Hunger Games

[sistermagpie]

I saw The Hunger Games last night and thought it was...okay. In general I thought the beginning part was stronger, before they got to the games. After that there were a number of things that didn't seem to translate so well on screen. Sticking in my thoughts under the cut, both on the books and the movies. Spoilers for the movie, and possibly for

Comments

[valis2]

I did not read the books, but I saw the movie, and can honestly say that I was not really moved by Rue's death. Partially because I was expecting Rue to be a ruthless character, I think. I had no idea what to expect, and I assumed that all of the other kids just wanted to be the winner, and I saw Rue as possibly being calculating. I thought she might be part of a trap, and I didn't get it until after she died that she was actually a good character.

I loved the costuming and the concepts. I absolutely loved when Effie was on the stone podium during the Reaping, wearing those ridiculously high heels and fashions, and is literally teetering on the edge as Katniss walks up the steps. There were some really well-done moments.

But I could absolutely tell overall that the emotional underpinnings of the story had been condensed. There was not much of a connection for me emotionally. I liked the world that had been constructed, and the images, but I just think they didn't have enough time to really set up its heart.

[sistermagpie]

Interesting! And that makes sense, really, because the whole point is that everyone needs to be playing a deep game. Katniss can rely more on her physical prowess, but it's stated more than once that mental games come up too. In fact, in a later book we meet at least one past winner who won by doing something similar. Also Rue's death is the way Katniss avoids having to make a choice about killing her or not. They're both aware that one of them will have to die (at least) even while they're being friendly to each other.

I'd be interesting to hear what you thought of the books if you happened to read them, to see if they were more emotionally engaging to you.

[valis2]

I did notice that she did not have to kill any "friendly" characters in the movie--is it like that in the book as well?

[sistermagpie]

Yes, I think the deaths in the movie and book are all the same. And of course Peeta doesn't have to kill anyone--though the book makes more of a point of remarking on how he killed Foxface by accident.

[valis2]

I was wondering about that. Very interesting!