The Hunger Games

[littlemonkey613]

Alright bitches!
This is getting pretty stellar reviews so far. Anyone else a fan of the books and going opening day?

[Pemulis]

I'm quite excited for it. I love both Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson and the trailers have sold me. Never read the books though.

Will be the first movie I see with my lovely girlfriend in the theater :).

[Hazekiah]

I don't know shit about the books but I'm DYING to see this if for no other reason than to finally figure out why this drop-dead hot bitch keeps throwing the Cub Scout salute up at me, lol.

[theimage13]

I read the books back in January after my ex told me about trying to hold a copy at the library - and it having 40 reservations on it already. I really didn't have a clue it was this big until about a week ago, when a coworker told me she was reading the series and said "yeah, I think the movie release is going to be bigger than Twilight".

That said, I'll probably wait for the home release. I don't have the attention span for movies, even ones that I'm interested in, so I pretty much can't go to theaters. Have to borrow from the library or friends and watch over the course of a couple of days, or before work/after work.

[littlemonkey613]

I don't know shit about the books but I'm DYING to see this if for no other reason than to finally figure out why this drop-dead hot bitch keeps throwing the Cub Scout salute up at me, lol.

Hahaha I have no idea how seriously I should take this post (I've known people who've gone to see a movie for odder reasons) but its actually a great moment :D.

[Tums206_BFY]

I just literally finishing reading the first book a few minutes ago. I had no interest in seeing the movie until I was told by my brother, cousin and Aunt that I should read the book and I did. I liked it a lot and am now eager to see how the movie plays it out. The movie btw is a little less than 2 and a half hours with a budget I believe below $80 million. And Kid I am on the same boat I never knew how popular this series was until recently and I also have the same reservations about it being turned into a Twilight clone but it is after all a young adult noble which you can definitely tell from the writing style. But I will most likely watch it this Saturday, my brother is going at Midnight Thursday so I'll be able to ask him what he thought about it since he is one of the few people I actually trust with movie review. But I liked the first book will probably start the new book after I watch the flick and see where it goes from there. P.S. Happy to hear it is getting good reviews from just the buzz this is has the making of becoming a blockbuster hit.

[littlemonkey613]

^ I'm glad you enjoyed it! Yeah its tracking HUGE I'm surprised I feel like I don't know that many people who've read it.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_hunger_games/

Looks like it will end around 90%. I'm so pleasantly surprised by the critical reception. I misinterpreted the very hush hush trailers as them being nervous it wasn't good. Turns out its just the opposite. I really like how the release is a day away and I have yet to know what a single shot looks like from the latter half the of the movie. I hope other studios start doing this kind of marketing where you just introduce the premise without showing anything in the trailers from the 2nd act on.
Tommorow night :).

[Lunatica]

My boyfriend turn me into these books (and he's not a big reader) so I read all 3 of them last year and we have been waiting and praying that the movie doesn't suck. I was a bit apprehensive with all that Twilight talk and Team Peeta/Team Gale shit. But I'm relived it's got good reviews. I'm exited!

[fragmentjunkie]

I saw this last night.

I haven't read the books.
I have no interest in tween romance, etc.
I am a fan of Battle Royale, and was skeptical.

...and I have to say, I thought it was great.

It also contains a really inspired use of a Steve Reich track.

[M1ke]

My wife talked me into reading the books, but I'm only a few chapters in.

I won't go to see it until I've finished reading, and I generally only read for about 20 minutes a day, so this might be a little while before I get it done.

[aggroculture]

Just read the book, which I dug enough, and will check out the movie, the gf is a fan, and friends are going.

[littlemonkey613]

Wow I thought this was incredibly intelligent film making. I was disturbed by how much the desires of the audience over-lapped with the audience in the film. It was disturbing to say the least. Add to that the most common complaint I heard leaving the theater was "I wish they could have shown more violence". Lol so ironic and telling. A job well done I say.

[neorev]

Story is kinda close to the idea behind Battle Royale, which came out first
Very similar, but Battle Royale didnt hold back on the violence aspect
Theres actually quite a lot of backlash against The Hunger Games and some claim the writer of Battle Royale should sue for plagiarism
They just came out with a 4 disc blu-ray American release finally, I guess to capitalize on The Hunger Games buzz
Read mostly positive reviews, but some pretty damning negative ones as well
Ill wait to when it comes out on dvd, no interest to see in theaters
Never even heard of the books until all of this movie craze start happening
But I rather read Battle Royale instead :p

[littlemonkey613]

This film was a blatant critique of the media specifically and what an audience expects in terms of entertainment that's where it really differs from Battle Royale. Also, the games are just one aspect of the sci-fi world and story within the trilogy. Its a lot more epic in scope in terms of the games only being one piece of this society.

[Corvus T. Cosmonaut]

Oh man, if I could go a whole day without someone comparing this to Battle Royale like it hasn't already been done by everyone...

[Vertigo]

Okay... it's like Unreal Tournament.

[frankie teardrop]

it's derivative of a lot of things- including those mentioned, stephen king/richard bachman's world in the long walk, and every single work of post-apocalyptic fiction, but there are definitely unique elements to it. derivation and influence is different than plagiarism, kids.

[october_midnight]

You know what they call The Hunger Games in France?

http://i.imgur.com/CGzOW.jpg

[carpenoctem]

Yeah the movie was great. I do question the decision to tone down the onscreen violence so much, as I think the violence in this movie would not be gratuitous and would actually serve a very real and important purpose, but I understand why they wanted a PG-13 rating. To be honest the most sickening part to me was when Woody Harrelson is looking at two of the really young contestants, all dressed up in formal wear and pretending playfully to stab one another with big plastic swords, while the Capitol adults around them are laughing affectionately like "Oh, those precocious little kids!" That was probably the movie's finest subtle moment.

I think the casting was pitch-perfect. I can't wait for the sequel. And as far as plagiarism accusations go, the series is really more about rebellion, war and media; the Games are just the catalyst for a larger story. If it were just a Battle Royale rip-off, the rest of the series would've sucked. But the next two books were even better.

[Hula]

THIS IS OUT ALREADY?!

I read the books like I read Twilight—guiltily, when I thought no one was looking. Turns out I enjoyed them enough that when I saw the actors they'd lined up for the roles, I was disappointed when they didn't look exactly how I'd been picturing them in my head as I read along. That's usually a good sign that I'm emotionally invested :rolleyes:

I'm pretty excited to see this at some point, derivative of Battle Royale or no. If it gets people into BR, all the better. I think it's the meatier, more well-written of the two but they both have their unique selling points.

[neorev]

You know what they call The Hunger Games in France?

http://i.imgur.com/CGzOW.jpg

ROFL
I nearly pissed my pants at this!

[Kid Charlemagne]

Battle Royale was pretty cool and I enjoyed this movie a lot more than I thought I would, but there have been plenty of films with a "fight till the death" scenario. I think half of Van Damme's filmography is about that. ANYWAY...great acting, thought Stanley Tucci was awesome in his hosting role. Jennifer Lawrence was good, obviously she has some acting chops if you were one of eight people who watched Winter's Bone. It also had very good pacing which surprised me, it easily could have dragged in moments, but then something intriguing would happen, mainly in the first half. I can't wait to see how they put the next two in film form.

[carpenoctem]

Yeah Stanley Tucci is such a boss in everything he does. In my head while I read the books I actually pictured him as Cinna.

[aggroculture]

Jennifer Lawrence was good, obviously she has some acting chops if you were one of eight people who watched Winter's Bone.

I love that film, I really hope she continues to make interesting movies, and doesn't succumb to only doing Hollywood schlock.

[Tums206_BFY]

Yeah Stanley Tucci is such a boss in everything he does. In my head while I read the books I actually pictured him as Cinna.

You mean Caesar Flickerman :) Anyways watched the film last night with a couple friends very good and pretty true to the book obviously there were a few differences. Just started reading the second book "Catching Fire" today as I told myself I would wait until after watching this to pick it up. Very good though definitely recommend it especially if you have read the book(s). Love the casting and now that I'am reading the second novel I'm picturing some very same characters. Good Stuff!!!!

[Torgo]

That was a great film.

The only negative comment I could make would be that the closely framed shakey cam was unnecessary in District 12. I get the idea that it's a poor area and it physically makes you sick... blah, blah, blah... - but I literally could not watch the screen during these scenes because they made me so sick. There are other tricks of the trade that can paint the same picture, but this one definitely broke my connection / immersion into the film.

Anyways, aside from that - go see it. It's an excellent story that is told well and in my opinion - we definitely don't receive as many well made films as these nowadays.

[carpenoctem]

You mean Caesar Flickerman :)

No, I saw him as Cinna! Because in my head Cinna is a lot like Stanley Tucci's character in The Devil Wears Prada where he's Meryl Streep's sharp-tongued intelligent gay business partner. So my brain just made the connection. I'm glad he was involved in the project even if it was Caesar and not Cinna, he's such a scene-stealer.

Below: Stanley Tucci does not approve.

http://www.hotflick.net/flicks/2006_The_Devil_Wears_Prada/006DWP_Stanley_Tucci_001.jpg

[frankie teardrop]

http://bossip.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/hippos.jpg



hunger games, as i understand them...

[Self.Destructive.Pattern]

I heard you have pretty much no idea what is going on in the story sometimes unless you read the books... how accurate is this?

[Alexandros]

I heard you have pretty much no idea what is going on in the story sometimes unless you read the books... how accurate is this?

I haven't read the books and I didn't have a problem following the plot. Now, if they mean that there is much more to be told, I'm sure they're right, but strictly as a movie it's not hard to follow.

I found it good by the way. Not great, but good. I was a bit let down by the actual "battle". I feel it could have been more powerful. But overall, a solid film.

[bobbie solo]

no doubt the movie made a TON of $ this weekend, but i just plain don't believe that $210 million estimate they're throwing out. these numbers can't be accurately determined this quickly in the first place, and that just seems much higher than it really brought it. i think it's more a situation where people want to ride the hype machine even more b/c it seems like such a well-made and likeable property. I feel like that inflated by $40 million or so. am I just being a negative ned?

[Kid Charlemagne]

$210? Is that from the midnight screenings and the weekend gross, or worldwide?

[Corvus T. Cosmonaut]

Weekend Report: 'The Hunger Games' Devours $152.5 Million
http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3401&p=.htm

This is just domestic. Worldwide could conceivably reach $210 million.

[bobbie solo]

well then i damn the newsfeed on my stupid PATH train this morning.

[aggroculture]

http://jezebel.com/5896408/racist-hunger-games-fans-dont-care-how-much-money-the-movie-made
I don't understand this. People post such racist things on a public site? Don't they get fired?

[Pillfred]

Wow tone down the book nerd(racist) rage...
Saw this last night while i thought it was kind of long (i was pretty tired) i liked it thought it was pretty good. I also dug how they gave a good ending to the story line while keeping open for the rest of the series.

[richardp]

http://jezebel.com/5896408/racist-hunger-games-fans-dont-care-how-much-money-the-movie-made
I don't understand this. People post such racist things on a public site? Don't they get fired?

This is fucking unreal. What the hell is wrong with people?

[carpenoctem]

^^^ As far as the "battle" I'm not sure if you mean the final standoff between the last three tributes or the entire Games themselves, but I felt the same way. It was a bit anticlimactic. Then again, just as in the book, the Games seem to be just as much about survival (finding food, water, shelter) as they are about hunting the other competitors. That leads to some pretty slow moments between action - they cut out a longish part about Katniss almost dying of dehydration.

[icklekitty]

I went to see this today based on my friend's choice of film. I was pleasantly surprised - a decent enough story to get my head around, and action/violence shot in a way that was more disturbing than pornographic. The 12a rating worked in its favour.

[bobbie solo]

saw this with my wife tonight. it was great. she read the books and felt it was pretty faithful. Jennifer Lawrence was once again great, as she's been in every role i've seen. I didnt read the books and had no issue following at all. random thoughts/questions:

- so happy to see Woody Harrelson get into a big franchise

- Lenny Kravitz was really good (even though he did the same exact thing in Precious basically) but...FUCK LENNY KRAVITZ! dude lives the charmed fucking life. Let someone hungry and in need get that role. That man's had enough good fortune in ever facet of his being already...he doesn't also need to be a part of a huge multi-billion dollar franchise now as well.

- meant to ask my wife, what is the significance of the 3 fingers up salute?

- i am SO tired of shaky cam action scenes. show me what theyre doing!

- i was so mad when they started shooting the fireballs at Catness. thats just mean.


going to start reading the books asap.

[Kodiak33]

http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2012/03/new-film-hunger-games?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/bl/uncomfortablythrilling

Pretty good portrayal of why it was shot like it was. Especially at the beginning.

[carpenoctem]

meant to ask my wife, what is the significance of the 3 fingers up salute?

I think it has multiple meanings - it's kind of a salute of loyalty to someone, but it also means goodbye. Like basically you're thanking someone for their sacrifice for you. In the book the people in District 12 give this to Katniss after she volunteers as tribute in place of her sister.

[Wretchedest]

I thought it was kind of dumb. But thought provoking I guess.... here's my full review, it sort of breaks down the fundamental problems...
http://whatskraken.blog.com/2012/04/01/the-hunger-games-review-analysis-whatever/

[sweeterthan]

I enjoyed the film but have to agree that the shaky cam was a bit much. My husband thinks they did this in order to not show as much violence and get the PG-13 rating while creating tension.

[thevoid99]

I enjoyed the film but have to agree that the shaky cam was a bit much. My husband thinks they did this in order to not show as much violence and get the PG-13 rating while creating tension.

I agree about the shaky cam thing. A lot of it didn't work for me as I wanted the camera to remain still or not be as shaky. I still liked the film.

[Self.Destructive.Pattern]

I haven't read the books and I didn't have a problem following the plot. Now, if they mean that there is much more to be told, I'm sure they're right, but strictly as a movie it's not hard to follow.

I found it good by the way. Not great, but good. I was a bit let down by the actual "battle". I feel it could have been more powerful. But overall, a solid film.

Awesome. Good to know. I am going this weekend to finally see this.

[Cameron]

Really a good film! I can't wait for the next two. Or three maybe. My girlfriend Rachel was actually an extra in some of the Capitol scenes, and you can see her pretty clearly. So we went to this local premiere thing here, and it was kind of a big deal for us.

[Cameron]

Also! I helped put together a fan site for the movie and books. I would behoove you all to come and join. NIN fans get special treatment. And there's cookies.

www.thehungergames-trilogy.com (http://www.thehungergames-trilogy.com)

[Hula]

I liked it, maybe even more than I liked the first book. I felt like Katniss and Peeta's feelings for each other were more believable, even if there was a hint of some of it being for show (which stays true to the novel). I can't wait for the second film to come out! I'm looking forward to seeing how they translate the second Games to visual form.

ETA: I...hope that wasn't a major spoiler. I'm running on the assumption that a) most people seeing the movie have read the books and b) given the entire premise of The Hunger Games, everybody knows they're a recurring thing.

[theimage13]

I liked it, maybe even more than I liked the first book. I felt like Katniss and Peeta's feelings for each other were more believable, even if there was a hint of some of it being for show (which stays true to the novel). I can't wait for the second film to come out! I'm looking forward to seeing how they translate the second Games to visual form.

THERE'S A SECOND GAMES?!???!??!!!

Oh, right, the one where Gale and Peeta kill each other.

(spoiler alert)

[aggroculture]

Dude wtf!
Also, change your avatar, I keep thinking you're Kid Charlemagne.

[theimage13]

So tell the kid to change it.

[littlemonkey613]

http://www.slashfilm.com/the-hunger-games-catching-fire-trailer-the-revolution-has-begun/

Catching Fire trailer wassupp

[thevoid99]

It looks good but the highlight for me was that small glimpse of Johanna Mason (Jena Malone aka BEST IN THE WORLD) wielding that axe. That's my woman.

[littlemonkey613]

Reviews for Catching Fire are starting to come out. So far so good.
21 fresh 1 rotten on RT.

Most the reviews mention how its a really strict adaptation and that its literally the book onscreen. Can't complain with that!

[scorpiusdiamond]

The soundtrack is absolutely great (well for the artists I like, Sia, The Weeknd, Lorde) (http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/listen-hunger-games-catching-fire-2785273)

[littlemonkey613]

Really big improvement on the original. It's a pretty exact adaptation. Acting has also improved and I can't think of any subtext that was in the book that wasn't explored in the film. Also great ending :D.

[thevoid99]

I saw the film this morning and... man... it was better than the first. Most notably Jena Malone who steals the show. Here's my full review. (http://thevoid99.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-hunger-games-catching-fire.html)

[M1ke]

I saw it on Friday too, it was fantastic. It's been a few years since I read the books, but I don't remember it being much different than what I saw.

I remember the book ending before the movie did. The final scene, which I won't spoil, I remember as being in the third book, not the second. But, that could just be poor memory, it has been a couple years since I read them.

[theimage13]

Read the book again last week, since I'd kept hearing that the movie follows it so closely.

I don't understand why people keep saying that.

There are so many things left out - everything from minor foreshadowing to entire scenes, just gone. And Eskimo: your memory does indeed fail you; the end of the second book is the end of the second movie, although with just one line added that actually made it less powerful in my mind.

Now, all of this isn't to say it's a bad movie. It's not. But one thing reaaaaaaaally bothered me: bleeping out f-bombs. SERIOUSLY? A character wants to cuss, but you bleep it out to maintain a PG-13 rating. Sure, you can show people being murdered left and right, that's okay. But saying "fuck"? God forbid! This is why I kind of hate our country sometimes. Murder is treated as less objectionable than saying "fuck". Wow.

[littlemonkey613]

Read the book again last week, since I'd kept hearing that the movie follows it so closely.

I don't understand why people keep saying that.

There are so many things left out - everything from minor foreshadowing to entire scenes, just gone.

Meh nothing about the plot itself is changed though, which is pretty rare for big budget adaptations. Some scenes were left out but that is just a give in. Nothing about the story and the way events unfold were changed at all. It matched the book beat for beat, not necessarily scene for scene.

Great review thevoid99 !

[ChasingTheGhost]

It's been a couple years since I've read CF but I'm completely in love with the movie. Saw it 3 times already. Might pick up the book again soon.

[thevoid99]

Meh nothing about the plot itself is changed though, which is pretty rare for big budget adaptations. Some scenes were left out but that is just a give in. Nothing about the story and the way events unfold were changed at all. It matched the book beat for beat, not necessarily scene for scene.

Great review @thevoid99 (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=254) !

Thank you.