The Hunger Games

[Vindicare]

I just borrowed the first book last night and finished the whole thing.

Great book, cant wait to see the movie.

I didn't quite read it that fast, but it was hard to put down.

[Masked Builder]

Yes it was one of those books where you had to resist just reading it and not doing anything else!

[def]

On the eve of the release, I'm trying to grasp the Hunger Games phenomenon.

I watched the Harry Potter movies and sometimes enjoyed them, but they didn't blow me away at all, and numbers 5,6, and 7 made little impression at all. And I stayed the hell away from Twilight, since I could tell it sucked by about 10 seconds into its trailer.

But, I'm interested to actually read Hunger Games. There are a lot of comparisons to Battle Royale, which was an awesome film/story, but it seems Hunger Games makes the whole story a lot deeper and gives texture to the world around it. Hunger Games has also been championed by the writers at the AVClub, which is one of the better sites for pop culture. That recommendation has helped me give this a chance. Looking forward to it.

It's been a long time since I was enthusiastic to see a new film franchise, but this looks good

[Mr_Malfoy]

I read the first book in one day and then bought it on my Kindle. I can't wait to see the movie this afternoon!

Meanwhile, still waiting for the second book to come from the library (still on hold or already taken)...

[The Blue Brick]

I just got home from watching the movie. The theater was jam-packed. It was actually better than i thought it would be, as usually they leave a lot of things out from

the book. Anyways, I can't wait for the other movies to come out. I already read the whole series twice.

Blue Brick

[Fred Daniel Yam]

Saw the film yesterday, very cool. I liked their representation of the tributes, the Cornucopia and Caesar Flickerman. 8/10

[Fives]

I saw the movie a couple days ago, and I have mixed feelings about it.

Overall, they did a good job on the film. But there were many things that I felt hurt the film. Firstly, it just seemed like the filmmakers were assuming everyone had read the books, so there were many things that were left unexplained or underdeveloped. I felt that the film was very rushed. The tribute parade seemed rushed, and there was little to no explanation on Katniss and Peeta's costumes. Then, I felt that Katniss and Rue's alliance was rushed. It just kinda happened. Also, they went into no detail about their plan to take out the careers supplies. If there had just been one scene where they explain the plan, it would have been better. Also, the scenes in the cave with Katniss and Peeta, again, we're rushed and underdeveloped. They needed to explain the whole 'star crossed lovers' thing better, too. Finally, my biggest gripe was the mutts. They were lame and simple. I, while reading the book, imagined them more like werewolves, much like Lupin in Harry Potter. Here they were just bulldogs. Very lame.

Nevertheless, even with all those gripes, there were many things that were absolutely perfect. Other than the mutts, everything looked perfect. They captured the look and feel of the Seam, the Arena, and the Capitol perfectly. Everyone was perfectly cast, and the escence of every character was captured amazingly. The extra scenes between Snow and Crane were just great, and really gave people an idea of how bad Snow is, which wasn't really delved into in the first book.

The film captured the look, feel, and essence of the book perfectly, but those few things that were left unexplained plot-wise were quite a detriment to the film. Maybe I should see it again, but from this first viewing, I was left disappointed.

[K-Nut]

I saw this movie last night, and I loved it! My thoughts:

• Many parts were a bit graphic for my tastes, such as when Glimmer (I think it was her) died from the bees.
  
• I liked how they used Caesar and Templesmith to explain things, such as the mines.
  
• I remember from the book that Templesmith had a much bigger part in it.
  
• A change that I liked was that, unlike the book, Katniss put Cato out of his misery right away instead of waiting for the entire night.
  
• A change that was not a fan of (more of something missing) was when at the very end, Peeta didn't accuse Katniss of fake love, which caused the end to lose something for me.
  

Overall a 9.5/10 from me. Great film.

[sok117]

I have not read the books or seen the movie. I think i'll get around to it eventually though. But The Hunger Games has reached the third highest opening weekend box office of all time behind the Dark Knight and Harry Potter part 2. I think it was something around 142 000 000 dollars, pretty impressive!

[Fives]

Just finished reading Mockingjay. Amazing and intense is all I can say. I don't know how they will be able to complete these films without making them R rated. They need to be R, or else justice won't be done to them.

[Vindicare]

Saw it yesterday. I loved it. I've read the series a few times. Overall I was very pleased with the movie. Most of the things they changed or left out, I understood. Time constraints played a big part too. I'm seeing it again Saturday and I can't wait! I certainly could've sat through another hour added to the movie, in order to get more depth and stretch things out.

[Clone OPatra]

I don't know how they will be able to complete these films without making them R rated. They need to be R, or else justice won't be done to them.

Well if you saw the first one, you might say that they did quite an effective job. I thought so anyway. I felt Hunger Games was a perfect example of how in film we don't need to explicitly see things happen to know what's going on. I found the violence even more effective and mind-numbing than it might have been if they'd gone the route of excessive blood and goriness on screen. We don't need to see huge amounts of blood, decapitations, and intestines flying to know and feel what is going on.

[Darth Nihilus]

Well if you saw the first one, you might say that they did quite an effective job. I thought so anyway. I felt Hunger Games was a perfect example of how in film we don't need to explicitly see things happen to know what's going on. I found the violence even more effective and mind-numbing than it might have been if they'd gone the route of excessive blood and goriness on screen. We don't need to see huge amounts of blood, decapitations, and intestines flying to know and feel what is going on.

Exactly. I thought the movie was quite good, even without the excessive blood/gore of the Alien/Predator movies. Another example of a movie that pulled off the PG-13 rating quite well even though the book would be more suited for an R-rating is Jurassic Park, which in my opinion is one of the best movies ever.

[custard_farts]

Watched the films with my husband and two eldest. Great movie but now a little unsure whether I should be letting my kids read the books?

[purpleparadox]

Watched the films with my husband and two eldest. Great movie but now a little unsure whether I should be letting my kids read the books?

If they are mature, 11+ year olds, definitely let them read the books. They're amazing works (although I'm not sure about the end of Mockingjay).

[custard_farts]

If they are mature, 11+ year olds, definitely let them read the books. They're amazing works (although I'm not sure about the end of Mockingjay).

One of 13, the other is 9. Thanks for that

[Masked Builder]

D-A-N-G. That movie was EPIC. I was pretty pleased with the overall movie, they did sum up a few parts that needed it. I'm not really sure how to put into words how I feel about it.

And I know I can't wait for the next one!

[just2good]

Finally got around to seeing the movie.

It was great! I wish I would of read the books before watching the movie, but still. The plot was clever, and the characters were likeable and intriguing. There were a bit of graphic scenes, but I can't say I wasn't warned. I'm definitely going to read Catching Fire in the coming weeks.

Overall, 9/10.

Edited April 2, 2012 by just2good

[fred67]

Well, both my kids (10 and 12) read the books (they are both pretty mature, IMO, both in advanced classes); the whole family went to see the movie last week.

I haven't read the books (but am inspired to now). The movie was a lot deeper than I expected it to be; the commentary on society and the government was amazing, definitely up there with 1984 and Animal Farm. Anyone expecting an action packed sci-fi extravaganza will be disappointed. The "games" don't even start until well into the second half, and it's a LONG movie.

I will say this, to give some perspective. In January I had shoulder surgery. I sat around for the first week with nothing to do. Can't build LEGO with one hand, really. Couldn't even hold a book that well. So I ended up watching TV, including a handful of premium movie channels. It was garbage; complete and utter garbage. Dozens of movies and all of them garbage. I was so bored. My standards became a lot higher... and The Hunger Games is one of the best movies I think I've ever seen.

I think it affected me on levels that most "kids" don't get (having a child old enough for the reaping, for one). The juxtaposition of the characters going from abject poverty and borderline starvation immediately to a room on a train with plates, piled not with healthy fruits and vegetables, but cakes and pies and so much utter garbage that they couldn't possibly consume it (IOW, you know it will just go to waste).

I didn't like the jerky cut scenes; I think we see a lot more violence in other PG-13 movies (take, like, Live Free or Die Hard), and the use of the jerky-cam was not so much to avoid showing violence (it made the fight scenes downright confusing - you just saw limbs, you didn't know who was throwing the punch, let alone winning the fight), I think it's a cheap technique to avoid having to choreograph fights. I forgive it, but only because it wasn't a movie about fighting.

I can't wait for the next movies; I expect to have read all the books by then. Unfortunately I have a pile of books to get through at the moment, before I can thing about THG, but I also expect it'll take at least two years for a sequel. That's disappointing, because the actors are already well older than the characters they are playing. I'd always thought Harry Potter should have been one a year.

As far as splitting the finale... yes, the studios do that with popular books now because they can make a lot more money. They've already got you hooked. I haven't read the books, but while the screenplay may have captured enough of the essence of the book, it's always nice to have more details... but if they were going to do that, I'd rather see it with character development in the beginning than the end. But the book lovers almost always scream for the more subtle details that are necessarily cut out of the story in order to make it "fit" on the screen. I guess I'm saying we shouldn't complain until we see it - they may very well do a great job.

[Niku]

I saw it on the weekend, for the 2 hours and 30 minutes I think is a good adaptation from the book.

The only thing it lacks is perhaps 10 minutes more of introduction for introducing the characters at the beginning of the film. The death of Katniss dad I felt it not very emotional and liked Seneca ending.

[WhiteFang]

I watched the movie and NO, I didn't read the books at all, but I am pretty tempted to read it and it was a good movie to watch. The movie concept in terms of the arena and killing, is very much related to Battle Royale, and that movie is rated R21 and above which is very nasty for the young audience.

I must admit that there is very minimum blood but you could roughly expect what is happening. I was hoping to find out more on the individual districts 'specialisation' or even other characters development. It was a good watch and I am hoping to see there will be a sequel on this.

[Vindicare]

While I've heard the Battle Royale comparison before, I don't buy it. Sure it's kids killing each other, but totally different reasons and locations.

BR is a population control issue on an island. HG is to quell rebellion in the country in an isolated part of the same country.

[WhiteFang]

While I've heard the Battle Royale comparison before, I don't buy it. Sure it's kids killing each other, but totally different reasons and locations.

BR is a population control issue on an island. HG is to quell rebellion in the country in an isolated part of the same country.

I am sure I can put this across without de-railing this topic completely and I do enjoy this movie. I am making a comparison and higlighting here, is because the killing portion and concept of a lone survivor at the end of it is the same as Battle Royale. Storyline, yes is different. Concept of the controlled environment is definitely quite similar. If you have watched it before on how the killing works, you will realise how similar it can be. Of course, I can list the details of the similarities of both such killing mechanisms and other relevant controlling factors. This is not something 'new' to me.

[legolijntje]

I was hoping to find out more on the individual districts 'specialisation' or even other characters development. It was a good watch and I am hoping to see there will be a sequel on this.

I read all 3 books, and this will come more in part 2 and part 3. Part 1 is about the Hunger Games itself, part 2 and espaccialy part 3 are about something completely different...

Edited April 9, 2012 by legolijntje

[The Legonater]

I read all 3 books, and this will come more in part 2 and part 3. Part 1 is about the Hunger Games itself, part 2 and espaccialy part 3 are about something completely different...

I wouldn't say completely different. More unexpected than different, as the two are connected in various ways.