I gave in

[saucydiva]

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

Comments

[rikyl]

I don't have strong shippy feelings about Hunger Games, but I do have some Peeta thoughts. You read the books, and I'll see the movie, and then let's chat.

[saucydiva]

Excellent. We'll rendezvous at headquarters. Because I'm not sure to what extent I want them to get together because he's actually good to/for her, and to what extent it's the female gaze of the camera selling me on him as a young sex symbol, because buy magazines, young ones.*

*It worked! I had absolutely no strong feelings about JHutch when I saw him in The Kids are Alright but now I'm thinking he's super hot.

[ballroom_pink]

See Little Manhattan to fully appreciate him. Not in a sexy way, he's like way younger than me, but talent-wise I've been a fan of his since Little Manhattan. That's a cute, romantic movie and he's in the entire thing selling it.
Gale doesn't do much for me and Peeta only a little more. I'm more interested in this being a movie trilogy about how awesome Katniss Everdeen is.

[saucydiva]

I would also like to point out that while I assumed everyone involved in the movie was younger, I'm still used to Hollywoods's 28 year old high school students, so I did not realize when I wrote that comment that Josh Hutcherson is only 19, and when I realized that I felt deeply sleazy for even thinking he was cute.

But yeah, this is all so much better than, say, Twilight, where there's some romance, but it's not Kat's sole reason for living, Bella. She even pretty much actively rejects romance, which is neat.

[craponaspatula]

I agree that ultimately I think we are supposed to ship Peeta and Katniss, though a compelling case for Gale is made. But, I think I disagree with the idea that Gale is Katniss's dream guy. It's been a while since I've read the books but I think she makes it pretty clear she isn't interested romantically (and I think they carried that through in the movie so I wouldn't consider it a book spoiler). Other than, you know, not being interested in that way, I do agree that they are a lot alike and get along together, etc, and I could see them ending up together if the Hunger Games never happened. But I think living through the Hunger Games with Peeta changed all that. I'm going to leave at that until you read the books and then I want in on the chat because there will be more to discuss then without spoiling anything...

[saucydiva]

Excellent. Now if only my friend would deliver those damn books to me...

I wasn't sure to what extent, in the movies, Gale was supposed to be a thing. She seemed to sort be crushing on him at the beginning (but then, it could have just been friendship as well) but then every so often we'd flash to him looking sad while she was gone. So.... plus, of course, everyone mentions the 'love triangle' which made me think there was a love triangle, but if I didn't know that I'm not sure I would have assumed it.

[craponaspatula]

Yeah, like Kate said the books are from the first person so we don't necessarily know the feelings of the other characters but you will definitely know a lot more about what Katniss is feeling about everything, and it's more complex than a move can really show. This was one of my big concerns going into the movie- that often there is a big divide between what Katniss is thinking and what she is showing to the world (and on camera). And to make it even more complicated, she is AWARE of that divide. I think the movie does as good of a job as it can, without a lot of expository dialogue. But the books will show a much more complex picture, and I don't know that it is ever very clear cut.

[k8_26_2]

I think that your feelings will be a lot clearer after you've read the books; since the books are narrated in first person, the movie has to rely on a lot of showing and not telling and leaves a lot up to personal interpretation. I have a lot of thoughts on this, but I don't want to spoil anything for you. I do think that, knowing the final outcome of everything, I watched the movie differently than my sister and her husband (who are on Mockingjay and Catching Fire, respectively) did.

[saucydiva]

I can't believe I never commented on this. Yes, I realize I have to read those books and that the moment I have I need to watch the movie to see how that changes my perception of everything. And then we'll get all elaborate in our discussion.

[courtknees1]

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.

Having a little party right now because I wasn't the only one thinking this.

I would make more thoughtful/intelligent comments but I'm hungry and distracted, so I'll just say that I pretty much agree with everything you said, and also I totally didn't click that Josh was in The Kids are Alright until I saw you mention it in a comment but now it's totally obvious.

[saucydiva]

I mean, come on. You have a 96% chance of dying. Pregnancy doesn't really matter, because see above. Ditto STDs. So.... seriously. Go for it.

[courtknees1]

She already went right ahead and flashed her underwear to him when they were sitting looking out the window.

Um, another thing I was thinking and I don't know if it was just me - when they were having their cave make-out, can you imagine how bad their breath must have been? I mean there wasn't much in the way of hygeine and toothbrushes and they were eating roast squirrels.

[saucydiva]

I noticed that too! Oh honey, do you not understand how nightgowns work?

I actually wasn't thinking about toothbrushes, just that they really should get some soap and wash their wounds, or say their fingers that they're sticking in each other's open bloody wounds.

But I'm a bit crazy; when I read sex scenes I always like to imagine the people involved had time to wash their hands first, because people in stories? Always seem to climb right off a horse/ down a helicopter ladder/ over the dead body of their dearly departed recently exposed to be double crossing them former partner right into bed/ ledge/ car together. AHHHHH DON'T TOUCH EACH OTHER YOUR HANDS ARE CRAWLING WITH BACTERIA AND GRAVEL BITS

[rebeccavis]

I'm really torn over whether to go see this or not, because I borrowed the book from my cousin and I kind of wanted to read that first but never got around to it. As far as ships go, I already ship Katniss/Gale due to a friend's influence, and I also know what happens at the end of the series because I'm a spoiler addict.

[saucydiva]

Don't tell me! Or tell me no don't tell me ahhhhh I need to read those books.

I'll let you know what I think when I finish 'em.

(Movie Gale seems pretty boring, though he's attractive, certainly)

And I will say that I really enjoyed the movie as an experience. I thought it was worth it!

[rebeccavis]

Please do! And actually, my friend who ships Katniss/Gale ships it in part because she finds Peeta boring, so :P

[saucydiva]

I think we should get in a shipper fight over a book we've both not read. And should you choose not to engage me in battle, I'll leave you for a Chair shipper mwah ha hah