after

[SPOILER] Rue was killed. At that point I expected (and again, having not read the book but just listening to your internet conversations and observations) Katniss to go a bit more Rambo, become a little more focused. At that point however, all the romantic melodrama began and it frankly kind of lost me at that point. Peetah’s reasons for running with the mob, tracking Katniss for them, was also completely unexplained in the film, and since we’d been lead to understand he loved her, a bit confusing. His wounded leg probably would have made for a nice scene explaining that, but it wasn’t included in the film at all. Again, I understand it’s covered in the book in a much better way. Finally, the “Instant Attack Dog” technology seemed a little far-fetched and took me right out of the movie (although I admit I jumped 2 inches out of my seat when the first one showed up!), and again, sounds like they are much-better explained, and a lot creepier, in the book. [/SPOILER]

I understand that the book delves much deeper into the society, and into Katniss’ mind, so I’m looking forward to reading the book to fill in all the holes. I liked the movie, but wanted to love it.

#24

Oh yeah! I had completely forgotten about the differences for those two major plot turning points. Again, because I knew from reading the book, I let go of the fact that they didn’t explain either. My guess is that most people will just take it as a ‘well that’s what happened’ if they haven’t read the books and since it’s close to the end, it gets forgotten against the larger issue of them winning together.

#25

Yes I’m quoting a spoiler. Sorry everybody who hasn’t seen it yet :slight_smile: As someone who hasn’t read the books, I can tell my thoughts on this.

[spoiler]I found Katniss’ reactions throughout the movie to be very believable. I’d have liked them to discuss the whole part where he was helping the “bad guys” track her, but I’m kind-of okay with it considering how he told her to run when she was all stoned. It was obvious to me, at that point, that the group gave him a choice: Help them find and kill her, or die.
The insta-dogs, and the insta-forest-fire, were the two things I liked least about the movie. The fire was okay because they need SOMETHING to keep them in the playing field. But the dogs… were they caged under the ground all that time? Were they teleported? Sure, the effect was cool and added to the excitement at the end, but… how exactly does that work?[/spoiler]

#26

I guess by that point you were just supposed to know that the GameMakers had the ability to literally do whatever they wanted within the arena. And that a grand finale was what they were aiming to have.

#27

If you didn’t like the bad doggies in the movie, you won’t-like them even more in the book.

What’d everybody think of Woody Harrelson’s Haymitch?

#28

I am betting her was her father. I am almost positive that was Charles S Dutton. They would not cast Charles S Dutton as some random riot starter. My thinking is because(if) it was him we’ll be seeing more of him in the second movie. Which means they will definitely be playing up certain aspects in the second book that fully play out in the third.

#29

I have to disagree, Katniss is not aware of what is going on in District 11. We as the reader were not aware either. But as a viewer this allows the audience to know that things are definitely unsettled with the populace just by that scene. Katniss still doesn’t know about it or that she caused it.

#30

Remember, this isn’t as much of a big-budget CGI fest as a lot of movies, so there won’t be as much time spent on rendering and stuff like that. Though it’ll be interesting to see how they do the location for the climax of the book/movie.

#31

Aset, my issue wasn’t about Katniss’ knowledge of it. It’s about the way that (spoilers for later books)
[spoiler]Katniss reluctantly takes up the role of figurehead of the Rebellion against the Capitol, and the importance of her function as a symbol itself[/spoiler]
I recognize that the film has to show things differently than the book (see: art of adaptation), but I think that this gives (or may give, we’ll see how they handle the later books) a different orientation to the whole later-development of things.

#32

I understand what you mean, Casilda. I just don’t see what they did as changing that dynamic. It was more of a foreshadowing of what’s to come for the audience. I think that whole aspect will still be the case.

#33

When I read the book(s) I always pictured Haymitch as much more physically deteriorated. Of course the real story with him is his inner deterioration. While Harrelson is visually more pleasing than I imagined the character, I thought he did a fantastic job of showing that brokenness inside Haymitch, which we’ll see more of in CATCHING FIRE. I thought the casting of him was perfect. He almost reminds me of Johnny Depp is how completely he slips into a role.

#34

Amazon has the Mockingjay call (mp3 from the score) free while it lasts…

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005M2UBE6/ref=s9_hps_bw_g340_ir12?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-7&pf_rd_r=0570CH9C3DP2PT6ED32A&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1291276082&pf_rd_i=163856011

#35

Just saw the movie a couple of days ago. I really liked it. I hadn’t read the novels, but on my way home I stopped at a bookstore and bought the first one. Looking forward to reading it and going back for another viewing of the movie.

Favorite scene: Katniss’ 3-finger salute at Rue death. It gave me goosebumps and choked me up.
I really enjoyed this movie.

#36

The movie turned out better than I expected. Katniss is one of the least talkative protagonists in recent memory. Lawrence faced a great challenge of carrying an entire movie with face acting to fill in for all that missing internal narrative. I’m glad there wasn’t any resorting to voice overs trying to do the same. Still, if you sneeze during the first forty-five minutes you’ll probably miss a bit of world building. Just the right amount of info dump from Caesar when needed. I can’t imagine anyone figuring out tracker jackers otherwise.

I’ve seen criticism this movie lacks character development. I think it was a wise choice to go very light on the romantic triangle for this first movie. When you think about it, the movie hits the exact same note the first book ends with; uncertainty awaiting doubt. I still have Peeetaaaa, Peeeeetaaaa!!! echoing in my head from reading the books. Plenty of ship yet to come.

$220 million what was I thinking? When teens scream and cry on YouTube and this is their spontaneous reaction to watching a trailer, it’s an omen you’re headed for half a billion dollars in box office. This is nuts, this is only the first movie, watch out Dark Knight and Harry Potter. Hunger Games already killed Spider Man in the biggest weekend opening records.

Alarming news tonight: Deadline: Gary Ross Decides NOT to Direct “Hunger Games 2: Catching Fire’: Lionsgate In ‘Shock’

If four months from beginning principal photography is really true, obviously he’s telling the truth. Not only does he have no time to prepare, he’s saying he doesn’t have time to write the screen play. As in, there isn’t any Catching Fire screen play yet. (Gary Ross wrote the screenplay adaptation as well as directing Hunger Games.) Lionsgate is now expecting him to write Catching Fire in the industry standard 90 days, but there’s nothing standard about a franchise that just made this much money. However there are other writers and directors who thrive under stress. Not to derail the thread, but who do you think should adapt and/or direct Catching Fire? And, uh, yup, money is obviously no object. And please don’t say Joss Whedon. :smiley:

Just. No. More. Shaky. Cam. Wasn’t that incredibly unnecessary?

#37

Really? This is your idea of a movie tie-in??

http://www.slashfilm.com/mattels-katniss-barbie-hunger-games-heroine-justice/#more-124812

Tacky… And yet. What else can you do? Weapons?

#38

I must be the only person who not only didn’t mind, but didn’t even notice any shaky-cam. And I tend to hate shaky-cam, especially in the theater.

#39

“I hereby forbid shakey-cam forever and ever and ever. If you can’t direct a fight scene, get a different job.” - Scott Sigler 3/28

No names named but that was back during the opening week of the movie. Sigler made Ross quit. It’s Sigler’s fault! Prophetic. Spooky. Eerie. :stuck_out_tongue:

LA Times: ‘Catching Fire’: Can changing up directors work?

Times says don’t wring your hands internets! Changing directors happens in many franchises. (Some environs of Facebook look a little hysterical today) Very true… but how about a better example?

Irvin Kershner directed The Empire Strikes Back. He didn’t know science fiction. He didn’t know Stars Wars. As a result the second film is by far the most traditional drama of the franchise. Frequently cited as the best directed and overall best Star Wars movie. I sure think so.