What did I think of the HUNGER GAMES? Well-------ON PEETA
His was the first name I could think of after I finished watching the movie. The burning question in my mind about the next movie is "What will happen to Peeta." Keep in mind that I read the books after I had seen the trailer for the film adaptation. So I imagined each character with their actor's face ever present in my mind. Josh Hutcherson surpassed my expectations of what Peeta should act like. The only thing I didn't like about his character is that he didn't get more dialogue with Katniss to show us, the audience, just how in love with her he is.
Favorite scene w/ Peeta: Obviously the cave scene. And when Katniss finds him all camouflaged! And when he shouts "Go run!" Also, he didn't look too bad tossing stuff around during training.
ON KATNISS
The reason why she wasn't first on my list of mentioned is because she is too ordinary. Usually I enjoy the ordinary hero as much as the next viewer especially if the unexpected hero is a girl...however, although Jennifer Lawrence's acting was Katniss good I just don't enjoy her as much as a character. She was very protective at the beginning of Prim and bitter towards her mother which I never liked about her. She's a very tricky heroine. You are supposed to like her and hate her and identify with her all at the same time. And I can do all of that! I just don't love her.
Favorite scene w/ Katniss: Rue's death. She got a chance to show her emotion. In the film it seemed as if Katniss knew what she was doing and you couldn't actually believe that she could lose. She was up there with Cato as far as survival and strategy goes I think. There could have been more of a risk with her and there wasn't enough for me.
ON EFFIE
Instead of going in the list of "other" characters Effie stands out because other than Peeta, this movie got Effie straight on! From the way she dressed, her accent, high shoes, to the way she yelled out the phrase that is taking over tumblr "That's Mahogany!" Effie Trinket stole Katniss' thunder.
Favorite scene w/ Effie: All the awkward moments between her and Haymitch. I think I'm going to ship those two from now on in the movies.
ON HAYMITCH
I wish he was grubbier. I wish he was meaner. I wish he had shown more vulnerability when he was drunk. The actor was good. I liked his look but I wish he was just a bit more exaggerated. His relationship with Katniss was good. Even in the movie he was still brutally honest.
Favorite scene w/ Haymitch: After Katniss' interview he says " I like your dress." Effie is standing right next to Katniss so he adds looking at Effie, "Not yours." Effie/Haymitch need to be a canon couple!
ON SNOW
Boring. He was so boring. The only way he resembled President Snow in the books is his hair. I have nothing against Donald Sutherland and that is the problem right there! I didn't hate him! Snow has to be hated. Where was the smell of blood? Where was the coldness? I wanted to snuggle up to him and have him read me a bedtime story he was so nice!
No favorite scene.
ON CAESAR
I didn't know the actor who played Caesar was going to play him in the movie but when I read the book I put Stanley Tucci's face behind that mic. His smile and laugh and gait was exactly how I imagined it. Like Peeta, Caesar did not let me down! He put on a FANTASTIC show.
Favorite scene: The interview with Katniss. It was so awkward but that kiss he gave her on the hand was so sweet of him.
ON CINNA
I love how he was nice and friendly and very supportive to Katniss. I wish I had liked Katniss more. You know to get down to it, I'm just really jealous of her that's why I'm so hard on her character. Because if it was me I'd take advantage of the situation so bad...okay end of that off point. Cinna. Yes. Very good.
Favorite scene: Those moments before the games begin. When he places his forehead to hers. He understands and can sympathize with his tributes.
ON OTHER CHARACTERS
Where was Cinna's support stylists? I missed them. I also missed Madge and the scene at the beginning when Gale and Katniss hunted would have been better if they had added the scene with the two runaways and the one who gets turned into an avox. Avoxes in general. I felt like they toned it down way too much to make it "kid friendly." True it is PG-13 but still it felt like a teen flick. I wanted gritty and creepy and something darker. Where was the mystery and darkness lurking behind those painted faces at the Capitol? I liked the game maker better as Snow than Snow himself? Why? Because he had a mischeviousness about him that the Capitol lacked.
ON MISSING SCENES
1. AVOX
At the beginning of the story Gale and Katniss wander upon two runaway persons in the woods during a hunting expedition. One is killed while the other is taken away in a hovercraft. Katniss runs into this person later on at the Capitol after she has become an Avox. She always felt guilty that she didn't help her. I feel like this side plot would have gone a long way in helping me like Katniss' character more.
2. Peeta's INJURIES
Peeta was supposed to have his leg amputated! What happened there? He was supposed to have almost died? Instead he just has a small fever from a very small cut in his leg. Big fail there!
3. Cinna's TEAM
I missed this rambunctious shallow bunch. Sure it would have made this movie longer, but again just more things that would have added to Katniss' character boost on the ladder of my favor.
4. Haymitch AT THE REAPING
Why wasn't Haymitch at the Reaping? He was supposed to keel over drunk!
5.TRIBUTES
Where were the eyes of the dead tributes in the mutts? Why didn't anyone react more to the food getting blown up? I didn't feel enough desperateness and hate between all the tributes during the games. Sure they all may not have enjoyed their time there, but I am sure there were some who were blood thirsty and that was shown in Cato but there wasn't enough fear and desperateness in the rest of the victims.
6. GALE/PEETA/KATNISS
I didn't feel there was enough of a struggle between the three of them. There was one moment when Gale sees Peeta/Katniss together in the cave but I don't feel that the movie did justice to the struggle Katniss was feeling by playing the lover. Peeta didn't even seem to care that much when she says she wishes she could forget it all. The dial on Peeta and Katniss' relationship was tuned down so low I could barely detect it. If there wasn't that kiss I don't know...there was one scene that was perfect with Peeta/Katniss. When she hears a cannon and thinks its Peeta and then bumps into him and scolds him for picking nightlock berries perfect. Yeah. Peeta did well on his part of being in love but I didn't feel the struggle in Katniss. All Katniss was in was survival mode. Oh well. Maybe the next movie will remedy this.
OVERALL VIEW
Okay so if I had to rate this movie I would give it an 8!
The cinematography was really good--I just wish the camera wasn't so shaky and music videoish on some parts I was getting dizzy. Acting good. Actor choice was pretty good. Violence was well represented. Storyline....I know its hard to shorten a book but I wish they had added more to make this story gutsier. They toned it down alot and that's not the reason I enjoy these books so much. Its about a heartless society. They kill kids. Its supposed to be gritty and creepy and scary. They needed more creepy. Also, more desperate. Snow again was a BIG FAIL! Other than that, I really liked Peeta and Effie and smiled so much when Katniss blew up the supplies. Many great memorable moments. So now I'm off to buy the books so that I can re-read the first one again before watching the movie again!
May the odds be ever in your favor.
No comments:
Post a Comment