The Hunger Games; Movie Discussion

[Beck]

I saw it this morning, no way would I see it this afternoon there will be people everywhere! I didn't want to wait either though

I loved it. I wasn't pleased with either lead male casting before today, Gale I liked straight off. Exactly how he should have been. It took me until Peeta's initial interview to warm up to the actor playing him but after that I was ok with him. Lenny K was perfect as Cinna, there were some nice moments with him but the rest of the fashion crew were barely there and weren't even named. Effie was the PITA I expected and hoped for. Haymitch was perfect. Donald Sutherland was a perfect President Snow, evil seeped from him The chick who plays Trixie on Deadwood was Katniss' mother, she suited that role perfectly too. Katniss herself was great, everything you want her to be. The other tributes were good too, pretty well cast all round imo.

Casting aside.... the lead up to the reaping was well done, as was the reaping scene. A few tears were shed. I didn't like how Katniss got her mockingjay pin but I do think it was needed as they couldn't have every scene in the movie or go into too many characters, so for those that haven't read the books I think the way the movie did it was better.

Katniss' connection with Rue wasn't as well shown in the movie as the books, I didn't really feel for them as a team until Rue died. That was heartbreaking So was Katniss' reaction to thinking Peeta betrayed her, though as a viewer it was pretty clear what he was doing. Their chemistry while in the Hunger Games was pretty convincing, much more so than Katniss describes in the book! Though at the end after it is all over she does look very uncomfortable with it and more of how you know she is feeling in the books comes out. It does with her interviews before the games too.

They also showed

SPOILER: Click to show

District 11's reaction to Rue's death, and the beginnings of their rebellion. That scene right after Rue's death added to the emotion of it a lot imo.

(not actually a huge spoiler)

They didn't focus too much on gore, the aftermath was more prominent. As in seeing them dead and not too much gore in the actual killing. They also changed it a bit with

SPOILER: Click to show

the dogs at the end, they weren't made up from the other dead tributes like in the book. That was probably deemed too psychologically damaging for an M movie.

Overall - loved it. Loved almost everything about it. Yes some things were cut out, it was over 2 hours long already though so some had to be. To me nothing really important was left out. Will definitely see it again. I had to laugh at myself though, all the way through I was on edge and thinking "oh no!"s and I knew what was coming

[Nico]

I hope there is no spoilers there Beck I know I have read the books but I don't want to know what scenes were added, missing etc; (Just personal preference) I can't read if it divulges to much

[Beck]

Um... I don't think it divulges too much. I didn't go into details with anything but I did mention one scene they added. Nothing that would ruin the movie. I've added spoiler tags to that sentence.

[Loz]

I went to Gold Class this arvo (12:50pm sess) and it was almost full. From the moment the movie started you could hear a pin drop. To be quiet honest i would describe the atmosphere as reverential. I haven't seen a reaction like that before, not even for my beloved Harry Potter. Judging on that there weren't many people there who hadn't read the book.

I'm not going to go into too much detail until everyone has experienced it for themselves and we can discuss it in full. I will say that it is the best book adaptation i have ever seen. I'd go as far as saying its pretty much flawless.

Having seen Winter's Bone I am well aware of what Jennifer Lawrence is capable of but she is simply perfection as Katniss. I cannot think of anyone else who could have encompassed everything i love about that character. Josh is great, Lenny is great, Stanley is brilliant, Elizabeth is great, Liam in his few brief scenes is wonderful. Everyone is simply outstanding, can't fault a single one of them.

Its brilliant. Get there and see it Nico!!

[shred]

These reviews make me want to watch it tomorrow!

I was thinking of going next week when the crowds die down.

[Bre]

I went to the cinema today and the line for Hunger Games at 10pm was wrapped around the whole theater, which is a big theater. It was crazy.

[Nico]

I wouldn't go to the late showings. 2nd busiest to the weekend shows! We are going Sunday at 10am. It better not be to packed lol

I saw that they are selling 10 tickets per second lol.

[Beck]

There were about 8 people in my cinema when I saw it Best time to go, kids were all at school and most adults at work

[Lizzie]

It came out in England today, and I saw it today. I thought it was brilliant!

[Nico]

Were the pictures busy Liz? I told Steven we should have went during the day but he procrastinated lol.

[Lizzie]

Yeah it was full, we had to book online. Worth £15 though! I thought Jennifer Lawrence was perfectly cast - actually, all of them were, but her particularly.

[Nico]

Steven took me to see it this morning, even at 10am showing it was packed, we got there about 9.40 and luckily got seats in the middle. I loved it, everybody was fantastic and I am SO glad I didn't read anything about reworked scenes and cut scenes. I am putting my review in spoiler tags.

SPOILER: Click to show

It seemed clear that they had to lesson the killing scenes to keep the rating low (which is obvious) there was a lot of movement with the camera during death scenes I loved that, Steven said it made him queezy .

LOVED Peeta more in the movie than the book, I feel the book made Peeta seem weak, his comment to Katniss when she says they will go hunt "I will take the bow.....I'm just kidding, I'll go gather" was better than in the book where they make it seem like he is useless at anything else.

Loved the training segment and the focus on it. Loved how much I hated the careers.

I agree with you Beck that the relationship with Rue and Katniss wasn't as close as in the book but her death was beautifully done, Katniss' reaction sealed what a great job JL done in that role.

I loved the scene on the Cornocopia at the end I am not sure why, I just thought it was very well done, I really loved the chemistry between Peeta and Katniss, they sold me...it seemed more real than in the book. Also LOVED the scene of district 11's uprising.

About the pin. I wasn't totally sold but I understood it, getting it from Greasy Sae in District 12's Hob seemed more... special than from the mayors daughter but I think getting it from the Mayors daughter showed that even though she was rich, she was still a friend.

I used the word loved alot but I really enjoyed this movie. The only other movie I have enjoyed this much recently is Star Trek.

On the other hand the chick next to the girl beside me constantly saying to her friend "This is where Twilight was filmed right? "yeah this is the same as twilight" and then "did they win?" "Who is that? what happened" ....thank god her friend told her to shut up because I was ready to .

Also to add, I think they did a great job with Snow. They had to add him in and I got tingles when I saw the scene where he stared at Katniss during the tribute parade.

[Loz]

I would have told that chick two up right off mate! What an annoying f-wit

Think so far we are all in agreeance that it's wicked. My goddaughter went yesterday. Katniss is her new hero. About bloody time she liked someone decent!

[shred]

Argh! Am I the last one to watch this?

Glad to know they've followed the book closely. Hate it when book adaptions don't do that.

[shred]

Watched it this afternoon and I loved it.

Thought it was a little slower in some place than the book - book did seemed more actioned pack - but overall, it was a great adaptation. The direction was great. Enjoyed the hand-cam moments and those 'quiet' scenes - especially the scene at the start of the games.

Even though I knew it was coming, I held my breath during the reaping before Prim's name was read out. Rue's death was heartbreaking. I'm pretty sure I heard a few people in the cinema sniffled during that scene.

Not sure how I feel about changing the pin's scene. On one hand, it was better than the book but on the other, I'm annoyed that they didn't choose the book's version.

I had my doubts over some of the casting but after watching it, I'm sold. JL was Katniss. So was JH as Peeta. Can't think of anyone better. JL nailed her part. Big fan now. Only problem I still had was Lenny K as Cena. For some reason, I thought NPH would have been better.

So...the sequel is coming out soon right? Like tomorrow?

[Beck]

NPH as Cinna? Really? No way.

[Loz]

Yeah got to agree with Beck there. NPH is 75 types of wrong. I think Lenny was bloody fantastic as Cinna. He was a close second to Jennifer IMO. Perfect casting.

[Nico]

I think Cinna had to come across as easy going, friendly and charming. I thought LK did that brilliantly, some of the first words to Kat were "That was amazing, volunteering to save your sister" unlike the rest of the Capital people he meant it 100% not that it made amazing tv but that it was an brilliant thing to do for someone you love. I don't like NPH though

I agree with the pin. I couldn't decide if I did or didn't like it. I think it means more coming from the Hob which we will see much more in the next movie but does that mean we won't see the Mayor or his daughter at all ?

[shred]

So Ross is not directing Catching Fire anymore.

[shred]

I will be a happy camper if this really happened.

No 'Catching Fire' for us say Whedon and Goddard.