The Hunger Games

      First of all I should apologize. This has been a crazy busy March and I haven’t focused on my blog the way I would have liked.  I will try to make up for that. On the good side, we are heading into the summer movies! Lots of fun stuff to talk about.
      The Hunger Games (2012) is one of those movies that doesn’t really need to be reviewed. You can divide people into one of three groups. The fans of the book are going to go see the movie no matter what people say. Then you have those that are curious about all of the hype. They don’t read the book but, will go watch the movie just to see what people are talking about. Then there are the people like me. I read the books. Yes, all three! I wouldn’t say I fell in love with them but I found them interesting and am always curious to see how they choose to transfer books to movies.  I guess you could say there is a fourth group.  Those who refuse to give in and read the book or see the movie at all.
      I didn’t go to the midnight release of The Hunger games but I did see it opening weekend.  I was impressed with the movie.  They did a great job staying true to the book. As always, the book will fill in the blanks a bit but I guess that isn’t always necessary for everyone.  I believe you can enjoy this movie having never read the book.  I feel very strongly that you should always do both, read the book and then see the movie, but I know not everyone cares that much.  I was watching an interview with Stephen King and he said, “comparing a book to the movie is like comparing apples to oranges. They are both delicious, but have very different flavors.” I really liked that! A movie can never take the place of a book no matter how hard they try. It is just a different medium and watching a movie is a different experience than reading a book. If I want the crunch of an apple, an orange will never really satisfy.
      The Hunger Games is such a hugely popular series that I feel I don’t need to say too much about the actual story line. So, I will tell you about the technical side. Gary Ross (Pleasantville, Seabiscuit, Big, Dave) wrote the screenplay and directed The Hunger Games. I am curious if he will do all three? The actors have signed contracts for all three movies. (The last one will not be in two parts). I know Gary Ross is directing the second movie, Catching Fire (2013), but will the studio keep him for the last one? I liked his directing style. The actors all do a wonderful job. The movie had the same feel to it as the book and everyone portrayed their characters very much the way I pictured them. The “careers” where very frightening. So crazy, wild and blood thirsty.  Just the way I imagined them. Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone, X-Men: First Class, Like Crazy) is a wonderful Katniss. She still has a chip on her shoulder and has a hard time connecting with people.  Peeta, played by Josh Hutcherson (Bridge to Terabithia, The Kids Are All Right, Zathura) was very out of place in the arena. As a sensitive, quiet and shy baker he didn’t really seem to stand a chance of making it very long. Rue was as adorable and just as sly as I imagined in the books. Amandla Stenberg (Colombiana, Texas Killing Fields, Why Did I Get Married Too?) embodied her well. Woody Harrelson (Cheers, Zombieland, Natural Born Killers, Friends with Benefits) is wonderful as Haymitch, the drunk mentor that is suppose to help Peeta and Katniss.  Stanley Tucci (Margin Call, Easy A, Undercover Blues, Shall We Dance) is so good in any roles he takes on that Caesar Flickerman just came to life. Blue hair, cheesy smile and all!
      There are some slight changes from the book but for the most part it sticks to the book very closely. And, as I said previously, is a good movie even if you haven’t read the book. You can follow it and don’t feel lost or feel like you are missing out on something. The Hunger Games is written in first person, from Katniss’ point of view.  Some of the changes they made in the movie really added to the story.  By removing the first person point of view they could show us things that they just couldn’t in the book.  My favorite was the CGI for the panel of people controlling the arena. It adds to the “creep factor” when you see this group of people watching the “games” unfold and manipulate the arena to their advantage. Wes Bentley (American Beauty, The Four Feathers, Ghost Rider, Gone) plays Seneca, the Gamemaker. He was wonderful to watch.  All of the actors are wonderful. I can’t wait to watch them grow in their individual roles throughout the trilogy.