I gave in
Even though I wasn't planning on going for a few weeks, I asked D if he liked it, as he saw it on Saturday, and he explained that it was mandatory that I go see it, Sunday night, and no, I couldn't wait until Monday. So I called up another friend and asked her to meet me an hour later at the local cinema, and it was on.
I'm a very intense movie watcher. I try not to whisper, I turn my phone on silent, and I'm generally a good patron, except that I get really into movies. If you should ever see a movie with me, I have a tendency to grab the hands, knees, and arms of my friends during intense moments. I dive face-first into shoulders when violence, almost any violence takes place. Occasionally I whimper. During this movie I kept curling my arms around my head to keep away the bad images. Actually, I have no idea why people go see movies with me (other than that I'm fun). I spent most of the movie clinging to the hand of my friend S, who took it remarkably well. She was shocked I was surprised by the twists in the movie, and whisper-yelled at me for not having read the books.
The Violence
I was shocked by all the violence, and how sanitary it was. I have no idea why this was rated PG-13; it's about child-on-child murder, and I don't care how many quick-cuts you do, that should still mean something. The camera lingered on the lifeless eyes of those kids; it was horrifying. As I said above, I really can't do violence, but the age of these children made it all the worse. I did like that they weren't afraid to make Kat directly responsible for deaths of other tributes; it would have been a cop-out if she hadn't.
The hand-held camera, moving.
Stop it, movies.
What the movie said about us as a people
When I got home, I started reading reviews, and I was a little shocked by how many people wanted more violence, and more bloodshed. Did they not get the point of the movie, or ? The casual cruelty of the people in the Capital, who gave their children swords to play with and cheered on the deaths of 23 kids a year was breathtaking. As was the clear divide between the 1% and everyone else; to see the gulf between District 12 and the Capital was amazing. I think that was the most shocking part for me personally, to see that only slightly distorted mirror between them and us. Which is the point of dystopian fiction! But it was all the worst because they were just kids, unlike the Jersey Shore crew.
The Fashion
Wow. I know it's not the point of the movie, but I really loved all that fashion in the Capital. I want to incorporate all those delicious candy colors into my wardrobe because of course I do. And gold eyeliner. And FIRE.
Virginity
If I was cast into the Hunger Games, I'd be dead almost immediately, so I don't know why Kat just didn't go ahead and sleep with Peeta in that sweet hotel room. Then I'd gorge myself on pecan rolls.
Gale
I kept forgetting he was a thing.
Katniss x Peeta
I left the movie feeling very pro-Peeta, and guilty about this. Now, I haven't read the books yet, but my impression is that (highlight to read) there's a sort-of love-triangle between Peeta, Katniss, and Gale, and she never commits to either of them. And that in general, I'm not supposed to want her to pick a boyfriend, because she's an independent woman who just wants to save her people from the bad guys and their awesome facial hair. But I'm a sucker for a romance, so if I'm honest with myself this is what I was most interested in seeing, and I left shipping P/K and feeling like I shouldn't.
They get together under duress. Does he really love her, or is he just trying to help her win? He seems to realize he's a dead man walking, so I agree with Hayworth, he really did her a favor. And if I was watching teenagers battle to the end, I'd want to see some teen romance play out, so it makes sense that, as he realizes he's not going to make it, he'd go ahead and help her win.
And she seemed into it, too, but was it all a show for the cameras? The last scene of the two of them, where her face lights up seeing Gale and her sister, seems to imply that he realized she was never really into him. But on the other hand, I don't get the feeling she was going to commit suicide as a gamble that they would stop her, so does that mean she loved him? Or just that she couldn't murder him in cold blood, even when he volunteered himself to her?
So, I ship it... and I'm not sure I should. Because if she only got together with him as a calculated move- not that I'd fault her for that- or if she's really only with him because of the stress and that insanity that is the Games, then I could hardly blame her, but I'd feel really guilty for wanting her to date someone she started dating under duress.
I asked throwingpens how I should feel about this, and had an excellent response, which I'm going to go ahead and excerpt: I think you’re supposed to [want P/K]. I think Katniss is super conflicted because Gale is like, her dream guy. He’s handsome. He hunts with her. They come from similar family situations (his father died when hers did and now they support their respective families). But Peeta loves her. Peeta would do anything for her. Everything Peeta did in the Games was for Katniss.
I think it’s a matter of “what you think you want” and “what you want now.” And I think Gale is what Katniss thinks she wants and I think Peeta is what she wants when he’s there, because he’s solid. And he’s loved her from afar for so long…I’ve been Peeta before, and when the other person pays you attention…it’s the best. I’ve also been Katniss, when someone wants you, you can’t help but want to be with them, too.
But when I mentioned the same thing to shornt, she said the movie skimmed over all the reasons why i cant get fully behind Peeta so I think I need to just read the books.
Overall
I can't wait to see the next one. And S is going to lend me the books (hopefully she brings them by soon) (though I should get some sleep, so really she shouldn't) (but I WANT THEM NOW).
I'm a very intense movie watcher. I try not to whisper, I turn my phone on silent, and I'm generally a good patron, except that I get really into movies. If you should ever see a movie with me, I have a tendency to grab the hands, knees, and arms of my friends during intense moments. I dive face-first into shoulders when violence, almost any violence takes place. Occasionally I whimper. During this movie I kept curling my arms around my head to keep away the bad images. Actually, I have no idea why people go see movies with me (other than that I'm fun). I spent most of the movie clinging to the hand of my friend S, who took it remarkably well. She was shocked I was surprised by the twists in the movie, and whisper-yelled at me for not having read the books.
The Violence
I was shocked by all the violence, and how sanitary it was. I have no idea why this was rated PG-13; it's about child-on-child murder, and I don't care how many quick-cuts you do, that should still mean something. The camera lingered on the lifeless eyes of those kids; it was horrifying. As I said above, I really can't do violence, but the age of these children made it all the worse. I did like that they weren't afraid to make Kat directly responsible for deaths of other tributes; it would have been a cop-out if she hadn't.
The hand-held camera, moving.
Stop it, movies.
What the movie said about us as a people
When I got home, I started reading reviews, and I was a little shocked by how many people wanted more violence, and more bloodshed. Did they not get the point of the movie, or ? The casual cruelty of the people in the Capital, who gave their children swords to play with and cheered on the deaths of 23 kids a year was breathtaking. As was the clear divide between the 1% and everyone else; to see the gulf between District 12 and the Capital was amazing. I think that was the most shocking part for me personally, to see that only slightly distorted mirror between them and us. Which is the point of dystopian fiction! But it was all the worst because they were just kids, unlike the Jersey Shore crew.
The Fashion
Wow. I know it's not the point of the movie, but I really loved all that fashion in the Capital. I want to incorporate all those delicious candy colors into my wardrobe because of course I do. And gold eyeliner. And FIRE.
Virginity
If I was cast into the Hunger Games, I'd be dead almost immediately, so I don't know why Kat just didn't go ahead and sleep with Peeta in that sweet hotel room. Then I'd gorge myself on pecan rolls.
Gale
I kept forgetting he was a thing.
Katniss x Peeta
I left the movie feeling very pro-Peeta, and guilty about this. Now, I haven't read the books yet, but my impression is that (highlight to read) there's a sort-of love-triangle between Peeta, Katniss, and Gale, and she never commits to either of them. And that in general, I'm not supposed to want her to pick a boyfriend, because she's an independent woman who just wants to save her people from the bad guys and their awesome facial hair. But I'm a sucker for a romance, so if I'm honest with myself this is what I was most interested in seeing, and I left shipping P/K and feeling like I shouldn't.
They get together under duress. Does he really love her, or is he just trying to help her win? He seems to realize he's a dead man walking, so I agree with Hayworth, he really did her a favor. And if I was watching teenagers battle to the end, I'd want to see some teen romance play out, so it makes sense that, as he realizes he's not going to make it, he'd go ahead and help her win.
And she seemed into it, too, but was it all a show for the cameras? The last scene of the two of them, where her face lights up seeing Gale and her sister, seems to imply that he realized she was never really into him. But on the other hand, I don't get the feeling she was going to commit suicide as a gamble that they would stop her, so does that mean she loved him? Or just that she couldn't murder him in cold blood, even when he volunteered himself to her?
So, I ship it... and I'm not sure I should. Because if she only got together with him as a calculated move- not that I'd fault her for that- or if she's really only with him because of the stress and that insanity that is the Games, then I could hardly blame her, but I'd feel really guilty for wanting her to date someone she started dating under duress.
I asked throwingpens how I should feel about this, and had an excellent response, which I'm going to go ahead and excerpt: I think you’re supposed to [want P/K]. I think Katniss is super conflicted because Gale is like, her dream guy. He’s handsome. He hunts with her. They come from similar family situations (his father died when hers did and now they support their respective families). But Peeta loves her. Peeta would do anything for her. Everything Peeta did in the Games was for Katniss.
I think it’s a matter of “what you think you want” and “what you want now.” And I think Gale is what Katniss thinks she wants and I think Peeta is what she wants when he’s there, because he’s solid. And he’s loved her from afar for so long…I’ve been Peeta before, and when the other person pays you attention…it’s the best. I’ve also been Katniss, when someone wants you, you can’t help but want to be with them, too.
But when I mentioned the same thing to shornt, she said the movie skimmed over all the reasons why i cant get fully behind Peeta so I think I need to just read the books.
Overall
I can't wait to see the next one. And S is going to lend me the books (hopefully she brings them by soon) (though I should get some sleep, so really she shouldn't) (but I WANT THEM NOW).