Hunger Games - Spoilers ok!

[Mymae]

So, I created a username just so I could post here.

I read all three books and saw the movie this past weekend. I generally do not care much for a movie when I have read the book but, I thought the filmmakers did a great job with it.

I do wish we could have seen a little bit more of Katniss' and Rue's relationship in the movie. The book went into further detail with it which made Rue's death that much sadder (it was sad in the movie, don't get me wrong, I cried). The gift from District 11 was another thing I wish they would have included. I loved that part in the book, it was so touching that this poor district raised enough to send it to her in thanks for what Katniss did for Rue.

I agree with most of you as well that the movie did not portray the Katniss/Peeta star-crossed lover angle fully. The cave scenes in the book lasted for chapters whereas the movie cut it way down.

Lastly, I know this is trivial and not at all important to the story but, I would have loved to see the scene at The Reaping where Haymich falls off the stage. I just thought it was a great bit of comic relief to an otherwise heart-wrenching scene.

I plan on taking my DD(10) to see it as soon as she reads the book.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I would have to respectfully disagree.

The bread especially demonstrates why President Snow sees her as dangerous. The Hunger Games are a way to divide the Districts, and in the case of the gift, you have the Districts coming together to support Katniss. Yes, the movie showed a riot, but that was less about Katniss and more about the death of their own child.

Depending on where they go in the next films depends on whether or not the Avox adds to the story. She was a great comfort to Katniss when she comes back to the games, and then later is killed because of Katniss.

And Katniss drugging Peeta goes hand in hand with the part I misses the most- the way that she played for the cameras in the book. That really gave us more of a sense of her personality- NONE of which came through in the movie. Movie Katniss didn't have the confidence, the strength nor the attitude of book Katniss.

The drugging really showed the tit-for-tat part of the Game, which really highlights Katniss's ulterior motives- i.e. she isn't kissing Peeta because she is caught up in the moment, she is kissing him for the reward. Kiss on the cheek gets you broth, passionate kiss gets you stew and drugs.

No, I agree with what you are saying in regards to the books. However, my point was from a film makers point of view. Those bits of the book aren't necessary to translate from page to film. The story is completely told in the allotted 2 hrs. and 22 min. That's a long movie.

So while I enjoyed those plot points in the book, I am merely stating that they weren't necessary in the big picture of the film.

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

I finally saw Hunger Games, loved it! My only pet peeve was that Josh Hutcherson wasn't quite the Peeta I imagined. I didn't care for him in that role. Peeta should've been taller too and more protective of Katniss, like in the books.

 

[kimmar067]

That bugged me too! and didn't she drug Peeta so she could go get the medicine at the Cornucopia?

 

[kimmar067]

I liked the book better! I thought the movie was a little vague!

....I wound up liking the movie AND the book more, since I had seen the movie BEFORE I had read the book...

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

That bugged me too! and didn't she drug Peeta so she could go get the medicine at the Cornucopia?

Yes, she did. Haymitch sent her sleep syrup to drug Peeta so she could go to the Cornucopia for his medicine. They didn't show any of that in the movie.

 

[Princess Dolly]

DH and I really enjoyed the movie. However, there was something they left out and it really bugged me!

In the book Katniss gets a parachute of bread from District 11 to thank her for honoring Rue in her death with the flowers....can't believe they left that out! (the parachute from District 11...)

What??!??!! They left that out??!??!! That's like one of the biggest things. Sigh. I had not read the books before it was out in the movie theaters. I have read them all now and am waiting for the DVD. This really pisses me off.

And wait...they didn't show her drugging Peeta? That's another big moment. Crap. Maybe I don't want to see it if it gets me angry.

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

What??!??!! They left that out??!??!! That's like one of the biggest things. Sigh. I had not read the books before it was out in the movie theaters. I have read them all now and am waiting for the DVD. This really pisses me off.

And wait...they didn't show her drugging Peta? That's another big moment. Crap. Maybe I don't want to see it if it gets me angry.

Those were two really good parts from the book, right? The bread was, I thought, a key point in the movie after Rue's death. District 11 is so poor, poorer than even district 12 so for them to be able to send bread, well, it meant alot because it cost alot. That poignant scene was completely lost in the movie. And district 11 didn't revolt right after seeing Rue's death either. Their sending the bread was a unifying moment because Katniss had taken a stand against the games with Rue's death. Ugh, why did I read the books first?!?!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

What??!??!! They left that out??!??!! That's like one of the biggest things. Sigh. I had not read the books before it was out in the movie theaters. I have read them all now and am waiting for the DVD. This really pisses me off.

And wait...they didn't show her drugging Peta? That's another big moment. Crap. Maybe I don't want to see it if it gets me angry.

If that bugs you, what about Peta not needing a fake leg?

 

[Princess Dolly]

If that bugs you, what about Peta not needing a fake leg?

I didn't read all the comments in this thread about what was missing. I only looked at two, got mad, stopped reading and responded.

No fake leg? UGH I mean I know things have to be left out of movies but these aren't small side stories.

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

I didn't read all the comments in this thread about what was missing. I only looked at two, got mad, stopped reading and responded.

No fake leg? UGH I mean I know things have to be left out of movies but these aren't small side stories.

Yup, no fake leg in the movie. I actually liked that scene from the book where the hovercraft picks them up and Katniss is separated from Peeta by a glass wall. She launches herself at the wall to try to get to him. What it showed IMO was that she had begun to care for him, whether she knew it yet or not. But again, missing from the movie.

Too bad they didn't get Chris Hemsworth (Thor and Snow White) to play Peeta. Now that's a Peeta I can get behind.

 

[NAB]

I didn't read all the comments in this thread about what was missing. I only looked at two, got mad, stopped reading and responded.

No fake leg? UGH I mean I know things have to be left out of movies but these aren't small side stories.

The fake leg does not come until the second book. So it would not have been in the first movie. Or is my memory wrong.

 

[Laura66]

Yup! That's book 2!

 

[crashbb]

The fake leg does not come until the second book. So it would not have been in the first movie. Or is my memory wrong.

Doesn't she notice it at the end of the first book? When they are having their post-Games interview.

 

[caribear]

Doesn't she notice it at the end of the first book? When they are having their post-Games interview.

Yes, you are correct. That was one of the main things that really bugged me about the movie. Peeta was attacked by the mutts when he was climbing the cornecopia and severely injured his leg....Katniss found out about the amputation during the post-game interview.

I was also miffed at the whole story behind the Mockingjay Pin. I did not like that they changed the story from the book....plus the fact that the book went into such detail about the mutts looking like the other dead contestants...with the collars and eyes..plus the fur that matched the contestants hair color....yet nothing like that was put into the film. I can go on......

While I did enjoy the film....I did not like all of the pieces that were left out or changed. I hope they do better with the other 2 books.

 

[swandiverpatt]

The only change from the book that really bothered me was the mutts. It would have had great impact if they had followed the book where the mutts had the killed district reps' features.

Reading, I always saw Alan Rickman as Hamish but realized he was too old. I did think Woody Harrelson fit as Hamish.

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

Yes, you are correct. That was one of the main things that really bugged me about the movie. Peeta was attacked by the mutts when he was climbing the cornecopia and severely injured his leg....Katniss found out about the amputation during the post-game interview.

I was also miffed at the whole story behind the Mockingjay Pin. I did not like that they changed the story from the book....plus the fact that the book went into such detail about the mutts looking like the other dead contestants...with the collars and eyes..plus the fur that matched the contestants hair color....yet nothing like that was put into the film. I can go on......

While I did enjoy the film....I did not like all of the pieces that were left out or changed. I hope they do better with the other 2 books.

Yup, it was at the end of book one. Peeta was laid out on a table in the hovercraft, separated from Katniss while they examined his leg, etc. She pounds on the glass, hurls herself at it, screaming for him. At one point she thinks he might be dead and has to ask an Avox if he's alive because she knew his leg was really bad off and he'd lost alot of blood after the mutt attack.

Then in their last interviews with Caesar, she finds out about his leg and pulls his pant leg up to see it while they're on camera.

The only change from the book that really bothered me was the mutts. It would have had great impact if they had followed the book where the mutts had the killed district reps' features.

Reading, I always saw Alan Rickman as Hamish but realized he was too old. I did think Woody Harrelson fit as Hamish.

I know. The mutts' appearance showed the depravity of the gamemakers I thought. To make them look like the dead tributes was sick and twisted, just another way to mess with Katniss and her state of mind. Another part lost in the movie translation though.

Alan Rickman will forever be Professor Snape to me. But I do love Woody Harrelson as Haymitch, love him. At first I thought him an odd choice for his character but after seeing the movie, he fits perfectly.