The Hunger Games
by jealouskills @ tumblr
First general stuff, will warn when it turns out spoilerish.
4 out of 5 stars. Powerful movie. Definitely. Will recommend it. Got chills.
The grossness of The Games came out really well on screen when you actually see people watching the Games and cheering and.. It's horrible. When you actually see it happening. The movie really did well portraying that aspect. Even better than the book I might say. I loved Jennifer Lawrence. Did an awesome job as Katniss. Prim (have to check.. Willow Shields) was great. Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman. They were the best.
You see I didn't mention the guys? Yeah. They didn't quite click for me. Gale (Liam Hemsworth) was pretty ok. You don't even see him much. He was just a bit too - polished? - for my taste. If that even makes sense. Whereas Peeta. I had reservations when I heard it was Josh Hutcherson who was going to play him. I don't know, he seemed too "disney" for me and I wasn't sure about his looks. But I admired how he really got into the part and "was" Peeta so I hoped I'd loved him. But no.. There was something wrong. He was ok for the most part. He was like the character but I don't know. Haymitch (checking again.. Woody Harrelson) was good, could've been more drunk but didn't really matter. What bothered me was that he and Peeta looked too much alike! They could've been father and son.
I liked the music. It was versatile and fit the different moods of the movie. The sound-editing in general was really well done.
What bothered me a bit was the documentary-type filming at some points. (You know where the camera shakes and trembles and all that?) Made me feel dizzy. But I understand why they did it and it gave the scenes a certain feel.
And NOW more specific things so don't read if you don't wanna spoil ya!
- Peeta/Katniss love. Left me a bit confused. In the books it was so obvious: Peeta's always loved Katniss, she pretended to love him in the games and ended up caring for him for real. In the movie they didn't explain - or then I just wasn't paying attention - that Peeta didn't do it just for the games. Well, maybe I got something wrong, it's been so long since I read the books.
- I got chills more than once!! When Katniss and Peeta came on the carriage on fire. Girl on Fire. Wow. And Rue's death. Katniss' song and the flowers and the salute. Especially the salute. Chills all over. (But I didn't like Amandla Stenberg's Rue. She was cute yes, but I would've liked her more fragile. And it ruined the salute for me a bit when they did it at The Reaping. I understand why they felt they had to do it but for me it would've been better left out.)
- I had terrible anxiety all through the movie. Personal reasons but the movie didn't actually help. It is a very distressing movie. All the goodbyes and killing. Shaking camera. And the sound. When the countdown ended and the game began I thought I was gonna have to leave the theatre. The sound went off and then the grunts from the killing.. There were other scenes (like when Katniss bombed the Career's stuff) where the sound went off. I don't like that because it reminds me off fainting. Because when you faint, just before the sound does go off or you can hear it like from far away. Also Rue's death, Katniss' delusions from trackerjackers made me feel a bit ill. Well made stuff.
- Goodbyes. Heartbreaking when Katniss said goodbye to Prim but especially her mother. You could see the resentment Katniss feels. I would've liked to have more from Gale saying goodbyes. More emotion.
Edit. - And the mockingjay tune (same from the end of the trailer) was eerily beautiful.
Edit. 2 - Scene where Katniss thought that Peeta ate nightlock was heartwrenching.
Sorry for this being a mile long! And I probably forgot a lot.