The Hunger Games

[4Squarebaby]

Count me in that demographic…I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s, and they didn’t have computers making all the special effects they can do now. I guess that’s why they didn’t need to jiggle the camera and fast-cut to make it look more ‘realistic’ so much back then.

I think Bruce Lee was new to us and we didn’t expect every soldier and spy to fight like Lee because they had a few hours of training in spy school

 

[Pug]

Count me in that demographic…I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s, and they didn’t have computers making all the special effects they can do now. I guess that’s why they didn’t need to jiggle the camera and fast-cut to make it look more ‘realistic’ so much back then. This is probably why I have higher expectations when it comes to paying $8+ to go watch a movie, and since most of them don’t meet this expectation I find myself not going to the theater much these days. I went and saw the Hunger Games on the discount night where they serve free popcorn .

Side note: Nothing is more disappointing than going to see a movie in the theater, and the entire thing looks like it was shot using a camcorder anyone can pick up at a local Walmart, and then hearing the younger people raving over how great a movie it was.

How irritating to be too old to be the right demographic and yet still too young to get half price senior discount movie tickets. I agree, too much money to see a sub-standard movie. Anyway, some of the old time effects look better than the computer ones, in my opinion. I supposed it depends on how much money they sunk into the computer effects. I hated the effects for Spiderman, for example. His swinging was not up to snuff (digitally done). (I don’t mean the new Spiderman, the one they were advertising in the previews for Hunger Games, but did you notice that first-person view they gave Spidy? Looked like a prime jiggle-cam opportunity.)

 

[Lokabrenna]

I saw it last night and I thought it was a faithful adaptation of the books, but what really irked me was how they cut out details that made some of the scenes in the book that much more touching/terrifying. On the other hand, I did like how they did some of the more expository bits.

 

[empther]

The Hunger Games is a story about a society that accepts the unacceptable as entertainment, using age-old tales of youths sacrificed for the common “good,” whatever that might be.

It is not a celebration of evil, though it directly addresses people who accept evil in their society. There are lessons we can draw from the story, but I don’t necessarily believe that they will have any effect in that regard.

I read the book.
The book is written in the first person voice of Katniss. She says nothing about what was before the country of Penam. In fact she may think Penam always existed. Apparently, she knows nothing about any other kind of government or society other than that of Penam.

The people don’t accept the Games. They have to watch or they’ll be severley punished.

The people don’t accept evil in their society. They hate it. But they know nothing else, judging by Katniss. It’s a tragedy.

The lesson is you can only do what you know to do, you can only be that which you know you can be.

Other lessons can be drawn from the story, but that’s enough for now.

 

[LetsTalk237]

I read the book and saw the movie at the midnight premiere.

The book was amazing! I thought the movie was good too but it still felt like it was missing some details. But the funny thing is that it was 2 and half hours long.

I read the second book too and cannot wait for that movie to come out! I am currently reading the third book and it seems good so far.

Now here is my horrifying movie experience. Pretty gruesome. I was sitting next to a couple of people who wouldn’t stop chatting. Thank god though they left half way through the movie. There was also some guy sitting a couple seats from me who was throwing up in a cup. Then he ends up dropping the cup so the throw up spills everywhere! The stench was there and everyone started to get mad at him. I don’t know why he just didn’t leave if he was throwing up. Makes no sense!

 

[SGTTOM]

I read the book and saw the movie at the midnight premiere.

The book was amazing! I thought the movie was good too but it still felt like it was missing some details. But the funny thing is that it was 2 and half hours long.

I read the second book too and cannot wait for that movie to come out! I am currently reading the third book and it seems good so far.

Now here is my horrifying movie experience. Pretty gruesome. I was sitting next to a couple of people who wouldn’t stop chatting. Thank god though they left half way through the movie. There was also some guy sitting a couple seats from me who was throwing up in a cup. Then he ends up dropping the cup so the throw up spills everywhere! The stench was there and everyone started to get mad at him. I don’t know why he just didn’t leave if he was throwing up. Makes no sense!

Wow I guess that’s why I go to late showings where there is hardly any people.

Anyways I’d like to see this. I heard someone say there were too many close up shots and it seemed like they never wanted to show you a big picture. I hope that isn’t true. I’ve noticed that in some films and it annoys me. I am guessing it will be decent but nothing special. Maybe it will surprise me though.

 

[exoflare]

I just saw this today (haven’t read the books) and I REALLY liked it.

 

[SGTTOM]

I just heard it has a ton of shaky cam . I am still going to see it though I really dislike shaky cam for the most part.

PS: Love your signature exoflare!

 

[Axe_Swipe]

Having read the books already, the movie was quite a disappointment. Too many of the supporting characters were diminished to two-minute “extras” (like her prep team) or eliminated completely (like Peeta’s designer, Portia). Lenny Kravitz’s Cinna wasn’t all that convincing and Woody Harrelson’s Haymitch wasn’t well…drunk enough.

The way the first ten minutes of the movie was written in comparison to the book was terrible. Madge, the mayor’s daughter was written out completely. While she wasn’t too important in the first book, she does play a more prevalent role in the later books and frankly, they should have kept her in.

It was worth the $5 per ticket we paid to see it, but not any more than that.

 

[empther]

When I read the first book, I realized they would have to cut out a lot of minor characters and scenes, or the movie would be too long and confusing.

It’s always that way. Even Gone With the Wind which ran nearly four hours left out some stuff. For example, in the book Scarlet had a child before she got together with Rhett. Not in the movie.

One of my favorite stories is, The Caine Mutiny. Half of the book is about this love affair of the junior Navy officer and his girl friend. Boring! The movie cut out 90% of this love affair stuff to concentrate on the mutiny, and the movie is a classic.

 

[marytk]

When I read the first book, I realized they would have to cut out a lot of minor characters and scenes, or the movie would be too long and confusing.

It’s always that way. Even Gone With the Wind which ran nearly four hours left out some stuff. For example, in the book Scarlet had a child before she got together with Rhett. Not in the movie.

One of my favorite stories is, The Caine Mutiny. Half of the book is about this love affair of the junior Navy officer and his girl friend. Boring! The movie cut out 90% of this love affair stuff to concentrate on the mutiny, and the movie is a classic.

Scarlett had two kids,one per husband before Rhett (not that they seemed that important to her either so I can see why they didn’t get in the movie
Yes they do have to cut characters. It is hard when it is someone that I like in a book but they can’t keep everyone. While I can see cutting the character, I didn’t like the way they got the mockingjay pin. Katniss buys it for her sister saying that while she wears it nothing bad will happen. Then Prim is picked for the hunger games. Real good at keeping her safe hey? So prim gives it back because it is such a good luck charm If we fleshed everyone out as well as the book did the movies would all be at least five hours long

 

[PatriceA]

Scarlett had two kids,one per husband before Rhett (not that they seemed that important to her either so I can see why they didn’t get in the movie
Yes they do have to cut characters. It is hard when it is someone that I like in a book but they can’t keep everyone. While I can see cutting the character, I didn’t like the way they got the mockingjay pin. Katniss buys it for her sister saying that while she wears it nothing bad will happen. Then Prim is picked for the hunger games. Real good at keeping her safe hey? So prim gives it back because it is such a good luck charm If we fleshed everyone out as well as the book did the movies would all be at least five hours long

But one can look at it from the point of view the pin did keep Prim safe…and Katniss.

 

[marytk]

But one can look at it from the point of view the pin did keep Prim safe…and Katniss.

Prin’s “luck” was a sister who loved her and would lay down her life. I can’t see how the pin helped. I like the pin as a sign but not as a good luck piece.

 

[Fone_Bone_2001]

Too many of the supporting characters were diminished to two-minute “extras” (like her prep team) or eliminated completely (like Peeta’s designer, Portia). Lenny Kravitz’s Cinna wasn’t all that convincing.

Portia was there. I don’t remember her having any lives, though.

I loved Kravitz’s Cinna.

 

[LetsTalk237]

I thought all the actors were perfect for their roles.

The one thing I wish the movie would of portrayed a little better was the love scene between Katniss and Peeta in the cave. Because their love affection plays a huge part in the second book. I don’t really want to write more about this subject because I don’t want to spoil it for those who haven’t read the second book. But for those who have read the second book, you should know what I am talking about.

 

[PatriceA]

Portia was there. I don’t remember her having any lives, though.

I loved Kravitz’s Cinna.

I did too! And as far as the pin being just a symbol, Suzanne Collins did help write the screenplay so maybe she decided that was the way to go and show that the pin tied them all together instead of introducing the mayor’s daughter. I wasn’t upset she wasn’t a character in the movie at all.

 

[Judas_Thaddaeus]

I read *The Hunger Games *(the first book of the trilogy) because my teenage daughter asked to read it. It seems to me that the book has some serious problems. See the review at:
goodreadingguide.com/Hunger-Games-1-Collins-Suzanne/9781407109084
Does anyone know the views of the author with regard to mercy killing, suicide, and cooperation in evil?
The moral reasoning of the characters in the book was mainly emotive.

 

[SGTTOM]

I read *The Hunger Games *(the first book of the trilogy) because my teenage daughter asked to read it. It seems to me that the book has some serious problems. See the review at:
goodreadingguide.com/Hunger-Games-1-Collins-Suzanne/9781407109084
Does anyone know the views of the author with regard to mercy killing, suicide, and cooperation in evil?
The moral reasoning of the characters in the book was mainly emotive.

From the review I don’t like the sound of the book at all. Are there any redeeming qualities or characters in the film or book?

 

[empther]

From the review I don’t like the sound of the book at all. Are there any redeeming qualities or characters in the film or book?

Yes. Rue, Thresher, Peeta, Cinna, Gale, are all good people. The survivors survive because the viewing audience want them to, and the State doesn’t dare disappoint them.

I read the book a few weeks ago and saw the movie today. It’s not Gone With the Wind, but it’s not a slasher movie either. It’s worth seeing.
It will be on television someday and I don’t think anything will be editted out.

A priest on the catholic.org forum said he enjoyed the movie very much.

 

[PatriceA]

Now here is my horrifying movie experience. Pretty gruesome. I was sitting next to a couple of people who wouldn’t stop chatting. Thank god though they left half way through the movie. There was also some guy sitting a couple seats from me who was throwing up in a cup. Then he ends up dropping the cup so the throw up spills everywhere! The stench was there and everyone started to get mad at him. I don’t know why he just didn’t leave if he was throwing up. Makes no sense!

Off topic, but when did getting drunk and going to the movies become a common occurance?? We went to see a different movie the other night, at 6pm no less, and there were several people drunk to the point they couldn’t even walk a straight line. Who does that??