The Hunger Games, Part 2 - Movie Review

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My bro went to see The Hunger Games at one of the midnight showings opening night (yes, there were three!) with some friends.  

And I had gotten a group together to go see it the following evening, at 7:00pm.

So…our group consisted of:

Noah, me, Caleb, Daniel, Elisa, Forrest, Breanna…and then a friend from Salem (Abby) and her friend who came with her.

BUT…there’s a catch.   We didn’t all get to sit together (which kinda stunk).  But seriously, the theater was SO jammed pack!!  I have NEVER been to a movie that it was so full.  It was crazy!  Something that really, really annoyed me, though, was that before the movie began, it showed previews to the new Twilight that’s coming out…and people were hooting and hollering and cheering for it!!!  I felt like turning around and yelling ‘You’re in the wrong theater, people!!  Only THG fans are allowed in here!’  ::takes a deep breath::  Okay, I’m good now.  Just writing that made me feel a little better haha

Okay, enough about theater seats…you’re probably all silently wishing that I would hurry and get to the movie review.  Okay, okay!  Hold onto your seats…

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I was a bit curious as to how they would begin the movie.  Since the book is written in first-person, I wondered if maybe they would have had Jennifer Lawerence (Katniss) narrarating.  But they didn’t.

Instead, they began it with a short synopsis of what The Hunger Games is.  How it began, why it is an annual event, etc.
And then jumped right into District 12, where you find Katniss comforting Prim from a nightmare…

Jennifer Lawrence as…

Katniss Everdeen

Jennifer is a great actress.  I had not seen her in any of her previous films, but I think she did a good job as Katniss.

I don’t really like Katniss (from the books) anyway, and the movie didn’t really make me like her that much more.  I was talking to my bro about it and I was telling him how I didn’t like that she had so little expression.  He pointed out that she isn’t really supposed to.  In the books, she’s very closed-off from people.  Cannot talk well, can’t make friends easily (except for Gale), etc.

 
But of course, Noah is a little biased since he think she’s ‘the best’

 
I think the movie could’ve done better in helping you know that about Katniss, though.  Since she wasn’t narrarating and you were just viewing it as an audience, you didn’t really see what she was like, what she was feeling, why she was reacting the way she was, etc.  Does that make sense?

{I love the three-finger salute.  Seriously.}

There were a few scenes that I wish they would’ve done a better job on.
One of them being this scene ^ – Katniss’s interview before the games begin.
In the book, she’s nervous, yes.  But when she’s finally on stage and sees that people like her for who she IS (as Cinna had suggested), she opened up more easily…was about to relax a bit, etc.
In the movie, she’s a brick.  Barely opening her mouth to talk.  Looking depressed and almost tired.  Uninterested, bored.
Her dress was beautiful, but I was expecting so much more!
In the book, her whole dress is supposed to be engulfed in flames.  In the movie, just the skirt of the dress is fire.
The same with hers and Peeta’s capes!  When each of the districts are being introduced for the first time, their WHOLE capes were supposed to be flames.  In the movie, it’s just the top part, around their shoulders.
Kind of disappointing.

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Josh Hutcherson as…

Peeta Mellark

I had not seen Josh in anything prior to THG either.  Honestly, I was disappointed that they had picked him as the actor to play Peeta.  The Peeta I had envisioned as I read the books was something along the William Moseley (although I know he’s too old) or Lucas Till (who was actually one of the actors they were thinking of casting) or Alexander Ludwig (who they ended up casting as Cato).
I’m sorry, but Josh was too short.  And…I don’t know…he just didn’t have that manly-enough looking face that I was looking for for Peeta.

BUT…he did do a good job.  I will give him that.

I was disappointed that he didn’t really DO that much in the movie, though.  I mean, he was still the strong, gentlemanly, loving character that he is in the books.  But…he wasn’t in as many scenes as he could’ve been.  (A friend of mine and I agree on this…not sure if other people will or not…)

He was still that good, hardcore character fighting alongside Katniss, though.  And I’m so glad they kept his character the way he is in the books.  Josh did a good job!

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Liam Hemsworth as…

 Gale

Honestly, I don’t like Gale in the books.  But I really, really liked him in the movie!!  I don’t know what it was about him that made me like him more.  A friend of mine had a good point, though…’Gale is a jerk. But he was so darn attractive in the movie, it almost swayed me, haha! ’  ::clears throat::  Those are pretty much my thoughts too. :/

Gah!  This scene ^ was so heart-wrenching!! :/  I loved the big-brother that Gale portrayed, though.

Sometime I liked better in the movie, than in the book, was how Katniss wasn’t focusing so much on missing Gale.  In the book, she really drove me nuts with how much she would think ‘oh Gale wouldn’t like this’ or when Peeta and she would kiss, she would ‘hope Gale would understand’.  Really annoyed me!
But the movie was better in that she didn’t do that. 

Liam did a great job as Gale!  Even though he wasn’t on-scene all that much, the times that he were, I liked him.

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Elizabeth Banks as…

 Effie Trinket

In the book, when Effie first comes into the picture, I thought she was bad.  I mean, she was from the Capitol!  Could a person from the Capitol actually be a good guy?
But I came to love her in the books   She’s so cool!  So fun!  So bright and cheery

Elizabeth Banks did marvelously!!  After having seen her in Seabiscuit, Spiderman, and Next Three Days, I was shocked to not be able to recognize her at first.  All that makeup and hair kinda threw me off haha  But I loved her just as much in the movie as I had in the books.

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Woody Harrelson as…

 Haymitch Abernathy

I pictured Haymitch as a more of a Russell Crowe type guy, but..
Woody did a great job!   I love Haymitch in the books.  And I still loved him in the movies!
He was just a gruff and annoying and rough-around-the-edges as ever:)

Who wants some of that turquoise drink there?  Looks interesting!

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Lenny Kravitz as…

Cinna

When I found out that Lenny was playing Cinna, I was sooo disappointed.  He’s a rapper, for Pete’s sake!
Cinna is supposed to be a young…fashion designer.
BUT…Lenny impressed me.   I thought he did a good job, but I wish someone else had played him.  He had the coolest gold eyeshadow!!  Which I’m glad they kept in sync with the books.
The relationship that he has with Katniss in the books was a little different than what they portrayed in the movie.  In the book, he’s a friend.  A big brother.  Someone who cares for her.
In the movie, it’s almost like they have a bit of a romantic spark between them.  ::shrugs::  Maybe not, but I have had a few people agree with me on this. 
For example, before Katniss gets into the capsule that takes her into the arena, Cinna helps her put a jacket on and then they turn to face each other and they touch foreheads.  Touch foreheads.  That’s for couple-cutesy-boy-and-girls.  Not big brother, little sister.  What do you think?
Lenny did a pretty good job.  It’s hard for me to give him a negative point, though, because…the character was much the same as in the book and Cinna is one of my all-time favorite characters from THG.  Know what I mean?

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Stanley Tucci as…

Caeser Flickerman

Okay, I was blown away by this actor!!  You know who that actor is, right?  He plays the Professor in Captain America!!  SO crazy!!!  He doesn’t look anything the same!!
He’s a fantastic actor, but…I don’t know if that’s really what I pictured Caeser as…

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Wes Bentley as…

Seneca Crane

I think Wes was one of the best actors cast for a character!  He played the role perfectly.  You kind of like him, but you kind of hate him at the same time.
His beard was so legit too!

President Snow

From Mr. Bennett in Pride and Prejudice (2005) to this evil dictator…wow!
Honestly, Snow wasn’t really in the movie that much.  He only had a couple scenes.  As far as I could tell, though, I think he played his character well.  I’m looking forward to seeing him in Mockingjay - for sure!

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I am thinking of having a Q&A post about The Hunger Games.  Any questions you may have about it, anything specific you’d like to hear my opinion(s) on, etc., etc.  Just comment (or email me: [email protected]) and let me know.
I know this is a huge topic…and everyone has different opinions about it.  Just remember to grace your words with kindness and I will do the same.  If you don’t, I won’t answer you:)

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Next up, The Hunger Games, Part 3 – Catching Fire review.
I also have a birthday post to do:)

Thank you to all my supporters and fans!!  You guys make my day <3
::hugs::

PS:  Click HERE to read my friend, DJ’s, review on THG.