I know you have all been waiting for my review of The Hunger Games. I will whet your appetite sooner rather than later because I need a break from compiling my data. Typically, there is incoherence to how I share my reviews because I believe the movie experience is multi-dimensional. There is a story to be told in the preparation of viewing the movie (e.g. I thought the movie started at 830 pm but it began at 8 pm). There is a story to be told in the actual viewing (e.g. Seeing unfeeling guys jump 6 inches out of their seat when the muttations enter). There is a story to be told once it’s over (e.g. During my solo trip to the theater, I sat by a bloke who stood up and clapped at the conclusion... yeah, I regret not getting his number). Then there is the heart and soul of the opinion. Why do I think this movie should be given a perfect score of 12?! Why do I think this is the best book to film adaptation?! Why did I watch it twice (with a likelihood of seeing it thrice)?! Well you shall just have to humor me as I tell you my stories.
Movie experience #1
In early March, I bought 12 tickets. I extended an invitation for eleven friends to join me in the fanfare of watching it the day of its US premiere. Unlike past months years, I did not purchase mid-night tickets. Also, unlike past years, I did not assign seats or hide the tickets in the lab (lest they be stolen by some weirdo). I told myself NO to the craziness. Instead, I played it cool this year time. And as a result we were all late to the theater.
As it sometimes happens, I failed to check the movie time and told everyone it started at 830 pm. The movie really started at 8 pm. Ha. I realized this 20 minutes till. We made a mad dash to the theater that was very much in the spirit of the movie. Not only were our hearts (figuratively) pumped to see this movie, but they were literally pumping more vigorously as we ran from the parking garage to the theater entrance.
Consequently, I did not pay attention to the first 5 minutes of the film. I also missed out on the excitement of watching the trailers and ordering an Icee, which brings me to movie experience #2.
My succinct review of the movie for experience #1: Perfection (followed by an Augh!!!! I can’t wait for Catching Fire!!!)
Movie experience #2
Unlike the premiere showing of The Hunger Games, I decided to go unaccompanied to this movie. I bought the ticket an hour early. I was in my favorite seat (middle row, middle seat) a half-hour in advance with a small bag of popcorn and a blue raspberry Icee in hand. It must have been a guy’s night out because a handful of fellas filled the seats to the left of me. There were some daddy-daughter duos and boyfriend-girlfriend couples to the right of me. The theater quickly filled and I observed it doing so as I munched on my popcorn and slurped on my Icee. It was wonderful. Then. The lights dimmed. A shiver ran down my spine as I nestled deeper into my chair to watch the trailers. [Yes, you must read-on about how I felt during the 15-minutes of trailer previews.]
The first trailer was so-so. It was another Johnny Depp and Tim Burton collaboration. However, the second trailer piqued my interest. The concept of Abraham Lincoln as a Vampire Slayer had been on my radar for some months (it’s a novel by Seth Grahame-Smith). I had heard the rumors that it was to be turned into a film. As a quasi-geek, and perhaps more importantly, as a friend to geeks and nerds, I was aware that this was big. I was also aware that this notion might be unfamiliar territory to the majority of the audience. I was immensely rewarded for having such a binary perspective. The audience roared with laughter. I think they thought it was utterly ridiculous, which if you think about it, it is quite outlandish. But that is what made it so funny to me. The way I see it, is there any other way to make Abraham Lincoln any more awesome? The answer is no.
The third trailer could have made a well-educated woman pee her pants. The Avengers trailer astutely focused on the heroes we have seen on the big screen in recent years. I’m pretty sure my mouth was gaped open during this entire trailer. I was tickled with another preview that features a onetime Hollywood crush—Chris Hemsworth, who plays the huntsman that tracks down Snow white. I had already seen the trailer a couple weeks ago. It was okay.
The rest of the trailers were forgettable and I will write no more concerning it. As the movie started, I put away the popcorn and set aside the Icee. I pulled my black hoodie over my head so as to shield inquisitive eyes from seeing a stained-tear face crying a river. I engulfed the acting, the soundtrack, and the story all over again. Here is what I loved about the movie.
From the get-go, I believed Jennifer Lawrence was Katniss by the break in her voice when she volunteered herself as tribute. In the book, Katniss is disoriented by the news. She utters a cry, but then quickly checks herself because she does not want others to see her as weak. She keeps herself reserved. This natural tendency was conveyed by her disengaged communication with Peeta while in the train on the way to the capitol.
Josh Hutcherson played Peeta very well! He was likable, he was charming, he was sweet, and wholesome, and good. The rapport between Caesar Flickerman and Peeta was brought to life flawlessly. In fact it was better fleshed out in the movie than in the book.
I liked how the director and screenwriters were able to show Haymitch's fondness for Katniss. I know that in the book, the two have a non-verbalized message system. They are natural survivalists who can attach meaning to behavior and the unspoken actions. In the movie, it would be difficult to show it. Instead, we get this brilliant insight into the struggle Haymitch experiences as he sees Kat suffer from a nasty burn. We see him gather his wits to solicit donors to get her the necessary medicine. It was endearing.
I appreciated the directors’ choice to not focus heavily on the romantic relationship. Minimal shots of Gale were necessary to this film. I think that they might return to this in the third film (and I hope they do).
I was impressed with the amount of time given to Seneca Crane's (Wes Bentley) role in the games. I would like to think about it some more and write an essay on those thoughts.
I really liked the shots of the game room. Most of the things that they showed in the movie, I had imagined to some degree or another. One thing that escaped my imagination was the game room! It was a pleasant surprise.
I was emotionally moved by the scene in which Katniss arrives to the capitol and sits on her bed. She scrolls through the different scenes of the outside world through her large window. Trees from a forest tower in front of her. I could imagine her longing to be there in the woods, a place where she is strong, confident, and at peace. This happy thought was too good and too dangerous to dwell on and so she did the only thing she could, which is to turn it off and leave the room. My heart broke as her heart realized she can't afford to dwell on it. The games became more revolting to me.
I loved the scenes with Rue. I loved it when Rue took care of Katniss. I loved it when she curiously asked if Katniss and Peeta were an item. That little girl won me over completely.
I loved that Katniss killed Cato quickly as opposed to the book, where it was drawn out till the next morning.
I could go on... but I think I will watch it for a third time and think about that Seneca Crane some more.
