Friday, March 23, 2012

Hunger Games Movie Review

Last night I went to the 12:01 am viewing of The Hunger Games.  I had been anticipating this for months.  I bought my ticket weeks ago.  I was so excited I could barely concentrate all day!

First shocking thing was it wasn't that packed.  Yes, we got there an hour early and by the time the movie started the theater was full, but I think I was expecting more craziness.  There were a few people that dressed up like people from the Capitol- crazy clothes, bright pink hair, etc. but for the most part people were in their comfy clothes because it was midnight.

They showed a preview for Breaking Dawn Part 2 which I thought was way disappointing.  It didn't really show anything except that Bella is a vampire now (shocker).

Finally, the main event!  Overall I loved the movie.  It was hard not to be critical because I loved the books so much, but for the most part they stuck really close to the book.  The casting was excellent I thought.  Katniss was perfect.  She was not warm and loveable, but you love her anyway and are rooting for her the whole way.  I was a little worried about Peeta because he didn't look so cute in some of the pics I saw, but he ended up having some hot moments and he is just so charming and says such swoon-worthy things, and the way he looks at Katniss...ahhh I love Peeta!  But dang Gale is really hot in the movie and I actually felt bad for Gale in the movie having to see Katniss and Peeta like that and I didn't feel that when reading the books.

Prim does an excellent job.  Rue was cute, but we just didn't get to know her enough in the movie I think.  In fact all of the tributes were not well known at all.  Haymitch was not what I was expecting and not quite as drunk as I imagined him, but he was good.  Cinna was good, but again I didn't get to know him as well in the movie and same for Effie and all the other secondary characters.

My only complaint was the shaky camera.  I get why they did that, but I had a major headache when I left from all the movement on the screen.

I already want to read the books and see the movie again.  And I cannot wait to see the rest of the movies!

The movie did make me question some things I thought the first time I read the books...mainly the ending of the last book.  So I think I am going to go back and read them all again.

I don't want to ruin anything for ya'll so I will stop here. Please tell me your thoughts!  I went with two of my friends who had both read the books too and they were a little disappointed.  I would love to hear from someone who hasn't read the books too because I think some little things in the movie would be lost on people who hadn't read the books.

Oh and when Catching Fire comes out I will not be going to the midnight showing.  It is just not worth it to be this tired!  I think I would have enjoyed it more if I went to see it today.  Happy Hunger Games Ya'll!

4 comments:

Marie said...

I am so excited to see this!! I only read the first book and I told myself I'll read Catching Fire after I see the movie (even though I read Hunger Games like 2 years ago lol)!

I was disappointed that Gale was cuter than Peeta when they released the casting information, but I think it'll work out better this way!

Kristen Danielle said...

We went and saw it last night at a late showing. I loved it!! But, I do agree with all of your statements... especially about Rue. I think that if I just watched the movie, I would not have been that distraught about Rue dying... but the background of the book made me cry like a blubbering baby when Rue died.

They didn't show the breaking dawn trailer at the showing last night. I was disappointed! But, from the sounds of it, I didn't miss anything. I can't wait for Breaking Dawn Pt. 2!!! I can't believe Catching fire doesn't come out until November of NEXT YEAR! :(

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

Gosh, I wish we lived near each other. None of the girls in my close group of friends read these books (or really read much at all if I'm being honest) and one of them came with me for the movie, as well as a girl from my grad program (whom I thought had read the book but found out after the movie hadn't) and my friend was on her phone the entire time (we were in the backrow). She wouldn't come out and say it, but I'm pretty sure she hated it.

I appreciate her coming, don't get me wrong, but I just wish I had more friends around me that enjoy the same things I do! Ugh!

So, the movie! I thought it was incredible. I wasn't expecting to love it, and I really didn't Love, Love it because there was two main things left out that bothered me, but I think it is incredibly hard to transfer something like this from print to screen!

I'm really glad I read the book again this week so that all of the details were fresh in my head!

Anyway, hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Shoshanah said...

I've actually seen it twice already. Once Friday night with a group of friends and once today with the boy. I'll be posting my review on Monday, but the short answer is, I loved it.

And I completely agree about midnight showings. i said after the last Harry Potter I wouldn't do it anymore. Yes, it's a fun environment to see a movie in, but I can barely remember parts of the HP movies because I was so tired watching them.