People of Panem, the Hunger Games IS FINALLY HERE \m/

The Movie Experience

   Pretty deserving to be my 1st Ultra 7 movie! Lazy boy recliner seats, UNLImited popcorn and drinks are the proper treatment to an avid fan who eagerly, later on anxiously, waited for months to witness the People of Panem come to life. A day after, I watched it again with my awesome officemates and the thrill was still there!

     As an avid reader of the trilogy, let me share my two cents worth on the film adaption:

PLAUDITS

a. Gale's acting, especially during the scene when he was saying goodbye to Katniss before she went to the Capitol. Or Gale's acting as a whole. Admittedly, he's natural charm and good looks make me biased. ;p

b. Rue's role of playing a prank on the Career tributes. This was witty.:) 
c. The solemn scene of Rue's death in the meadow.

d. Prim and Katniss's strong bond was established.
e. The CASTING! Jennifer Lawrence's acting WAS SUPERB.  Hands down, love it.

Wes Bentley as Seneca Crane

THE DIFFERENCES

The Capitol, specifically Seneca Crane's Active Role in Orchestrating the Games.

     The first time I heard that Wes Bentley was playing Seneca Crane's character, I thought that it was such a waste of casting talent since Crane hardly had any major scene except that of Katniss' private session with the gamekeepers. Little did I know that Seneca Crane suddenly became a central character in the movie, and for me that made A LOT of difference. It highlighted how the tributes were mere puppets to the show the Capitol wants to project. It underscored that they DELIBERATELY CONTROL EVERYTHING, from the instantaneous fire, the trees suddenly falling, the number of Mutts running after you.. which I think wasn’t really reflected in the books.

     Also, I loved the scenes of President Snow having subtle yet paramount influence on Crane’s decisions. Love the subtle yet loaded words by  President Snow to Seneca Crane:

    “A little hope is effective. A lot is dangerous. A spark is ok, as long as you contain it.” 

           

     On a minor note, even Haymitch talks to Crane and somehow ends up manipulating the game.

         Guess I loved this because it highlighted the Politics of the Hunger Games, ergo Panem.

Missed out on the little things that make such big impacts.

For me there are little moments in stories that you can’t leave out for they have irreplaceable effects on the understanding and appreciation of the reader. There are just some scenes that you CAN'T MISS OUT.Quick examples: 

1. The source and significance of the Mockingjay pin, IT'S SO WEIRD that it would mean so much to Katniss when it was just something she originally bought in a market right? Add how Katniss effortlessly gained Rue’s trust because of it. Now all that symbolism was just lost, because the story was changed.

2. Katniss and Rue’s bonding moments, like Katniss giving Rue the leg parts because Rue “never had (ate) a whole leg to herself before”. That wasn’t there, or established.

3. Now this is the most disappointing of all, Peeta and Katniss' little and subtle alliances that helped build their connection wasn’t even there! Their team up to convince Haymitch they’re worth it, how they leaned and depended on each other, especially in the carriage when Katniss was on fire.. etc. Now this for me Is unforgivable.

4. Peeta's pureness/quintissential devotion in saving Katniss. Everything he did was for her. Yet here, he seemed like a scared, insecure and overly-dependent kid.

5. Katniss's voice. Well it didn’t make me stop and listen, unlike how its described in the book. Her voice, the talent she got from her dad, makes the birds stop to listen. But hey its decent.

Hence the 3rd point, Lack of Build Up.

I think this is a reiteration, or more of a consequence of my 2^nd point. I mean THERE’S TOO LITTLE BUILD UP. The relationship of Rue and Katniss wasn’t as meaningful as it IS. What more for Peeta and Katniss? Cmon Peeta is as big a part of Hunger Games as Katniss is, or just a bit less, yet it was depicted like he was just an insecure boy with a crush on Katniss. He’s much more than that.  I mean with the way he’s depicted it’s a no brainer who you’ll pick between Hutcherson or Hemsworth. The merging of Peeta and Hutcherson’s qualities produced an insecure, juvenile and vertically-challenged boy. How can you match up to Gale played by Hemsworth with those mix?

Height Difference Much? - Josh Hutcherson, Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth

The WORST SCENE which wasn’t given justice. – For me, it had to be the epic scene when the decision was reversed and only one tribute would be the victor. What was required of Katniss and Peeta’s acting was just SHALLOW. Where’s the internal struggles of Katniss who in a microsecond found herself playing the game the way its supposed to be, hence wanting to kill the other victor alive, and then feeling disgusted with herself when she saw Peeta offering his life for her to win? The purity of Peeta’s devotion in protecting her even if he was scared shit that he had to die to do so? How in a way they were being coerced to turn on each other and that actually worked for a second or two? THAT SCENE was supposed to be more dramatic, it should have been given more time, more lines, more acting. But it wasn’t, what a bummer .

EVERY Second of the Actual Games Itself, is BRUTAL, DEADLY, and just plain DIFFICULT.

Yet it looked too easy on Katniss and Peeta compared to how it should really be. Just look at how clean and unwounded they were? In the book, after the Cornucopia countoff, Katniss almost died looking for water; Peeta was literally being dragged to the cave..etc. If you read the book, you’d be on the edge of your seat because Katniss was so near death every 10 pages! The movie  wasn't able to capture the gravity of the life and death situations of Peeta and Katniss, or the others. The Careers did have an alliance, but they weren’t THAT CHILL AND JOLLY in killing. They did feel the filth and disgust with the necessity of killing.

Point is, the Hunger Games IS BRUTAL, but somehow, it only seemed like a bloodier version of the reality show Survivor.

Minor Point: From the casting District 12 didn’t look like the underdogs. But hey I’m fine with that since I love the Casting.