My Hunger Games Review

I, like everybody else on the face of the earth, read the Hunger Games trilogy and waited patiently anxiously for the movie's release. Clay took me to see it on Friday and as expected, it did not disappoint.

While I think it was a great movie overall, there are a few key things that caught my attention.

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT(S)

I'm not sure the filmmakers painted an accurate portrait of how controlled the Districts are. Yes, at the beginning of the movie, we saw Katniss going to elaborate lengths to get through the fence, but it's not clear that hunting is illegal. The only way they showed the oppression is through the Hunger Games and there is so much more to it. For those who haven't read the books (like my husband), the rebellion didn't quite make sense.

Katniss purchasing the pin in the Hob bothered me. I appreciate that they made it a token of special meaning between Katniss and Prim, but I'm not sure they played up the importance of the symbol enough, considering what it comes to mean later in the series.

Back to the rebellion- I realize they used the rebellion after Rue's death as foreshadowing; however, it severely crippled the double suicide scene, in my opinion. Clay didn't see covering Rue's body as an act of rebellion and just assumed the man who started the rebellion was Rue's dad and he was just ticked about her death. Perhaps inserting the rebellion that early in the movie would have worked better had the audience understood more clearly that the districts were severely oppressed; however, I still believe they should have begun the rebellion after Katniss pulls the stunt with the nightlock, especially considering President Snow puts the rebellion on her shoulders in Catching Fire.

I am firmly on Team Peeta. Only for a fleeting moment in Catching Fire did that change. (You know what I'm referring to? ha) I'm a romantic, so I love every part of the connection between Katniss and Peeta. I love that Katniss thinks of Peeta fondly because he burned bread that fed her family, even though she doesn't know him well; I love that he is so hopefully devoted to her; most of all, I love the "love" story that becomes a true love story. Because the book is written using Katniss' thoughts, it is abundantly clear that she is using the star-crossed lover story to her advantage in the games but is also experiencing an emotional conflict. In the movie, it's a bit harder to do that- I get that. I just wish they would have said more on the train ride back to District 12.

As far as casting goes, I was thrilled with Katniss, Prim, Caesar Flickman and Gale from the very beginning. Seriously, could Stanley Tucci have done a better job with Caesar's character?? At first, I wasn't so hot about Peeta's character, but warmed up to him and ended up agreeing with the choice at the end. The two I have a hard time getting behind are President Snow and Haymitch.

The book the picture drew of President Snow, at least in my opinion, was much different. Donald Sutherland did a great job, but what threw me was his hair. I see President Snow being very demure with slicked back hair and in the best suits. It's a small thing, but his wild hair just really threw me for a loop.

When I first saw the trailer, Woody Harrelson as Haymitch surprised me. In the book, Haymitch falls off the stage at the reaping and is constantly drunk. To me, that means slurred speech and generally unable to conduct himself properly. Woody did a great job with the role, but I would have like to see him a bit more disheveled, not just dependent on alcohol.

All in all, I loved the movie and am ready to see it again. I already reread Hunger Games and Catching Fire (and am halfway through Mockingjay) last week in anticipation of the movie. Now, how do I waste time until the next release in the fall of 2013????

What did you think about the movie?