Woo! So I just saw The Hunger Games and let me just say, AMAAAAAAZIIIING! Oh my gosh! I don't think I've see a better adaptation of a book to movie besides possibly 2011's Breaking Dawn part 1.
For those of you that haven't read the story by the amazing Susan Collins let me tell you that this post may be a little spoiler alert for you. But you could be like me and may be one of those people that like to have things spoiled for you.
First thing is first, this movie was definitely a movie for novel fans and non-novel fans. The movie that had a budget of 78 million dollars got pretty much all of that back their first night making a little over 68.3 mill just Friday alone (EW.com). Thousands of fans lined up for the midnight premier, I could have been one of those people's but I actually like being awake enough to remember the movie so I can do stuff like this: Tell you about it.
The Hunger Games follows the story of young hunter, Katniss Everdeen who lives with her mother and sister in a post-apocalyptic dystopian society in which the powerful Capital of Panem randomly accept two kids, one boy and girl, to represent their district in the Hunger Games. It's the day of what they call the "Reaping" on the eve of the 74th Annual Hunger Games and Katniss' sister is unfortunately for the first time in the drawing. Despite the fact her name is only in their once, her name is still drawn and then Katniss, using the famed line from the commercials, "volunteers as tribute."
I won't go into too much detail because I'm not here to recap. So go read the book, or watch the movie, or do both if it suits your fancy; the rest of this post will be for those who have done one or the other or both. Like I already said, this was a fantastic adaptation, and that's because the author, Suzanne Collins, actually helped in writing the script. Which is always a plus because lets go over people who didn't help in writing the scripts. Christopher Paolini—Eragon, Kate DiCamillo—The Tale of Despearaux, Cornelia Funke—Inkheart, and let's just say Stephenie Meyer got lucky with New Moon and B.D. part 1, but Twilight sucked and Eclipse was alright. And regardless of what you think of the Twilight Saga, I'm looking at this from a literature to film standpoint, so shut up! But like I said, fails! But people who worked with the script writers like the timeless Anne Rice—Interview with Vampire and Suzanne Collins and…and…well that’s pretty much it, made great adaptations where changes weren’t, “What they hell!?” worthy but more, “Wow, that was actually a smart idea” worthy. Apparently authors haven’t gotten the hint that generally screen writers think they know better when they really don’t know crap, at least when it comes to adapting a well-known novel or series. And you know what, Interview is still a great movie and one day my grandkids will watch as Jennifer Lawrence plays a beautiful Katniss Everdeen. Those other movies I mentioned won't be looked back on except for maybe a terrible adaptation film festival. I feel bad because Brendan Fraser made a great Mo. I honestly still don't see how they're making Inkspell when they messed up the story to Inkheart. At least Davis Entertainment has the sense not to adapt Eldest.
Seriously though, folks Jennifer did great! The scene where she hugs Lenny Kravitz's Cinna was brilliant. She was literally shaking all the way up until all the tributes are standing on their platforms in the middle of the field watching the holographic numbers count down. Lawrence brought to life the Katniss I pictured with a little more emotion. One of the reasons I thought the movie was better; I honestly feel like Collins wanted to fix some of the things she had missed. Starting with showing a little more sensitive side to Katniss but still making her the hard-ass she was. Same with Josh Hutcherson and his brilliant work with the sensitive, caring, but strong Peeta Melark. Peeta isn’t much in the first book, and since they cut down on the love between the two victors he really got to do even less, but the Zathura, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Bridge to Terabithia, star did well with what was written and I can’t wait to see him in Catching Fire where his character begins to seriously develop.
Other things the movie touched on was making Haymitch the one to suggest the “one victor” rule change to Seneca Crane, the game maker. I thought that was perfect because I originally thought they just did that to mess with Katniss and Peeta, but seeing as the movie didn't build on the “Star Crossed Lovers" that well it may have been to help that along. What was really great was the added cameos of Liam Hemsworth's Gale. In the book series it's kind of just thrown in that Gale is in love with Katniss in Catching Fire, adding a love triangle. To me it was rushed so adding Gale's emotions as Katniss gets all lovey-dovey on the screen with Peeta will help non-readers get along with the triangle when the next movie comes out. As it was, I could hear my father make a sympathetic “man awww” when they first showed his reaction to the beginning of the crushing.
But there were some things I didn't like as well. For example, the missing of the Mocking Jays, they never show them. They can show the mutated dogs, but there wasn’t enough money for the Mocking Jays? Well after this weekend there is. The Mocking Jays not singing when Rue died, Katniss not doing Rue’s hair but the flowers around her body was okay. But the fact she didn't shoot the bastard in the throat for killing her was wrong. And the camera angle was a little weird. Too many sideways close ups. But what really cut me deep was the fact they didn’t allow Peeta to say his last line in the first book:
“One more time? For the audience?” he says. His voice isn’t angry. It’s hollow, which is worse. Already the boy with the bread is slipping away from me.
I take his hand, holding on tightly, preparing for the cameras, and dreading the moment when I will finally have to let go.
This scene is the defining moment when we really realize just how much Peeta loves Katniss to the point he’ll allow her to pretend to keep her and her family safe. It also shows us just how confused Katniss is about her feelings for Peeta making you wonder when pretending turned into true feelings. Like I said they really didn’t expand on the love in the film which is the defining moment for the next two books and I wait anxiously to see how they will address that.
All in all, this movie was great and you should go see it as soon as you can. As it is, the film is estimated to have 155 million opening weekend having the third biggest opening of all time ranking behind Deathly Hallows part 2 and the Dark Knight; and possibly the highest opening for a non-sequel ever (EW.com). “The Hunger Games also holds the records for highest March opening and highest-grossing movie ever for studio Lionsgate” (TVGuide.com)...so go add to its numbers!
As for now, According to Michael III, the odds are definitely in Suzanne Collin's favor.
—Michael III
No comments:
Post a Comment