You Can't Carry It With You If You Want To Survive

[redbrunja]

I saw The Hunger Games tonight and it was

very well done. I really loved the way that the film widened the world and showed how the Games were constructed and what the Capitol's pov regarding them was. I loved all the details they added, from Haymitch wining and dining to Seneca Crane. Goddamn, Seneca Crane. That scene where he is locked in the room with the berries was chilling. In general, all the increased worldbuilding made the movie stronger and really set-up the forthcoming rebellion.

I think the strongest parts were the beginning in District 12, with all the excellent unsteady camera work (on that subject, the use of sound and silence was phenomenal) and the end in the area.

Effie absolutely stole the show whenever she was on, with her fantastically snappish, "That's mahogany!" and her fucked-up line about the careers not getting dessert (which I bet they don't - they have to look perfect for the cameras, of course.) I adored her Reaping Day outfit (and I am actually going to attempt an Effie-inspired manicure at some point, with a dark pink dusted with gold.

Which leads me to the things I didn't like: the film really dragged in the middle during the prep for the games, and Katniss's outfits (the flaming cloaks, the girl on fire dress, the dress at the post-games interview) were TERRIBLE. Cinna did not make it work.

Also, every time we cut to Gale reacting to Katniss and Peeta being STAR CROSSED LOVERS, the audience (including me) cackled, which totally reminded me of this comic:


Oh, and just for the record: Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss was perfect, the actor for Peeta wasn't terrible, and that little moment where he touched the end of her braid right before taking the berries SLAYED me.

Comments

[bitterbird.livejournal.com]

totally agreed with all of this! It was so interesting see some other sides to what we got in the book like the game mechanics and such
lol our audience reacted the same way, what an accurate comic ;)

[mirumototsubasa.livejournal.com]

The move was indeed very well done. The only part that irritates me a little was the cheapening of the dogs, at the end. It was so much creepier with them as former tributes than just computer graphics.

[edgeoftheocean8.livejournal.com]

I totally agree! I'm surprise by how many people were disappointed, although I suppose that's to be expected when people loved the books so much. I loved what they showed us of this world and how fucked up it is, and the fact that we were watching it just like all the citizens of the capital was kinda creepy too.
I actually didn't have as much of a problem with the outfits as I expected. The fire was cool I thought, and the worst was the dress at the very end, but they were selling the innocent/so in love thing so meh. It was ok I guess.
Jennifer Lawrence is so incredible and perfect. I'm beyond pissed that people are saying she wasn't malnourished looking enough..,are you kidding me?

[edgeoftheocean8.livejournal.com]

*surprised. Also the dogs were lame, yeah, but I think it could have gone very very wrong if they had tried to do the tributes' faces. Can you imagine what that would actually look like?

[river-soul.livejournal.com]

I think the strongest parts were the beginning in District 12, with all the excellent unsteady camera work (on that subject, the use of sound and silence was phenomenal) and the end in the area.

Agree 100%! I loved how stark and dreary District 12 was shown to be. It was like all color was leached out of everything. How utterly downtrodden and hopeless the whole situation was came across well.

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss was perfect, the actor for Peeta wasn't terrible, and that little moment where he touched the end of her braid right before taking the berries SLAYED me.

!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES! I loved Peeta in that moment!

[lady-with-cats.livejournal.com]

OMG I CACKLED AT GALE'S FACE THROUGHOUT ALSO! OH GALE YOUR "FML" FACES ARE THE BEST.

edited to add: I think I disagree with the shaky camera shots. They were effective for the most part, but sometimes I just wanted to SEE the scene and it was more a hindrance than a help.

[mistaria.livejournal.com]

I actually haven't read the books yet because I tend to have trouble enjoying the movie if I've read the books first but it's great to see positive reviews from all of the book fans I've talked to so far. And now I am very excited to read them! w00t w00t

Also, glad I wasn't the only one who thought Katniss' dresses weren't great. I didn't mind the costumes for the original girl on fire moment but the two dresses for the interviews were not doing it for me. Were they true to the book or what? The colours were not working for Jennifer Lawrence IMO.

[spirited-lizard.livejournal.com]

that little moment where he touched the end of her braid right before taking the berries SLAYED me.

ME TOO!!!! So much love! ♥

I freakin' loved this movie! It was awesome!

[earnmysong.livejournal.com]

[...]and that little moment where he touched the end of her braid right before taking the berries SLAYED me.
ME TOO.