Hunger Games - Spoilers ok!

[disneyfav4ever]

I went to the midnight showing in my area. It was good, there were a couple parts changed that I didn't mind, but only one thing that I feel they needed to spend more time on in the movie, and one scene that I thought just wasn't filmed well.

I did have a bad experience with other movie-goers though. The teenagers we were seated next to talked throughout the entire movie. And texted. Sometimes the talking would be movie-related, but they'd give away spoilers two minutes before the scene would happen. Then sometimes they were just whispering random stuff to each other. It was very distracting. My other friend who was a couple of seats away from me said the girl behind him gave away spoilers too, and he had never read the books, so it was extra annoying for him.

 

[st4rrab0vemybed]

Going to see the movie tonight ... can't wait!

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I agree to disagree with you on quality literature. The titles were off the top of my head late at night. I could research it further, but we'd probably still disagree . It does look like a gripping movie, and I hope everyone that's excited about it enjoys it!

This is a case of disagreement about different aspects of a book. Personally, whenever I rate a book, it gets 3 separate ratings: 1) was it well written/edited (this deals mainly with prose), 2) was it well conceived (meaning, did the storyline make sense and did it have a meaning that goes beyond the basic plot) and 3) was it an enjoyable read. Books can fail at any and all of these aspects, and it's very rare to find a book that gets top marks in all three. One example would, in fact, be To Kill a Mockingbird. However, Call of the Wild, though well written and an enjoyable read, suffers from a conception standpoint. Still a good book all around, just not one of the best books I've ever read. I think most people can agree that the Hunger Games achieves high marks for being an enjoyable book. However, it's not all that well written (it's not high art any more than most young adult fiction is) and it suffers here and there from a plot perspective. However, it is enjoyable enough to make one overlook the fact that it is not classic literature in the making.

So, to a certain extent I agree with you. I'd love to see kids reading books that are challenging from a perspective of literature and writing style. But the problem is that sometimes, when you put all your focus in areas one and two, you miss out on the book being actually fun to read (which is probably why I have still never managed to get past the second chapter of A Tale of Two Cities). Given the choice between having kids read something fun, but not artistic, and not reading at all, I'll take (and encourage) the former action. Hopefully, they'll like it enough that you can start introducing literature with similar themes, but with better writing, and they'll be willing to give it a chance.

 

[Thumper_Man]

Is anyone going to see it in IMAX? I think it would be great in IMAX.

Not in IMAX but rather in D-Box, if you've heard of D-Box seats. Can't wait.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

Can we discuss spoilers here? I want to talk about the little things in the movie I did/didn't like!!!


Overall, we thought it was great. Our theater had people lined up very early. We got there around 9:00 and they were stamping tickets. The first group was able to be seated at 9:30. I thought it was going to be awful sitting there that long, but we were with a great group of friends (teens and adults) and the kids were making friends, hanging out in the front of the theater playing games, it was just all around good fun. The lady sitting in front of me brought her teens but hadn't read the books. She started reading the book in line and finished the entire first book before the movie started! We saw a lot of costumes and Hunger Games T-shirts. DD and her friends had made a group T-shirt and we saw other groups doing the same.

I've read a few other threads where people said it wasn't that graphic, but teens killing other teens is graphic to me. There were plenty of scenes where I was cringing or looking away.

 

[RitaE]

I went to the 9:30am showing this morning so I could avoid the screaming High School crowds and ended up in a theatre full of Junior High kids on a field trip. I have to say I once again have faith in the youth of America because once the movie started I totally forgot they were all there - they were so great.

I loved the movie. I think Jennifer Lawrence nailed the part like I never expected. I hardly ever even go to movies anymore because I find most of them so terrible. I especially cringe at movies made out of books I love because that so often turns out bad. But I really liked this movie. It's hard to imagine any book fan will be disappointed.

And may the odds be EVER in your favor.

 

[NAB]

I went to the 9:30am showing this morning so I could avoid the screaming High School crowds and ended up in a theatre full of Junior High kids on a field trip. I have to say I once again have faith in the youth of America because once the movie started I totally forgot they were all there - they were so great.

I loved the movie. I think Jennifer Lawrence nailed the part like I never expected. I hardly ever even go to movies anymore because I find most of them so terrible. I especially cringe at movies made out of books I love because that so often turns out bad. But I really liked this movie. It's hard to imagine any book fan will be disappointed.

And may the odds be EVER in your favor.

Same here. Went to the first show this morning. There were school buses everywhere , sold out theaters but it was showing in so many that we still got to see it in the Imax one with only a few classes. Kids were great. Loved the movie.

 

[Magic Mom]

I JUST CAN'T WAIT!!

 

[LilyWDW]

And may the odds be EVER in your favor.

That line always freaked me out in the books, but it got a WHOLE new level of freakiness after the movie. They way the said it just gave me shivers... and not the good kinds!

 

[mom2my3kids]

Kids in my county also went today to see it, middle school I believe..

 

[jenny105]

I loved it. I wasn't sure about the cast when it was first announced but Jennifer Lawrence was great and Josh Hutchenson absolutely nailed Peeta. I was Team Gale after reading the books but after the movie, Team Peeta all the way I thought Stanley Tucci was brilliant as Caesar Flickerman and Effie & Haymitch were good for some comic relief. The tributes were great as well especially the kids who played Cato, Clove, and Rue. The only thing I wasn't crazy about were some of the shots - shaky camera work & blurred shots. I'm sure it was meant to drawn you into the movie, make you feel like part of the Games, but it made me dizzy during some scenes! Other than that, great job translating it from book to the big screen.

 

[RitaE]

I loved it. I wasn't sure about the cast when it was first announced but Jennifer Lawrence was great and Josh Hutchenson absolutely nailed Peeta. I was Team Gale after reading the books but after the movie, Team Peeta all the way I thought Stanley Tucci was brilliant as Caesar Flickerman and Effie & Haymitch were good for some comic relief. The tributes were great as well especially the kids who played Cato, Clove, and Rue. The only thing I wasn't crazy about were some of the shots - shaky camera work & blurred shots. I'm sure it was meant to drawn you into the movie, make you feel like part of the Games, but it made me dizzy during some scenes! Other than that, great job translating it from book to the big screen.

I thought the Peeta-Katniss chemistry was perfect. There were some nuances that I'm not sure those who haven't read the books will pick up such as why he was with the Careers at the beginning of the games and why she was dressed in that silly poufy dress at the final interview. But Peeta and his devotion and more pure personality playing off of Katniss and her cunning determination and skill was perfect.

I loved little Rue.

 

[NAB]

I loved it. I wasn't sure about the cast when it was first announced but Jennifer Lawrence was great and Josh Hutchenson absolutely nailed Peeta. I was Team Gale after reading the books but after the movie, Team Peeta all the way I thought Stanley Tucci was brilliant as Caesar Flickerman and Effie & Haymitch were good for some comic relief. The tributes were great as well especially the kids who played Cato, Clove, and Rue. The only thing I wasn't crazy about were some of the shots - shaky camera work & blurred shots. I'm sure it was meant to drawn you into the movie, make you feel like part of the Games, but it made me dizzy during some scenes! Other than that, great job translating it from book to the big screen.

I thought the blurred shots were so we didn't see the kids actually kill each other. Especially at the beginning. And the other one I remember is because she was suppose to be hallucinating when she got stung by the bees.

It was hard to tell who was dead etc. In the book it was summed up everynight for you in the movie I was trying to figure out who was left. My husband didn't read the books with me and I told him everytime someone was killed a hover craft came down to get the bodies. They didn't really show that either.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

I loved it. I wasn't sure about the cast when it was first announced but Jennifer Lawrence was great and Josh Hutchenson absolutely nailed Peeta. I was Team Gale after reading the books but after the movie, Team Peeta all the way I thought Stanley Tucci was brilliant as Caesar Flickerman and Effie & Haymitch were good for some comic relief. The tributes were great as well especially the kids who played Cato, Clove, and Rue. The only thing I wasn't crazy about were some of the shots - shaky camera work & blurred shots. I'm sure it was meant to drawn you into the movie, make you feel like part of the Games, but it made me dizzy during some scenes! Other than that, great job translating it from book to the big screen.

Completely agree! This exceeded my expectations. Wow, it was so well done and really well translated from book to the big screen. My DD12 and I loved it! Jennifer was fabulous as Katniss, she played the whole range of emotions perfectly. Love love love Peeta! And I loved them together which I was a tad worried about beforehand. Just a fantastic movie all around and definitely one we'll be seeing again!

Oh, as far as the dizzying camera work, I think that was to detract from the gore and violence. It was really tastefully done I think.

 

[Desnik]

I have to say I tried reading the book after DD had read and loved it. I couldn't finish it. I really only got to the 2nd or 3rd chapter and that is unusual for me. I just didn't like it and it didn't grab my attention. I usualy don't like this genre so I just chalked it up to that.

Anyway, we just came back from seeing the movie because DD has been dying to see it. I wasn't going to go but we all went as a family, myself, DH, DD(14), and DS(9). I LOVED it!!!!! I couldn' believe it but I loved it! It was so interesting and the story was really told so well. I felt every emotion and cried at some parts! We all loved it and it sparked a great conversation on the way home. DD was so happy with it and said it was really close to the books. It was so good that I think I need to go see it again!

 

[Magic Mom]

Outstanding! Spot on with just about the whole book. DD was disappointed when Katniss found the pin at the Hobb instead of getting it from Madge Undersee. That was one main plot point skipped. It didn't affect the story on screen though IMO....yet. The dogs at the end weren't in line with the story either. They were supposed to resemble the dead tributes but didn't.

I loved all of the actors. Jennifer was great, and Woody H. was better than I expected (I originally pictured Haymitch as older and fatter and more pathetically alcoholic.) Loved Cinna....LOVED all of them, even Cato.

 

[LilyWDW]

Oh, as far as the dizzying camera work, I think that was to detract from the gore and violence. It was really tastefully done I think.

Still made me have to close my eyes and try not to get sick to my stomach though. I actually really hate that sort of effect because it does bother so many people. I saw a lot of people looking away from the screen during the start of the hallucination scene (because I was looking away from the screen ).

 

[mom2my3kids]

Still made me have to close my eyes and try not to get sick to my stomach though. I actually really hate that sort of effect because it does bother so many people. I saw a lot of people looking away from the screen during the start of the hallucination scene (because I was looking away from the screen ).

I thought all the blurry fast movie pace during the fight scenes were because they didnt want you actually seeing young kids killing each other..It was done very good I think..you understood what was happening without seeing all the blood bath..One of my friends who went with us actually had to close her eyes during these scenes cause they made her sick as well..

 

[rszdtrvl]

DH and I saw the first showing today at 11:30am. The movie theater had WAY more people than there were at the same time showing of Breaking Dawn Pt. 1.

We enjoyed the movie a lot, but I did have to come home and take Dramamine for the motion sickness.

 

[Jennasis]

Just saw it today. Jennifer Lawrence was terrific, as were most of the other "name" actors (like Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson etc). The other tributes were very meh. Overall very faithful to the book and well done.