Hunger Games

[owlmoose]

Saw it on Friday. It was good. Improved on some of the things I didn't love about the books, kept others about the same. People disagree about this, but I was glad to not be quite so deeply in Katniss's head: the excellent behind-the-scenes stuff with the gamemakers and President Snow, the announcers, and the uprising in District 11. The downside, of course, is that we saw much less of how conflicted Katniss was about playing the star-crossed lovers game. They showed it, but it had to be more subtle. I think it came across, but then I knew it was there. Unfortunately, I like Peeta even less now than I did before. It probably doesn't help that the actor who plays Gale is smoking hot, and Peeta is... not, but all the issues I had with Peeta's manipulativeness are fully on display. I'll be very interested to see how they carry it forward.

Lenny Kravitz as Cinna was absolutely perfect. I love that character so much, and they did him justice. I know not everyone was sold on Woody Harrelson as Haymitch beforehand, but I thought he was pitch perfect. I am also now more in love with Thresh and Rue than ever before. Finally, Stanley Tucci rules all.

There is a lot of shakycam and quick-cuts editing. I found it effective, but tiring. Be warned, if that kind of thing gives you headaches and/or motion sickness.

I feel as though I should have more to say about this, but maybe I talked myself out over dinner afterwards. I'll probably see it again with other folks in a couple of weeks, maybe I'll have more coherent thoughts then.

Comments

[stealth_noodle]

I really loved the sets and casting for the Hunger Games (Lenny Kravitz! <3), and I thought the shift to outside Katniss's head was pretty much necessary for the film and also done well.

Really hated the camera work, though. I found myself wanting to grab the shakycam and hold it the hell still so I could see what was going on. One of the friends I saw the film with ended up leaving the theater because she was so severely motion-sick. :/

[owlmoose]

I suspect the shaky-cam use was, in part, to give the impression of extreme violence while preserving the PG-13 rating. How they are going to maintain that going forward, especially into Mockingjay, I have no idea.

[stealth_noodle]

Mockingjay might just be filmed by spinning a camera in circles. :P

I was disappointed that Peeta emerged from the games with his leg intact, too. Makes me wonder whether Katniss will end up with her burn scars.