The Hunger Games

[Shadow]

Seeing it in an hour. Will post more about it tonight when I get back. >_>

[Croix]

heard not bad things about it. also that the books were better :V

[Jenne]

Someone make me a sammich.

[Delta1212]

I saw it this afternoon and thought it was good. In terms of events, it actually stuck very close to the novel. A few things were slightly changed or omitted, but as far as adaptations go, this is one of the better ones I've seen. I'd probably be more impressed if the existence of Game of Thrones hadn't made me consider how much better it would have worked as a miniseries at several points throughout the movie, but everything can't be an HBO series.

I think toning down the graphic brutality from the book's hurt the film thematically, but it was mostly in terms of goriness rather than in omitting or changing the manner of anyone's death. I also think the characters were largely underdeveloped, but I think that about the vast majority of movies these days since I've spent the past few years devouring the best of cable television, which does characterization on a level that's completely infeasible on film.

It wasn't the best movie I've seen this year. I don't even think it's top 5, but that doesn't mean much considering how many really good movies I've seen already. It was pretty good, though, and despite the length, at no point did I think it was dragging, which is more than I can say for most movies over 140 minutes, even the good ones.

[Shadow]

I enjoyed it and thought it was good. I've never read the books so I can't comment on how it relates to them but I enjoyed the storyline and how it all played out. It kept me engrossed for the entirety of the time which like Delta said is hard for movies that are that long (2 hours and 22 minutes I believe). Anyways I'll look forward to the sequels since I believe the books are a trilogy and if the theater I went to is any indication (got there 30 minutes early, still had to wait in line, & the whole theater filled up) it should be making a rather good amount of money. Maybe I might end up checking the books before they make the sequels as well.

[Arsenal 10]

Don't bother with the books, they'll ruin the movies. Watched the movie a few days ago and it was really good. I thought the connections between the games and the effects it had on the districts was much more believable than the way the books did it. I also thought the characters were developed fairly well (obviously not for people in district 12 though as they were skimmed over). The first book was enjoyable, the second was okay, but the third was pathetic and not at all enjoyable.

What annoyed me though was the filming techniques. I swear half the film was shot in motion or something because the image was out of focus and blurry so much it made it hard to follow. I can understand doing that in the action shots during the games, but they did it so often it was stupid.

[Mia]

Hmm, I've read the first book and going to  see the movie this Thursday. Now I am wondering if I shouldn't see it.

[Arsenal 10]

Hmm, I've read the first book and going to  see the movie this Thursday. Now I am wondering if I shouldn't see it.

Don't be put off, the movie was really good.

[Mia]

I hated the movie. I read the series, got addicted to the books enough that I am rereading it. I find the books actually a good read. I spent the entire movie sitting there going "HEY WAIT YOU ARE MISSING THE IMPORTANT DETAILS FROM THE BOOK!". I feel like the movie is mediocre on its own, that it'd be bearable if I hadn't read the books but that what made the books good to me, the deeper themes involved was removed due to the way they changed the details that were important, left out certain developments, more emphasis on some things and completely removed meaning. Makes me wonder how they tend to write future movies. Though I have to applaud how they figured out how to explain certain things that were written from the book that had to be explained somehow.

Still though...

Liked the books better.

[Arsenal 10]

I hated the movie. I read the series, got addicted to the books enough that I am rereading it. I find the books actually a good read. I spent the entire movie sitting there going "HEY WAIT YOU ARE MISSING THE IMPORTANT DETAILS FROM THE BOOK!". I feel like the movie is mediocre on its own, that it'd be bearable if I hadn't read the books but that what made the books good to me, the deeper themes involved was removed due to the way they changed the details that were important, left out certain developments, more emphasis on some things and completely removed meaning. Makes me wonder how they tend to write future movies. Though I have to applaud how they figured out how to explain certain things that were written from the book that had to be explained somehow.

Still though...

Liked the books better.

Funny, I had (literally) the exact opposite reaction. Each to their own, I guess (though you are wrong ).

[Snowbound Milk]

but everything can't be an HBO series.

You're full of shit.

[Pterrydactyl]

I really liked it.

The Cinematography was good.  I liked how it made it feel like a kids movie (or at least nowhere near as dark as it was), but had such incredibly dark undertones.  There was a bit too much camera shake, but everything needs camera shake nowadays.  I really liked how they did the "slaughter" sequence when the game started.  Despite being incredibly graphic, it gave a true sense of both the ruthlessness of those who train their whole lives for it, and the how desperate and unprepared those who weren't were.  Also, they did a good job of hiding anyone young getting killed for the most part.

That aside, Glen Hettrick did much of the design for the movie, and he's just awesome by himself.