Over a year ago, I decided a do a feature I called "Book vs Movie" for the book Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. Well, I've decided to bring it back. I've been meaning to, and in fact, The Help has been just waiting to be written for a while now. Anyway, let's talk about The Hunger Games. First some some snippets from my longer review of The Hunger Games.
This book was a very pleasant surprise. ... It brings up a lot of interesting problems with the general human condition, including what problems could occur in this society not completely removed from our own. ...Two years after reading the book, the movie came out. I didn't follow the filming of it too much besides to think "The girl who is going to play Katniss was nominated for an Oscar? I approve" and "Lenny Kravitz?! I want to get awaaaay." But after seeing the movie, I was extremely pleased with their casting.
I can't imagine how I would be at 16, still not an adult but you think you are, in a world where you are forced to hunt for your family's survival and then get thrown into the hunger games where you have to kill to survive.
The plot just grips me. See how these characters interact and react to and with each other is what keeps me reading.
The cast were the heart and soul of this movie and I believe what they gave to their performance is one of the main reasons that Hunger Games, last I heard, was still topping the charts. Katniss was outstanding. For the first time ever, the character in my head came alive on the screen through Jennifer Lawrence's performance. The boys were great, the other tributes were great, and holy crap Haymich was amazing.
I thought this was an excellent adaptation. It changed things that would make sense in the limited time visual medium, while keeping the heart of the book. They also added some things that were obvious set ups for the next two movies.
There isn't really any one thing that I could point out that I didn't like in the movie. I really, really enjoyed it. Does the movie beat the book? Absolutely not. The book is one of the few five stars I have given. The movie was great and I would absolutely see it again, but the book was better.
What did you think?
I totally agree with you! I loved this movie. I am actually going to buy the DVD, which I never do. :)
ReplyDeleteSame here. On both I never buy DVDs and I will buy this :)
DeleteReally enjoyed the film ans it was interesting to see certain plot markers from the trilogy being alluded to at an earlier point from which they appear in the books.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. It will make a more coherent movie trilogy with all the clues :)
DeleteI liked the movie, but the book was much more detailed - understandably so of course.
ReplyDeleteTanya
Girlxoxo.com
Yup. Surprisingly, I have seen people who like the movie more. Which I guess makes sense because it was written very visually. But for me, the book is better.
DeleteI loved the book more, but the movie was extremely well done! I admit that I was REALLY hesitant when I found out about the cast, but it turned out great! And yes, Haymitch! I liked how they incorporated the horror of the killings, but didn't make it gory. Also, there was no music during the scene at the cornucopia at the start of the Games, which for some reason stuck with me.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping they keep this level of quality with Catching Fire and Mockingjay!
Yes, yes and yes! I thought it was better not seeing the deaths really. No gratuitous gore. And the music, and lack of it, was amazing. I really noticed it when watching the reaping. Awesome.
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