Hunger Games
I am still trying to stay away from computers (well, as much as I can because my job IS all about them): my back (sacroiliac joint) is still not well and sitting is not very comfortable. This all said about sitting, I was tempted by free tickets (my friend’s son works in a cinema so he got some free tickets for himself, his mother and me) and went to see "Hunger Games" . Even though my back is feeling worse after sitting for 3 hours in an uncomfortable chair yesterday, I am glad I was tempted because I loved the film.
There were few little things, but overall the film blew me away. You know I wasn’t the biggest fan of the books, but the film managed to improve on the main problem with the book series: fill the gaps in the worldbuilding. The film’s camera work, costumes and designs, new introduced little scenes in the background and the magical (yes, magical!) music score draw you in and give you an impression of reality. As my friend said "the film is just beautiful".
Quite unexpectedly, I adored Jennifer Lawrence to bits. She made me feel for and understand Katniss the way the first-person narrative in the books never did. She was wonderful. I didn’t like the guy that plays Peeta at first (gosh, his blond hair was so visibly fake) , but he grew up on me. Amandla Stenberg was amazing as Rue and I absolutely loved all the older cast: President Snow, Effie Trinket, Haymitch, Caesar and especially the guy who played Seneca Crane (whom I didn’t even notice in the books but on whom I am having an actor-crush now).
As to little niggles: as much as I love Jennifer, I still wish someone younger was cast for her role and (if it is possible in Hollywood) someone who better fits the physical description of a girl with non-White-American ethnicity. Jennifer is 21 which is so NOT 16, and so are many other actors. Yes, I am a sticker for details like this, mainly because in my opinion the shift in age makes the story different. But this is a subjective opinion, of course.
Among less subjective flaws, I thought the second part of the film (The Games themselves) was scrambled up a bit. The first part of the film (pre-games) feels much longer than the second. Many scenes were removed, especially the ones with Peeta and Katniss. Some of the hit-you-where-it-hurts scenes like Cato’s death were seriously underplayed. I see what the film creators were trying to do here (get into the 12 rating category) but in my opinion, this was not necessary.
But still, overall I loved it.
Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley) and his beard: a huge beard appreciation moment:
There were few little things, but overall the film blew me away. You know I wasn’t the biggest fan of the books, but the film managed to improve on the main problem with the book series: fill the gaps in the worldbuilding. The film’s camera work, costumes and designs, new introduced little scenes in the background and the magical (yes, magical!) music score draw you in and give you an impression of reality. As my friend said "the film is just beautiful".
Quite unexpectedly, I adored Jennifer Lawrence to bits. She made me feel for and understand Katniss the way the first-person narrative in the books never did. She was wonderful. I didn’t like the guy that plays Peeta at first (gosh, his blond hair was so visibly fake) , but he grew up on me. Amandla Stenberg was amazing as Rue and I absolutely loved all the older cast: President Snow, Effie Trinket, Haymitch, Caesar and especially the guy who played Seneca Crane (whom I didn’t even notice in the books but on whom I am having an actor-crush now).
As to little niggles: as much as I love Jennifer, I still wish someone younger was cast for her role and (if it is possible in Hollywood) someone who better fits the physical description of a girl with non-White-American ethnicity. Jennifer is 21 which is so NOT 16, and so are many other actors. Yes, I am a sticker for details like this, mainly because in my opinion the shift in age makes the story different. But this is a subjective opinion, of course.
Among less subjective flaws, I thought the second part of the film (The Games themselves) was scrambled up a bit. The first part of the film (pre-games) feels much longer than the second. Many scenes were removed, especially the ones with Peeta and Katniss. Some of the hit-you-where-it-hurts scenes like Cato’s death were seriously underplayed. I see what the film creators were trying to do here (get into the 12 rating category) but in my opinion, this was not necessary.
But still, overall I loved it.
Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley) and his beard: a huge beard appreciation moment: