The Hunger Games

[HaemishM]

Yeah, NBK had a great soundtrack but was a complete cluster fuck as a film.

[schild]

Just saw this. Thought it was strictly worse than Battle Royale or Running Man. Everything was way too convenient, the world wasn't nearly fleshed out enough (more on this), and there was way too much deus ex machina going on. I know the sponsor stuff was on purpose, but really?

So, the girlfriend has read the books, here are things I got wrong based on only seeing the movie:
1. I thought the capital was District 1.
2. I know In Time came after the books, but that terrible Justin Timberlake movie did a better job showing and explaining the differences between the districts (same setup as Hunger Games, except there was no capital, just a 1st District).
3. People were complaining about racism on Twitter, but I wanted to know why the only 2 relevant black people came from the same district and then that district was the only one that rioted. Was it Philadelphia? I don't get it. Why even show that shit?
4. The capital was just a pack of overfed, overdressed ponce nancies and other than having a police force, I couldn't actually figure out how they controlled the rest of, what was it, Pan Am?
5. Guy who did the screenplay, the director, and cinematographer had absolutely no skill when it came to establishing sympathy or even garnering any measure of hope for the characters.

6. As a side note, the trailer for Prometheus looked fucking amazing. And I know what I'll be seeing this summer, EVERY LAST ONE OF THESE: http://drafthouse.com/1982

[Lakov_Sanite]

1. This distinction didn't really matter to me, I figured the capital was district one myself but that it's not doesn't seem to matter.

2. Possible, I avoid Timberlake like the plague.

3. I don't think district 11's rioting had anything to do with the race, it was about an innocent young girl being killed for no good reason.  Maybe there's supposed to be some subtle context about black people already having taken a lot of shit but I didn't get it.

4.  So, just like real life?

5. Completely agree here, I think the direction was one of the weaker points but the actress who played katniss stood out to me in spite of direction.

6. Prometheus has my hopes WAY too high.

[Khaldun]

On 3 & 4, let's just say those are guns on the mantlepiece that get fired off in the sequels. District 11 is only the beginning. And yeah, as for how the Capitol keeps control? That's the whole point: its control rests on a knife's edge all the time, just like in tons of real life situations. "Power is a shadow on the wall", as they're saying over in Game of Thrones.

[schild]

I know what happens in the next 2 books because I refused to believe they could possibly make sequels out of this.

Then I remembered Battle Royale 2 and that they clearly just want to make 3 movies out of those two.

[Thrawn]

I know what happens in the next 2 books because I refused to believe they could possibly make sequels out of this.

Then I remembered Battle Royale 2 and that they clearly just want to make 3 movies out of those two.

I have a morbid curiosity to see the 3rd Hunger Games movie just because the 3rd book was mostly terrible.

[naum]

So, the girlfriend has read the books, here are things I got wrong based on only seeing the movie:

1. I thought the capital was District 1.
2. I know In Time came after the books, but that terrible Justin Timberlake movie did a better job showing and explaining the differences between the districts (same setup as Hunger Games, except there was no capital, just a 1st District).
3. People were complaining about racism on Twitter, but I wanted to know why the only 2 relevant black people came from the same district and then that district was the only one that rioted. Was it Philadelphia? I don't get it. Why even show that shit?
4. The capital was just a pack of overfed, overdressed ponce nancies and other than having a police force, I couldn't actually figure out how they controlled the rest of, what was it, Pan Am?
5. Guy who did the screenplay, the director, and cinematographer had absolutely no skill when it came to establishing sympathy or even garnering any measure of hope for the characters.

In the book, everything is entirely from the perspective of Katniss -- so the movie interloped with president / game maker perspective, though I believe it (I have not read the 2nd and 3rd books) consistent with the story. That kind of explains #1 and #2 and confirms my thoughts that moviegoers who did not read the books would still not get the plot setup, despite the shift in perspective.

District #11 is the "agricultural" district, and presumed to be south / midwest, and thus the great "dark skin / brown eyes" population. It is absurd, that in a land ravaged by climate change, that this would be still be a region of food harvesting. But if only that was the extent of the plot setting absurdities…

It is "Panem", and is the Latin word for "bread".  I believe the entire tale is a twist on panem et circenses. And the capital represents the overlords, with the districts subservient to their whims and needs.

Actually have seen the movie twice now, as the office took off last Friday en masse for a matinee showing. And the shaky camera was more annoying the 2nd time.

[Kitsune]

I remember thinking when district 11 started rioting, "Wow, those assholes didn't care until the adorable twelve-year-old who got killed was from their own district, huh?"  It would've sat better with me had a district that wasn't her home decided that enough was enough and brought the noise at that point.  Although if we're following any sort of common sense, the civil war would've been back on the moment some idiot told them, "Gee guys, we have this great idea, how about you let us murder your children every year?" so I guess I shouldn't nitpick that nobody else seemed to give a fuck about cute kids getting spears through their chests.

It also amused me how clean and Hollywood-groomed everyone was despite supposedly rolling around in a forest for days; back-home boyfriend in the starvation-wracked coal mining town had a perfect haircut the whole movie.

I still enjoyed the movie, but felt that Running Man was better.  Cheesy schlock and Ahnold, but immensely entertaining.

[naum]

I remember thinking when district 11 started rioting, "Wow, those assholes didn't care until the adorable twelve-year-old who got killed was from their own district, huh?"  It would've sat better with me had a district that wasn't her home decided that enough was enough and brought the noise at that point.  Although if we're following any sort of common sense, the civil war would've been back on the moment some idiot told them, "Gee guys, we have this great idea, how about you let us murder your children every year?" so I guess I shouldn't nitpick that nobody else seemed to give a fuck about cute kids getting spears through their chests.

Again, that rioting is not in the book IIRC (perhaps it's a foreshadowing of books #2 and #3).

It also amused me how clean and Hollywood-groomed everyone was despite supposedly rolling around in a forest for days; back-home boyfriend in the starvation-wracked coal mining town had a perfect haircut the whole movie.

Yeah, it looks like the movie maker was going more for teen hunk heartthrob to pump up the teenybopper adoration meter.

[bhodi]

Rioting isn't in the book, and the books make it clear that it's been going on once a year for something like 80 years. That's 80 rues. There's no real reason to riot over a single year. One thing the book lacked was perspective, and I didn't really like it (or the sequels). I haven't seen the movie yet. Probably won't until I don't have to pay for it.

[Ginaz]

Just saw this. Thought it was strictly worse than Battle Royale or Running Man. Everything was way too convenient, the world wasn't nearly fleshed out enough (more on this), and there was way too much deus ex machina going on. I know the sponsor stuff was on purpose, but really?

So, the girlfriend has read the books, here are things I got wrong based on only seeing the movie:
1. I thought the capital was District 1.
2. I know In Time came after the books, but that terrible Justin Timberlake movie did a better job showing and explaining the differences between the districts (same setup as Hunger Games, except there was no capital, just a 1st District).
3. People were complaining about racism on Twitter, but I wanted to know why the only 2 relevant black people came from the same district and then that district was the only one that rioted. Was it Philadelphia? I don't get it. Why even show that shit?
4. The capital was just a pack of overfed, overdressed ponce nancies and other than having a police force, I couldn't actually figure out how they controlled the rest of, what was it, Pan Am?
5. Guy who did the screenplay, the director, and cinematographer had absolutely no skill when it came to establishing sympathy or even garnering any measure of hope for the characters.

6. As a side note, the trailer for Prometheus looked fucking amazing. And I know what I'll be seeing this summer, EVERY LAST ONE OF THESE: http://drafthouse.com/1982

You pretty much nailed my thoughts on the movie.  I felt like the film makers assumed people seeing their movie had also read the books, which I didn't, so it was confusing on what was going on and there was very little background info on why things were the way they were other than the little propaganda film shown before the draw in Dist. 12.  When I went to see the Harry Potter movies and, as horrible as it was, the first Twilight movie, I didn't feel like I missed anything by not reading the books.  I didn't feel that way about The Hunger Games.  The only character that was really fleshed out in the film was Woody Harrelson's.  Its not that the actors did a bad job, because they were mostly good, its just that I knew hardly anything about them and really didn't give a shit about any of them because of it.  Overall, I enjoyed John Carter a little more than this and if I had to choose, I watch that again over The Hunger Games.  I'm now officially indifferent as to my anticipation for the next movies in the series.

[RhyssaFireheart]

I just got back from watching this (go, go matinees!) and enjoyed it.  I'll definitely be reading the books because now I want to see what was different/left out/added/explained in more detail.  I didn't get the feeling I was missing a lot of backstory, although the explanations for why things are as they are was a bit thin, but that was also coming from those in charge.  History is written by the victors, after all.

The husband and I confused the hell out of the ticket-taker guy at the theater though, since we were obviously together but seeing different movies. He wanted to see Titanic 3D and I didn't, so Hunger Games it was. 

[Thrawn]

He wanted to see Titanic 3D

I...I just don't even know where to start with that. 

[Furiously]

He wanted to see Titanic 3D

I...I just don't even know where to start with that. 

It does have a happy ending.... Leo dies...

[RhyssaFireheart]

He wanted to see Titanic 3D

I...I just don't even know where to start with that. 

It does have a happy ending.... Leo dies...

Well, when I asked him how the movie was, he did say the boat still sinks.  I think it was more to see how the 3D was than anything else and because he likes Titanic stuff in a historical sense. 

[climbjtree]

I thought the book had a good premise, though I thought the writing was shit and couldn't really enjoy it.

Figured the movie might do a better job telling the story, but I thought the movie was worse than the book. It's like a Twilight/Lord of the Flies hybrid for 15 year old girls.

[SurfD]

I thought the book had a good premise, though I thought the writing was shit and couldn't really enjoy it.

Figured the movie might do a better job telling the story, but I thought the movie was worse than the book. It's like a Twilight/Lord of the Flies hybrid for 15 year old girls.

Not sure where the Twilight comparison comes in.  I mean, Twilight was a vomit enducing teen-angst riddled mess passing itself off as some kind of great "romantic-find-true-love" adventure story, where as I don't get that in any way from Hunger Games.  Unless the second and third book take a severe left turn into wierd-romantic love triangles crap, the only thing even remotely "romance" like in Hunger Games was Peeta having a crush on Kat, and Kat having some feelings for whatever the guy's name is that she spends all of like 5 minutes of the movie with.

[Mrbloodworth]

This movie was crap.

[shiznitz]

I have not read the books.  Went this weekend with the wife.  Yes, the story has some holes but I thought the movie explained what it had to explain well enough to support character sympathy and dramatic intensity.  I liked it quite a bit.  I liked the most recent MI more as a comparison, though.  It isn't as good as the box office might suggest.

[Ginaz]

I have not read the books.  Went this weekend with the wife.  Yes, the story has some holes but I thought the movie explained what it had to explain well enough to support character sympathy and dramatic intensity.  I liked it quite a bit.  I liked the most recent MI more as a comparison, though.  It isn't as good as the box office might suggest.

Generally, anything based on books aimed at teens isn't of the best quality.  As much as I liked the Harry Potter series, it was way over rated and I don't think more has to be said how bad the Twilight movies are.  Same thing here.  Decent movie but nothing special.  And I enjoyed the last Mission Impossible a lot more as well.

[HaemishM]

He wanted to see Titanic 3D

I...I just don't even know where to start with that. 

Yeah, your husband needs to turn in his fucking man card.

[RhyssaFireheart]

He wanted to see Titanic 3D

I...I just don't even know where to start with that. 

Yeah, your husband needs to turn in his fucking man card.

Yeah.  I'll get right on letting him know a bunch of anonymous internet folks his wife talks to online are judging him for his taste in movies.  I'll get back to you on his reply. 

[Ironwood]

Gee, would you Sarge ?  I'd like that.

/SecureThatShit.

[kaid]

He wanted to see Titanic 3D

I...I just don't even know where to start with that. 

Yeah, your husband needs to turn in his fucking man card.

Nah he just wanted to see kate winslet in 3D!

[Sheepherder]

It shouldn't take stereoscopic 3D and Kate Winslet's breasts to figure out what happens when you slam a boat made out of pot metal into a metric fuckton of ice.

Man, the list of shit that happened in April is fucking grim.  Unless you're a Mongol.  Or enjoy watching people die in chlorine gas attacks.

[Furiously]

George Lucas, JJ Abrams and Michael Bay.....Present: Titanic SUPER 3D!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJxj1mou03M

Now with more monsters!

[Sir T]

I still cant believe nobody has made a speclal edition with the Leo and Kate show cut out. I've nothing against them as actors but goddamit the movie would have been far better without them

[Ironwood]

Um ?

[SurfD]

I still cant believe nobody has made a speclal edition with the Leo and Kate show cut out. I've nothing against them as actors but goddamit the movie would have been far better without them

Wouldnt that kind of be like trying to do Romeo and Juliet without Romeo and Juliet?

[01101010]

I still cant believe nobody has made a speclal edition with the Leo and Kate show cut out. I've nothing against them as actors but goddamit the movie would have been far better without them

Wouldnt that kind of be like trying to do Romeo and Juliet without Romeo and Juliet?

You mean Romeo and Juliet without Leo and Claire? 

[HaemishM]

The entire Leo/Kate storyline made the movie unwatchable - except for the scene where she gets the girls out. Other than that, fast forward to the last 20 minutes to see the only interesting thing in the whole goddamn mess.

[Sir T]

Wouldnt that kind of be like trying to do Romeo and Juliet without Romeo and Juliet?

No it would be like a movie of Pearl Harbour without a stupid romance. The movie was called Titanic, not "Leo and Kate take a trip on some boat"

[Lakov_Sanite]

Titanic, still inspiring hate after more than a decade 

At some point you have to let it go dude.

[Ironwood]

I'm more intrigued at the idea that they should just have done a film about the boat sinking.  There are other films that did that and they suck.

Dundee man lost at sea.

Inspiring.

[Evildrider]