I only got one book in the mail this week so I’m going to skip the IMM and tell you my thoughts on The Hunger Games instead.
I do talk about some specific scenes in the movie so if you don’t want to be spoiled don’t read it. But please come back after you’ve saw the movie!
Things I loved:
Jennifer Lawrence
You guys, she is amazing. Amazing. I know a lot of people were shocked when she was cast but you cannot deny that she is Katniss. She embodies her and played her so, so well.
The EMOTION
Wow…I think the movie was more emotional than the book. Am I totally off base by saying that? I think it was because we aren’t in Katniss’s cynical jaded, head. We are outsider watching the movie and it just made it gut wrenching. Does that make any sense? I had tears in my eyes and a knot in my throat so many times while watching. I absolutely loved that. It was so powerful.
The District 11 uprising
I have a feeling that some people probably didn’t like this as it was a change from the book but I really liked it. The book is full of subtle signs of rebellion and resistance. That probably wouldn’t work well on screen. You need action in a movie and you might have to tell the story in a different way for people that haven’t read the books. I think the uprising/fight in District 11 after Rue’s death was a perfect way to do that. You got the full impact of the Games that way, on what it does to the people.
Gale & Peeta
I am Team Peeta all the way, but Gale was pretty fantastic. He wasn’t in it much but when he was he was really great! Oh Peeta….Josh did a really fantastic job. He was charming and very much…Peeta. I don’t think he was as swoon worthy as in the book, but what mere human can possibly live up to the fictional Peeta. Regardless, I loved him and he did a wonderful job.
District 12
I am in awe of District 12. It was exactly how I pictured it. It was breathtaking and sparse. I live about two hours away from where they filmed it so I can definitely say they stayed true to what it really looks like while remaking it into District 12. They really captured southern Appalachia.
The violence
We were all a little worried, right? PG-13…I so hoped they wouldn’t tone down the violence too much. It’s kind of pivotal to the story. I was very pleased with how it turned out.
The kiss
Sooooo good!
The romance was NOT the main focus
I was worried they would play up the romance but hooray they didn’t! At all! I think there was less romance than in the book. That was surprising.
Prim, Cinna, & Haymitch
Were all extraordinary! Willow Sheilds is fantastic! Lenny as Cinna raised a lot of eyebrows but I think that he pulled it off perfectly. He was Cinna. Woody as Haymitch was great. I think they made Haymitch a little nicer in the movie. I’m completely fine with that. I couldn’t be happier with the side characters.
The very short list of things I didn’t like:
Not enough focus on the fact that Peeta really is in love with Katniss
I really, really thought they would end the movie with the fight between Peeta and Katniss. The fight that makes it clear that he is in fact in love with her. They left that out completely and I feel like they made it seem like they were both acting. That makes me sad…
The Cato/Glimmer chemistry
That was weird, right? The big deal with Peeta and Katniss is that they are in love. That’s what makes them special….so why were Cato and Glimmer very friendly? That kind of steals Katniss and Peeta’s thunder.
Okay, I’m going to stop now…But OMG I LOVED IT! It was really everything I hoped it would be. I’m going to see it again on Monday and I can’t wait! What did love?! Did you dislike anything? I want to know your thoughts.
