I am full of Hunger Games feelings.
Still a little wiped out from the midnight premiere I went to yesterday. (Today? Early this morning?) But I am FULL OF FLAILY FEELINGS THAT CANNOT BE CONTAINED!
So you must now listen to them.
1. Trailers:
There was the usual assortment of geek movies, including The Avengers, and Snow White and the Huntsman. There was some horror film with Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss's actress). Some weird pregnancy comedy.
OH AND THE FIRST BREAKING DAWN PART TWO TEASER WOOHOO!
I can't find a full version of it so here, have a fifteen second cropped version.
2. Experience At The Midnight Premiere:
Oh my gosh there were nerds in costume. NERDS. IN. COSTUME. There were people dressed up as Katniss, as Gale, as Peeta, as Effie and various other Capitol citizens, wearing mockingjay t-shirts, there was someone who was dressed as the mockingjay pin that was so cool, oh and she was with what looked like a jabberjay. There was a small troop of musicians with their guitars who were evidentially Taylor Swift fans; they played and sang a couple TSwift songs together while waiting in line.
Every time we got closer to the movie proper, the audience cheered. They were also very enthusiastic throughout the film. They laughed at funny parts. They sniffled and cried at sad parts. They whooped and cheered and "aww"-ed for Peeta/Katniss and laughed when we cut to Gale's awkward reaction. (I have to admit, I did not feel bad about that.) They were a wonderful crowd. Mostly. I did think it was a little too Capitol-esque to cheer for Thresh killing Clove. But other than that...
3. Overall Adaptation:
Really solid. Obviously a few things were changed, some minor characters were cut (Madge and the Avox girl), some scenes tweaked, but for the most part the adaptation was extremely loyal. Most of the changes made sense and none of them really angered or bothered me. I wish they had drawn out Cato's death a little longer, and given us the sick bit where the mutts are designed to resemble the dead tributes, among other minor things.
The only thing I really missed was a lot of Peeta's fantastic sassy lines and dialogue, and of course PEETA/KATNISS CUDDLING. There needed to be WAAAAAAY more Peeta/Katniss kisses and hugs and cuddles. Way more Peeta/Katniss in general really. I did miss Peeta yanking his bandages off to try and bleed out and let Katniss win and Katniss beating on the glass in the airship screaming Peeta's name and Katniss throwing herself into Peeta's arms at the ending ceremony and kissing and kissing and kissing and couch cuddles and all that.
HOWEVER! What I was given I was very pleased with.
4. Cinematography:
Okay, I will admit that the shaky cam may have given me a bit of a headache. It made things a little unclear at times, especially in the climactic battle atop the Cornucopia. I couldn't tell what was going on for a bit.
Aside from that, the film was pretty well shot. Props and costumes were amazing. Make-up too. The Capitol looked every bit as wild and outlandish as I thought it would. District 12 looked perfect. I will be looking forward to the bonus features on the DVD.
5. Music:
JAMES NEWTON HOWARD MY LOOOOOOOOVE! A very muted, quiet, unobstrusive score with some chilling notes here and there. Not too bombastic. Fit the tone and mood. I'm going to want this one.
As I suspected, "Safe and Sound" played during the credits. Awesome.
6. Characters:
Jennifer Lawrence nailed Katniss, pretty much. She was amazing. She captured Katniss's terror and warm big sisterly side and her inner fire and her social awkwardness perfectly.
Josh was a great Peeta. He doesn't quite fit my own personal mental picture of Peeta but he does look like some people's fanart depictions of Peeta. Plus he just had the cutest face. Oh gosh. Every time I saw him I was like, "PEETA, YOUR FACE. IT IS ADORABLE. BRING IT HERE SO I CAN SMOOSH IT AND PINCH YOUR CUTE LITTLE CHEEKS." Josh also had Peeta's character nailed, with his soft vulnerability and his adorable HEARTING OF KATNISS TO THE END OF TIME and his sweetness and just... ngah!
Gale was... there. (Which was about all I could really say about him in the book too, so that's accurate.)
Haymitch was pitch perfect. Effie was perfect. Caesar Flickerman was perfect. Seneca Crane was perfect. The tributes were all perfect. Rue was adorable and I just wanted to hug her forever. And be still my heart, Movie!Cinna was hot. So very smooth and calm and dignified.
The only person I wasn't really sure about was President Snow. He didn't quite strike the right note of Creepy and Evil with me. Maybe in the next film he'll be better. But literally everyone else was fantastic.
7. The Peeta/Katniss:
MY SHIP. MY SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!
EVERYTHING IS PEETA/KATNISS AND NOTHING HURTS.
As I mentioned before, I did miss some of my favorite epic Peeta/Katniss scenes. But oh what I was given and what it did to my shipper heart! The bread flashback, while tweaked, still sent my heart aflutter. The agonized eye gazes of angst between them at the Reaping tugged at my heartstrings. Peeta's confession made me "aww". Katniss's panic when she heard the canon shot and hugging Peeta in relief made me squee. And etc.
Something I really loved was how Movie!Peeta seemed to look for any convenient excuse to touch Katniss, either to hold her hand or stroke her face or touch her hair. That was adorable.
And oh! Oh! The cave scene! The cave scene hit my Hurt/Comfort Intimate Healing kink SO VERY HARD HOLY COW. Peeta being helpless and feverish and hurting and Katniss determinedly nursing him back to health HNNNNNGGGHHH oh I need to go re-read that part in the book and look up fanfics.
Katniss looked so happy and lovestruck in her final interview too. I kind of liked that they didn't delve too much into her conflicted feelings and glossed over the small falling-out she and Peeta had when Peeta learned she was faking for the camera. It made the ending a little more upbeat.
8. The Story:
Minor nitpicks here and there. Not quite enough focus on the horror of Cato's death. Needed a little more time to develop all the relationships. But other than that I had no complaints.
Conclusion:
SUCH A GREAT WATCH. REALLY REALLY GOOD ADAPTATION. LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. WOULD SEE IT AGAIN A THOUSAND TIMES IF I COULD.
And it's inspired me to seek out Hunger Games fanfic. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go do that.
So you must now listen to them.
1. Trailers:
There was the usual assortment of geek movies, including The Avengers, and Snow White and the Huntsman. There was some horror film with Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss's actress). Some weird pregnancy comedy.
OH AND THE FIRST BREAKING DAWN PART TWO TEASER WOOHOO!
Click to viewI can't find a full version of it so here, have a fifteen second cropped version.
2. Experience At The Midnight Premiere:
Oh my gosh there were nerds in costume. NERDS. IN. COSTUME. There were people dressed up as Katniss, as Gale, as Peeta, as Effie and various other Capitol citizens, wearing mockingjay t-shirts, there was someone who was dressed as the mockingjay pin that was so cool, oh and she was with what looked like a jabberjay. There was a small troop of musicians with their guitars who were evidentially Taylor Swift fans; they played and sang a couple TSwift songs together while waiting in line.
Every time we got closer to the movie proper, the audience cheered. They were also very enthusiastic throughout the film. They laughed at funny parts. They sniffled and cried at sad parts. They whooped and cheered and "aww"-ed for Peeta/Katniss and laughed when we cut to Gale's awkward reaction. (I have to admit, I did not feel bad about that.) They were a wonderful crowd. Mostly. I did think it was a little too Capitol-esque to cheer for Thresh killing Clove. But other than that...
3. Overall Adaptation:
Really solid. Obviously a few things were changed, some minor characters were cut (Madge and the Avox girl), some scenes tweaked, but for the most part the adaptation was extremely loyal. Most of the changes made sense and none of them really angered or bothered me. I wish they had drawn out Cato's death a little longer, and given us the sick bit where the mutts are designed to resemble the dead tributes, among other minor things.
The only thing I really missed was a lot of Peeta's fantastic sassy lines and dialogue, and of course PEETA/KATNISS CUDDLING. There needed to be WAAAAAAY more Peeta/Katniss kisses and hugs and cuddles. Way more Peeta/Katniss in general really. I did miss Peeta yanking his bandages off to try and bleed out and let Katniss win and Katniss beating on the glass in the airship screaming Peeta's name and Katniss throwing herself into Peeta's arms at the ending ceremony and kissing and kissing and kissing and couch cuddles and all that.
HOWEVER! What I was given I was very pleased with.
4. Cinematography:
Okay, I will admit that the shaky cam may have given me a bit of a headache. It made things a little unclear at times, especially in the climactic battle atop the Cornucopia. I couldn't tell what was going on for a bit.
Aside from that, the film was pretty well shot. Props and costumes were amazing. Make-up too. The Capitol looked every bit as wild and outlandish as I thought it would. District 12 looked perfect. I will be looking forward to the bonus features on the DVD.
5. Music:
JAMES NEWTON HOWARD MY LOOOOOOOOVE! A very muted, quiet, unobstrusive score with some chilling notes here and there. Not too bombastic. Fit the tone and mood. I'm going to want this one.
As I suspected, "Safe and Sound" played during the credits. Awesome.
6. Characters:
Jennifer Lawrence nailed Katniss, pretty much. She was amazing. She captured Katniss's terror and warm big sisterly side and her inner fire and her social awkwardness perfectly.
Josh was a great Peeta. He doesn't quite fit my own personal mental picture of Peeta but he does look like some people's fanart depictions of Peeta. Plus he just had the cutest face. Oh gosh. Every time I saw him I was like, "PEETA, YOUR FACE. IT IS ADORABLE. BRING IT HERE SO I CAN SMOOSH IT AND PINCH YOUR CUTE LITTLE CHEEKS." Josh also had Peeta's character nailed, with his soft vulnerability and his adorable HEARTING OF KATNISS TO THE END OF TIME and his sweetness and just... ngah!
Gale was... there. (Which was about all I could really say about him in the book too, so that's accurate.)
Haymitch was pitch perfect. Effie was perfect. Caesar Flickerman was perfect. Seneca Crane was perfect. The tributes were all perfect. Rue was adorable and I just wanted to hug her forever. And be still my heart, Movie!Cinna was hot. So very smooth and calm and dignified.
The only person I wasn't really sure about was President Snow. He didn't quite strike the right note of Creepy and Evil with me. Maybe in the next film he'll be better. But literally everyone else was fantastic.
7. The Peeta/Katniss:
MY SHIP. MY SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!
EVERYTHING IS PEETA/KATNISS AND NOTHING HURTS.
As I mentioned before, I did miss some of my favorite epic Peeta/Katniss scenes. But oh what I was given and what it did to my shipper heart! The bread flashback, while tweaked, still sent my heart aflutter. The agonized eye gazes of angst between them at the Reaping tugged at my heartstrings. Peeta's confession made me "aww". Katniss's panic when she heard the canon shot and hugging Peeta in relief made me squee. And etc.
Something I really loved was how Movie!Peeta seemed to look for any convenient excuse to touch Katniss, either to hold her hand or stroke her face or touch her hair. That was adorable.
And oh! Oh! The cave scene! The cave scene hit my Hurt/Comfort Intimate Healing kink SO VERY HARD HOLY COW. Peeta being helpless and feverish and hurting and Katniss determinedly nursing him back to health HNNNNNGGGHHH oh I need to go re-read that part in the book and look up fanfics.
Katniss looked so happy and lovestruck in her final interview too. I kind of liked that they didn't delve too much into her conflicted feelings and glossed over the small falling-out she and Peeta had when Peeta learned she was faking for the camera. It made the ending a little more upbeat.
8. The Story:
Minor nitpicks here and there. Not quite enough focus on the horror of Cato's death. Needed a little more time to develop all the relationships. But other than that I had no complaints.
Conclusion:
SUCH A GREAT WATCH. REALLY REALLY GOOD ADAPTATION. LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. WOULD SEE IT AGAIN A THOUSAND TIMES IF I COULD.
And it's inspired me to seek out Hunger Games fanfic. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go do that.