More detailed THG reaction post - Part 1/2
I had considered waiting until I had a second viewing under my belt, but I'll go ahead and give my impressions now, to see how they end up comparing to future viewings. Warning, this is a LONG list, which is why I'm splitting it into two posts, the latter of which will come later.
-- Disappointing costume turnout! A couple of fully-dressed Katnisses, but mostly just Katniss braids on the girls. Great turnout on the T-shirts, though. My favorite was a group of girls in homemade Team Peeta shirts: the front said "I love the boy with bread" with the "O" in "boy" as a Mockingjay symbol, and then each girl had different romantic Peeta quotes on the back, like "Real or not real?"
-- Audience previews reaction: laughter at Titanic, but cheers for Twilight? Definitely tells you the age range of most of the audience there. (Side ramble: Biggest reaction for the glimpse of Vamp!Bella. I just don't see any particular reason to be cheering over the death and loss of humanity of a young teenage girl, but whatever.)
-- The tone of the movie was perfectly captured right off. Opening with the proud propo video praising the wonderfulness of the Games, then cutting to District 12 and Prim screaming from her nightmare about being Reaped. Willow Shields as Prim brought me to tears in nearly every scene she was in. Then Lawrence makes me cry for the first time - and not the last - as she sings the lullaby to Prim.
-- District 12 looks perfect.
-- Yay, a split-second glimpse of Buttercup!
-- I'm fine with the Mockingjay pin change: Katniss giving it to Prim to protect her, and Prim returning it when Katniss volunteers to protect her. Already we see that Katniss IS the Mockingjay: she will do anything to protect her sister. And it's only going to make certain events in Mockingjay the movie more tragic.
-- Effie: perfect.
-- The Capitol cataloging each of the children at the Reaping by taking bloody fingerprints. Effective touch.
-- Katniss's desperate screams as Prim is being taken away and then her "I volunteer!"... Lawrence NAILED it. Then Prim's cries as Katniss is taken... ohhh.
-- District 12's silent refusal to applaud and their salute to Katniss, yes!
-- The handling of the bread scene: I originally felt teased that they only showed such a brief glimpse of it at first, but we see more and more of the scene revealed in silent flashbacks during key scenes with Katniss and Peeta. Nicely done.
-- I was originally mixed on the toning-down of Haymitch, but I can see why they went for it. Keeping in something like Haymitch falling off the stage at the Reaping would probably have undercut the whole vibe of "the Reaping really is a horrible, horrible thing." Woody Harrelson still had some great moments as Haymitch, and captured Haymitch's cynicism and "improperness" well.
-- Peeta working the Capitol crowds on the train, and Katniss with this disgusted "WTF" expression. :)
-- The look of the Capitol and its citizens is PERFECT. Not entirely unbased on certain extremes you might see in our current world, just... more exaggerated.
-- Not enough Cinna! I thought Kravitz did fine, though, in what we did see of him.
-- Katniss changing the "channel" showing various scenery on her wall and staring longingly at what looks like the mountains and forests of District 12 - then angrily shutting it off. Yes, Katniss has moments of weakness - and then punishes herself for them. Some people bristle at the idea of adding so many non-book moments to an adaptation, but I have no problem so long as they work, staying true to the spirit of the story and the characters, and this movie did that beautifully.
-- I like that the hand-holding in the chariot ride was Peeta's idea here: further underscoring his talent to charm people/work a crowd.
-- The introduction of Rue, stealthily climbing about in the ceiling netting while everyone else is training down below, then her shadowing Katniss: AWWWW and LOL.
-- Cato's unhingedness and Clove's coldness captured very quickly, very effectively.
-- Katniss's assessment with the Gamemakers: Lawrence perfectly, silently, captured the "WTF" and "Fuck this!" of this moment in the book, before she sends the arrow flying straight at the apple, then her sarcastic "Thank you for your consideration." LOVE. Audience clapping here.
-- Effie's scandalous reaction to the apple incident, combined with Haymitch's giddy thumbs-up? LOL.
-- Stanley Tucci as Caesar: Flawless. The perfect blend of eccentric, charming, and compassionate; I liked the use of those "media spots" with him and Claudius Templesmith providing commentary and exposition on the Games.
-- President Snow warning Seneca to "contain the spark." Chills.
-- The change in Katniss's interview dress: as neat a mental image of a jewel-encrusted gown is in the book, I really see where it would be difficult bringing it to the big-screen. And Haymitch's "Nice dress. Not yours" to Effie, another laugh.
-- Peeta's interview: FABULOUS. This is where Hutcherson sold me on his Peeta. "Do I smell like roses?" :D
-- Rooftop scene! ♥
-- Gale out in the wilderness, where he and Katniss spent so much time, when the Games actually begin. Yes, Gale would refuse to watch Katniss in that moment. I'm neutral on Gale as a whole, but the movie actually made me feel for him.
-- Katniss's absolute, genuine TERROR-struck expression as she's in the tube about to go up into the Arena. Again, Lawrence was brilliant and heart-tugging.
More to come later!
-- Disappointing costume turnout! A couple of fully-dressed Katnisses, but mostly just Katniss braids on the girls. Great turnout on the T-shirts, though. My favorite was a group of girls in homemade Team Peeta shirts: the front said "I love the boy with bread" with the "O" in "boy" as a Mockingjay symbol, and then each girl had different romantic Peeta quotes on the back, like "Real or not real?"
-- Audience previews reaction: laughter at Titanic, but cheers for Twilight? Definitely tells you the age range of most of the audience there. (Side ramble: Biggest reaction for the glimpse of Vamp!Bella. I just don't see any particular reason to be cheering over the death and loss of humanity of a young teenage girl, but whatever.)
-- The tone of the movie was perfectly captured right off. Opening with the proud propo video praising the wonderfulness of the Games, then cutting to District 12 and Prim screaming from her nightmare about being Reaped. Willow Shields as Prim brought me to tears in nearly every scene she was in. Then Lawrence makes me cry for the first time - and not the last - as she sings the lullaby to Prim.
-- District 12 looks perfect.
-- Yay, a split-second glimpse of Buttercup!
-- I'm fine with the Mockingjay pin change: Katniss giving it to Prim to protect her, and Prim returning it when Katniss volunteers to protect her. Already we see that Katniss IS the Mockingjay: she will do anything to protect her sister. And it's only going to make certain events in Mockingjay the movie more tragic.
-- Effie: perfect.
-- The Capitol cataloging each of the children at the Reaping by taking bloody fingerprints. Effective touch.
-- Katniss's desperate screams as Prim is being taken away and then her "I volunteer!"... Lawrence NAILED it. Then Prim's cries as Katniss is taken... ohhh.
-- District 12's silent refusal to applaud and their salute to Katniss, yes!
-- The handling of the bread scene: I originally felt teased that they only showed such a brief glimpse of it at first, but we see more and more of the scene revealed in silent flashbacks during key scenes with Katniss and Peeta. Nicely done.
-- I was originally mixed on the toning-down of Haymitch, but I can see why they went for it. Keeping in something like Haymitch falling off the stage at the Reaping would probably have undercut the whole vibe of "the Reaping really is a horrible, horrible thing." Woody Harrelson still had some great moments as Haymitch, and captured Haymitch's cynicism and "improperness" well.
-- Peeta working the Capitol crowds on the train, and Katniss with this disgusted "WTF" expression. :)
-- The look of the Capitol and its citizens is PERFECT. Not entirely unbased on certain extremes you might see in our current world, just... more exaggerated.
-- Not enough Cinna! I thought Kravitz did fine, though, in what we did see of him.
-- Katniss changing the "channel" showing various scenery on her wall and staring longingly at what looks like the mountains and forests of District 12 - then angrily shutting it off. Yes, Katniss has moments of weakness - and then punishes herself for them. Some people bristle at the idea of adding so many non-book moments to an adaptation, but I have no problem so long as they work, staying true to the spirit of the story and the characters, and this movie did that beautifully.
-- I like that the hand-holding in the chariot ride was Peeta's idea here: further underscoring his talent to charm people/work a crowd.
-- The introduction of Rue, stealthily climbing about in the ceiling netting while everyone else is training down below, then her shadowing Katniss: AWWWW and LOL.
-- Cato's unhingedness and Clove's coldness captured very quickly, very effectively.
-- Katniss's assessment with the Gamemakers: Lawrence perfectly, silently, captured the "WTF" and "Fuck this!" of this moment in the book, before she sends the arrow flying straight at the apple, then her sarcastic "Thank you for your consideration." LOVE. Audience clapping here.
-- Effie's scandalous reaction to the apple incident, combined with Haymitch's giddy thumbs-up? LOL.
-- Stanley Tucci as Caesar: Flawless. The perfect blend of eccentric, charming, and compassionate; I liked the use of those "media spots" with him and Claudius Templesmith providing commentary and exposition on the Games.
-- President Snow warning Seneca to "contain the spark." Chills.
-- The change in Katniss's interview dress: as neat a mental image of a jewel-encrusted gown is in the book, I really see where it would be difficult bringing it to the big-screen. And Haymitch's "Nice dress. Not yours" to Effie, another laugh.
-- Peeta's interview: FABULOUS. This is where Hutcherson sold me on his Peeta. "Do I smell like roses?" :D
-- Rooftop scene! ♥
-- Gale out in the wilderness, where he and Katniss spent so much time, when the Games actually begin. Yes, Gale would refuse to watch Katniss in that moment. I'm neutral on Gale as a whole, but the movie actually made me feel for him.
-- Katniss's absolute, genuine TERROR-struck expression as she's in the tube about to go up into the Arena. Again, Lawrence was brilliant and heart-tugging.
More to come later!