******Possible Spoilers******
A week ago I posted my inaugural blog about the Hunger Games trilogy. This was leading up to the release of the movie this week. I saw the move yesterday and I am happy to say that it will not disappoint.
I am always weary of movies made from books I really like. When I read its like a little movie going on in my head. I lose myself in the book and immerse myself in details, that unless it were a 4 hour movie, hollywood wouldn’t be able to produce. But, I have found few movies that are as close to the book as the Hunger Games. Memoirs of a Geisha, Marley and Me and The Notebook are a few that I read before seeing the movie and were very close to the book. I will add Hunger Games to this list.
In the movie, they definitely made it so that you did not have to read the books before seeing the movie. I think this is smart on their part since not everyone is a reader. The movie starts off with an explanation of how the Hunger Games came to be and basically what it is. So in the first couple minutes you really know what is coming. What you don’t know is the plot and plot twists with Katniss and Peeta.
The movie starts off with you in District 12 the day of the Reaping. It started out almost identical to the book. When it started off I thought to myself “this is exactly what I pictured in my head”. The problem I had was the way the camera kept moving. It was very blair witch and could make someone nauseated. I just kept saying to myself please don’t let the entire move be like this. Don’t worry…it got better. Everything from the Reaping to the training leading up to the games was very well done and followed the book really well. One of my criticisms is that they kind of slid over the relationship that builds between Katniss and Peeta. Before he reveals on TV that he has always had a crush on Katniss they actually do develop a friendship. This wasn’t really shown too well. I do think they should have taken the time to show this a bit more. Their relationship is intrigal throughout the whole series. They did a good job in showing how the affection is one-sided on Peeta’s part, but in the book you see how Katniss begins to stop thinking and really does start to feel something for him.
The violence lived up to the book. I think they did it so that you knew how much violence was goin on in the game, but could still make it a PG-13 movie. Any more real focus on the violence and it would definitely have been rated R. Another criticism of the movie is that they made it look easy for Katniss. Yes, she had her trials and tribulations, but in all it looked really easy for her to survive. The book focuses more on her trials then the movie did, but it probably would have weighted the movie down if they focused too much on them.
I will say one of the best things the movie did was it illustrated some of the things the book did not. For instance, they showed a lot of images that you knew went on in the background, but wasn’t talked about in the book. Hamich talking to sponsors on Katniss and Peeta’s behalf and the killing of Seneca Crane. You knew these things went on but it wasn’t given any life or concentration in the book. I liked these touches. It really opened things up for the next movie.
All in all it was an excellent movie and I would definitely recommend it. Now, I am gonna sit here and wait to get the DVD until they make the next movie. 🙂
Currently Reading: His Dark Bond by Anne Marsh, The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice
Currently Listening: RE-reading One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Up Next: Lover Reborn by J.R Ward and Wanted: Undead or Alive by Kerrelyn Sparks ****Both coming out March 27, 2012****