Last Saturday Filmspanarna had our third blog-meetup and we decided to watch the Hunger Games together. This list will be spoily so if you want to read a review thats not a love fest but is spoiler free check out this review by Rich. Now over to my rambling spoiler fest.
I give you my five reasons why Hunger Games sucked!
- Lack of character depth – More or less all characters in the film weren’t introduced in a way that made me involved with the story. That includes the opening scene where Katniss voluntaries to take her kid sisters Prim’s place and also all scenes with Rye. I think they made a poor choice focusing almost entirely on Katniss throughout the film making all other characters feel like cardboard cut-outs. As of now I didn’t care that much during the killings, which is a horrible thing to admit since the story is so gruesome. I definitively think it had helped to know more about the other characters especially the other kids in the Battle Roy… sorry Reaping or what it was called…
- Why the Hunger Games? – Another point where people who have read the novel probably disagrees with me but I didn’t get the concept of the games. Why was everyone just passively watching it and didn’t do any resistance (until Rye is killed). Also it’s mentioned that the participants in the poll for the games get food for their family. Does it make the whole thing voluntarily? Because why would Donald Sutherland give them food if it was mandatory for them to be in the poll to begin with. I did miss some obvious background story and rules explanation, which I’m quite sure, is depicted in the book. Sad for me I’ll never know because I’m of the opinion that a film adaptation should stand on its own two feet which this one clearly don’t do.
- Why was Gale in this? I understand he probably had a reasonable function in the book and even in the sequels, but here he only became the bruiting love interest that observes and mourn from a distance. This might be the most contrived love triangle in the history of film.
- Pack up the tri-pod for christs sake!!!!! The cinematography was really distracting and uneven, especially the opening 20 minutes that consisted of really annoying shaky cam footage that made it real hard to keep up with what was happening on the screen. Later in the film they switched camera style several times, which gives a very uneven impression and the choice of style weren’t always the obvious one.
- The End – Wow that final twist with Katniss and Peeta about to fake a Romeo and Juliette suicide when they find out they need to kill each other to win was so lame. I think they were too stuck with the novel and I wished they had constructed a ending that had worked better cinematically, rather than doing a rushed ending that feels like its completely from the book but without the nuances that literature gives you as a reader.
Its safe to say I won’t be keeping track of the sequels I really think this is probably the most overhyped film since Avatar and I’m baffled that this kind of simplistic approach of a novel adaptation works so well in the cinemas. Beside these five points I’had a ton of other issues to but these five were the ones I wanted to bring up because I think if they had fixed a couple of them the film would have been improved quite a bit.
Now over to the two scenes that I really liked one scene was incredibly captivating and sent a chill of joy down my spine. That was when Katniss looked straight into the camera (Truman Show Style) and kissed her fingertips. That was some impressive filmmaking and I do think that scene was really good edited between her and the ones who were watching her. It’s also a great example on how music can be used to strengthen a feeling with the audience.
The other scene was the initial scene of the battle where the kids/teenagers stood and waited for it to start. I really liked the tension building and the use of both cinematography and sound design to create a really frightening atmosphere. Awesome as hell and I wished more of the film had had this kind of build-up.
Finally, I got to plug a wonderful podcast episode on the Hunger Games that I listened to this monday by Brian J. Roan. I more or less agree with everything that Brian says on the show beside the fact that he keep saying that he kind of enjoyed it.
And now to my Swedish blog colleagues that I watched the Hunger Games with and thoroughly discussed it afterwards.
Reactions?
{ 97 comments… read them below or add one }
Well, I don’t think you payed close enough attention on a couple of these points because the film did touch on them. Everyone is entered into the pool to be selected into the Games once per year (such that by the time you are in 18 you are in twice). Then there is the option to put your name in additional times each year in exchange for rations. In the film, Katniss tells Prim NOT to take the rations in the future.
As to the end, I wouldn’t want to change a thing. I don’t know what other ending would have the power of the ”Romeo and Juliette” thing. The point is they weren’t going to just let the Capitol have its way and have a singular winner so if they couldn’t both win, they were going to make sure there was no winner. It was meant as political statement, not as romantic statement (though they had to sell it as such). This ties into what President Snow says about the one survivor offering hope which is more powerful than fear. I also like that they put the Gamemaster guy into a locked room with a bowl of the poison fruit as a way to punish him for how things turned out.
I won’t dispute 4 but 1 and 3 is just the reality of having 2+ hours rather than a miniseries, you can’t have every character be developed. Gale in this case just has to be set up for the sequel…I don’t see why every item has to be fully fleshed out immediately in a multi-part series.
Thanks for some clarifications Bondo. I don’t agree with you on the history/rules of the Hunger Games. That wan’t very informative for a person that hadn’t read the book.
Well I actually sat and hoped that they would eat the berries and kill themselves but I knew for a fact that wouldn’t happen since the film wasn’t really built up like that and I knew there were sequels coming.
As for President Snow I have a hard time seeing him accept the fact that Katniss will be seen as a Neo character by the community when she is released from the arena. I think his character rather had seen them both die than come out of there alive.
I actually didn’t have any problem with the running time of the film. To me it could have been 3+ hours I think. However, I do think it would have been possible to have deeper characterization without it being overlong. Just focus less on Katniss.
Thanks for stopping by Bondo. I appreciate that you took the time response on my critique of it.
Hi Joel, this is my first time ever to comment here. I couldn’t help but noticed your title of post. I know Hunger Games gain a lot of popularity even until now. I watched without knowing it will be big and that it was from a famous novel. There’s a couple of your points there that I must agree. I couldn’t help but confused with why people must obey to follow the game, why didn’t they fight it.
I thought why they didn’t use tripod because maybe the whole suspense addition to the scenes.
But great observation, though I’m sure some fans would hated this points
I don’t know Andina most fans of the novel seem to be superhappy with the film and I guess thats enough for all partys involved with the production since the fans drag their families and closed ones to it making it this super hyped.
I actually think that they shaky cam in the first 20 minutes actually took away from the suspense. I think those moments had been more powerful and dramatic on a lingering tri pod setup rather than the unfocused and stressed out cinematography we got now.
Thanks for stopping by Andina!
Is Hunger Game also popular here in Indonesia??
I know none of my students eager to see it…and when I watch The Woman in Black, The Hunger Game wasn’t seen by many.
I don’t know you tell me Novia? =)
well…I am actually asking to Andina there
Ah the Indoesian conference!
While I liked the film, you make a lot of good points. The character development of the other competitors was severely lacking and the film hits its high point in the middle of the actual Hunger Games. The conclusion of the games (the final showdown between Katniss, Peeta and the other guy & the part about the berries that you mentioned) is not as good as what came before it.
I so agree about the other half of the action film and the conclusion and its never good for the general impression when a film is loaded like that. Thats at least my opinion when working with script development myself.
Thanks for stopping by and I’ll make sure to check out your review of it as well!
Nooooo, absolutely no reason for being _this_ grumpy!
While I agree with most of your objections (especially the camera thing) they did not put me off the finished product. But it was really fun to se a lot more diverging opinions and texts this time.
Your just a lot more forgiving than me. I agree that this was a much more fun read than our ”mellan mjölk” Safe House blogathon. Hahahah
Great review Joel, and I do agree with you on all accounts. But, I also think the movie has great entertainment value.
Of your five points I think No 1 is the most crucial. If they had managed to efficiently introduce some of the characters, and create emotional connections to them (from us in the audience), I think that the games would have been so much better.
Agreed, thats why its number one. Hahahah
I wrote about it on your place but I think the main problem is that the film is overly focused on Katniss even though JLaw is great in the part (slightly to old though) I think they should have used some of her screen time to focus on other characters.
Am I allowed to say…then read Battle Royale where all 42 students joining the game were given background and emotion?
If I didn’t already had a ton of books on my to read list I’d jump on it right away. I might actually hit up the blu-ray version of the film though. The gents on /Film praised Battle Royale enormously on their Hunger Games episode.
well…I should warn you that the movie is NOT as good as the book.
They changed the reason why the progam was held every year.
but the book, for me is one of the best books I have ever read in my entire life
Ok I have heard a lot of good about BR but never heard anyone really talk about the book! Thanks for sharing!
I don’t know whether you have read this or not, or whether you want to read it or not….I just want to share it here
http://bokunosekai.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/battle-royale-a-book-i-will-read-again-and-again/
I love when you´re grumpy, especialy when you´re right
Hahaha I take that as a compliment then. I do ask myself the question though why it seem to work on so many levels to such a huge crowd? How can the books be that fantastic…
Joel:
– but sometimes you just have to face the fact that you can´t understand everything. Let go of the sarg and come in in the match, so to speak 
Perhaps because the books ARE fantastic reading for teenagers and you – and I – are not teenagers anymore. There are of course adults that appreciate the books also – and the film apparently
Probably a very valid point. I can’t wait to hear the LAMBcast on it that will be released this weekend because those guys are in our age span and the rumor has it that recording was a love fest.
I’m just hoping the books won’t come to the Twilight-disappointement. But judging by the resulting movies there should be little risk of that. The thing is, I heard a lot of good things about Twilight from people my own age and that made think they were something worthwhile reading. Hint? They’re not!
I’ve heard some people say that the book sequels do get worse. I don’t know how that interpret on a twilight scale though.
Yeah, but Twilight took a complete nose dive even in the first volume…
Good to know. However, I’m not that likely to ever pick up and read the those novels.
As you know from my review, I agree with you on several points. The difference between us is that I find other things that I like so much that it compensates for it. In the end I thought it was entertaining enough and I’ll happily spend some more time on this series in the future.
Oh, and regarding the food rations which Bondo explained so well: I understood that thing and I haven’t read the books either. You must have been dazzled and confused for a few moments. I blame the shaky handy cam!
Nah you are just backing-up Bondo… hahah
We can blame a lot on the shaky cam I guess, you are right that I did not have very many highpoints and thats probably why my focus on the problem areas might seem a little harsh.
Maybe you should try to focus on the movie at hand instead of the twitter feed in your phone
Hahaha I actually should have livetweeted during Hunger Games. That would have been hillarious…
Oh Joel, you are entertaining when you are grumpy.
I agree with your sentiments but I also must add that I kind of enjoyed the movie. It made me feel anxious, a bit scared, moved and a little nauseous. Which I think is good, because that means that the movie did something right.
But it could’ve been executed so much better, that is certain, which makes it a damn pity that it wasn’t. When things can be so much cooler, you always lament what could’ve been.
I guess I need to read the books now. I am way too curious about the damn story.
I’m glad I can be at your service hahah…
I love this part!!
>I think they made a poor choice focusing almost entirely on Katniss throughout the filmmaking all other characters feel like cardboard cut-outs. As of now I really didn’t care that much during the killings, which is a horrible thing to admit since the story is so gruesome. I definitively think it had helped to know more about the other characters especially the other kids in the Battle Roy… sorry Reaping or what it was called…<
Enough said
I actually thought about Hunger Games today with all the comments in here and I reflected a little on the fact that I didn’t cared that much about the killings and thought of the day you wrote about Kame (RIP), that post almost made me cry and I do think a film with such a serious message should be able to provoke similar feelings.
Joel, I don’t think The Hunger Games succeeds on every level, but it’s a pretty solid adaptation and a good film. It’s hard for me to say what it would be like watching it without having read the book, however. I can understand what you say about the characters, but I don’t agree about the style. Ross does a solid job in conveying the violence involved in the Hunger Games while keeping it at PG-13, which was a necessity. I also wasn’t bothered about the ending. I do feel like it was a bit rushed, but the actual choice makes complete sense given the situation facing the characters. It was a revolutionary way to speak against the Capital and show they weren’t going to play the game.
While I don’t agree with all your points, it’s interesting to hear a more negative response to this movie. It’s too bad we didn’t get you on the Lambcast. It would have led to some great discussions.
Still I have a hard time seeing that Sutherlands character actually would accept them leaving the arena on such a high note.
I read somewhere that Ross really did want to make this a PG13 movie rather it being R-rated and I understand that and don’t really have any issues with it being to mild or anything I just think the general action/chase scenes weren’t that good.
Boy you are not alone in being bummed out about the LAMBcast. I saw the film the same day and told Dylan I’d be available if all the backups (three) wouldn’t be available. Unfortunately I was so tired (it was 1 AM here) so I laid down to get a couple of minutes of rest but overslept and waked up 20 minutes after you started recording. I’d have loved to be on it.
Those are some good points you noted there and I felt pretty much the same about those things. I still enjoyed the film though. I think the sequels will be better, I’m assuming there will be a rebellion. The brief moment in the film when there was that brief uprising following Rue’s death, I thought ”Wow, this is gonna really soar now”…and then it didn’t.
Yeah I’m quite sure there will be a rebellion I just felt snubbed that they started it off like that and didn’t really follow it up. Especially when they got out of the arena in then end.
Thanks for stopping by Squasher.
Bah.
I’ll give you #4 but thats about it.
The characters had more than enough depth, I understood the games just fine, Gale was in it to set up the love triangle going forward and the Romeo/Juliet ending was actually pretty clever.
DISAGREE!
You and I sure have our taste differences. My main problem with the characters lacking depth were the other contestants of the battle but also the stylist played by Kravitz to mention another example. I could feel I was supposed to feel something in those scenes but I really didn’t.
I also understand that Gale is a setup. Still you can do a lot more with a character than having glancing on from the sidelines like that.
I don’t even want to get into the ending anymore it felt so forced that I was surprised how dumb it was.
Thanks for stopping by though Fogs’ even though I more or less sh*t al over a movie you apparently hold quite high and I got to admit you and I clearly have our taste differences. You know I remember when seeing your Robocop post the same day it was posted I thought: ”Thats a good surprise pick” hahah I was baffled when finding out it was an April fools joke.
Nice title Joel, way to kick that hornets nest lol
I for one wanted Katniss to do some more kiling. She only got one legit kill in the whole hunger games, lame.
I would have like to have seen a sweet curveball ending, something like Katniss stabs Peeta in the back and says ”you should of handed me that bread”
Now that would have been awesome, think of all the angry teen fans of the film storming out of the theater with emo thoughts racing through their heads.
I’d say you pretty much gave one of them spoof producers in Hollywood a great scene for an upcooming film!
Nice to see someone being frank and honest about what they feel about the movie. I Believe that Battle Royale was a real masterpiece and therefore I decided to not watch Hunger Games. I would only try to compare them, I think. That wouldn’t be fair to any one of the two movies.
I understand that you would put off by the Hunger Games with your background in Asian Cinema. I’d love to hear/read your thoughts on Battle Royale though when I’ve seen/read it. Do you recommend the book or the film?
I haven’t read the book. But the movie is, as I said, a true masterpiece. I have hard to believe that the book can accomplish and deliver the same amount of shock. The movie depend on shock effects that deivered in a very sudden and direct manner. What is accomplished is something very japanese and is something that I believe no other filmnation could have done.
Cool I’ve heard complaints about the directors cut of the film. Is the theatrical one preferred?
Starting off with the theatrical one is a good choice.
Joel, think you pinpointed the exact same things I had problems with with The Hunger Games. The lack of character development was a huge issue with me. The characters, to me, felt like they were just going through the motions. Felt very flat. Of course, if you’ve read the books you’re more invested in the characters and so you’ve got an attachment to them already, so character development for those fans of the book watching the film might be a moot point. But that’s no excuse in my eyes!
Agreed Jaina, have you seen Battle Royal?
Yep. Haven’t seen it for a while, but loved it. Yes it was brutally violent and that’s what a lot of people remember from it, but I remember all the kids having real motives and intentions. The characters had a drive. Something that these kids in the Hunger Games lacked.
Cool thats what I’ve heard from others as well, I’ll try to seek it out!
Ahahaha, now I see what you’re tweeting me about. So you don’t care for this movie eh? Well, I appreciate your honesty, man, but we’d have to agree to disagree.
I quite enjoyed it and having read the book certainly helps as I have that character involvement if you will. I also realize that the film with only 2hrs to tell a story won’t have the depth that the book has, but I thought it was still adequate. I’m also one of the very few who weren’t bothered by the shaky camera style, I mean I barely even notice it and if I did, it didn’t bother me.
As for the ending, totally agree w/ Bondo, I don’t see it as a romantic statement, but more of a rebellious thing. In fact, I don’t think Katniss was ever sure of how she felt for Peeta in the book, which comes across in the film as well. What I find interesting is Sutherland’s portrayal of Snow is more menacing than how I imagined him in the book, and his statement about ‘hope being more powerful than fear’ gives me the chills.
Hunger Games actually clocked in on 140 minutes and to be honest I’d rather have seen a 3 hour cut but I get why they didn’t go with that. Still I think they could have focused the story differently (less Katniss and more of the other players) and told it in a way that would have made it more compelling than it turned out.
I understand the diversity of the supposed love affair with Peta and Katniss but again I think it was to unfocused and was to vague. However, I can understand that people who have read the novel see it differently.
As of Sutherland I felt he played the typical formulaic villain. He is great at it but to have the scen in the garden became to cliche and got me distracted.
First of all, I just want to make one thing perfectly clear; I LOVE the books. I adore them. Seriously, I’ve read the first one about five or six times, and I’ll read it six more times I’m sure. BUT! I do agree with you. On every aspect. I just finished watching the movie, and was left with the biggest WTF-expression ever to be seen on my face. There was no chemistry between ANY of the characters, and where the book made me go ”NO! Oh my god!” the movie made me go ” … Oh. Okay. .__.” All the important turning points were gone, everything that made me care so much about the characters – gone. Erased. Completely destroyed. The book made me cry several times, but the movie didn’t even make me flinch. They just brushed over everything and made it super shallow, it just felt so rushed! Sorry about the rant, I’m done now. It’s just nice that someone finally agrees with me, instead of getting all huffy and puffy about it.
.
Thanks for commenting Lizzie. I’m equally glad you found your way in here since I’m surprised of the general opinion about Hunger Games being so overly positive both critics/blogwise and at the boxoffice.
Thank you for the reply, Joel. I do agree with you on that, too. I can’t believe how anyone can call themselves a Hunger Games-fan and still love the movie! The movie has no depth, no character development, and quite frankly I didn’t think any of the actors had great chemistry either. Like you said, those moments where you were obviously supposed to feel something, I didn’t feel a thing. Not a damn thing. I felt like my face was frozen in one expression through the entire movie, I probably looked like that chick with no personality from twilight or Steven Seagal. The movie was terrible, the directors completely destroyed it, they even made it into a PG-13 flick. I mean, teenagers killing each other? If you’re going to remove all the violence, there’s no point in making the movie.
Ack. I will never watch that horrid piece of film ever again. I’m jumping on a train to Denialtown, and I’m never coming back.
I actually didn’t have any issues with the violence being toned down. However, there were a bunch of younger kids in the cinema that I really shouldn’t have been there due to the subject matter of teenagers killing each other.
I don’t see anyone having a issues with the three tons of duec ex machina…the heroine gets her ass saved like four times…when she is about to eat it! The alliances are semi retarded, if your going to be last one standing, I would never trust anyone…least in battle royale the students knew each other for years…some were evil some in love ect! This movie was horrible, shaky camera illogical situation! If I had a kid who was of age I would hide or train the shit out of it! Or I would creat a elite fighting force who volunteers to fight in the games…since you can just step in!!! Wow plot holes!
Agree on most of these points that I didn’t even bring up on my list but easily could have been on it.
Her name is Rue. Not Rye. I agree completely on all points except the ending.
Thanks for commenting and agreeing Lexi.
Great write-up. It is nice to see a somewhat contrarian view out there. I was talking to my sis in law who read the book and liked it but seems less enthused about the prospect of seeing film. She says in the end she will probably skip it.
This is in contrast to another friend who loved the book series and was really excited about the film (have to check to make sure she has seen it).
Beyond the Hunger Games, I think I am just plain tired of folks writing book series with the obvious intent of making a boat load when they sell the film rights. I have had a lot of people recommending the book to me at this point, but that cynical part of my brain is telling me not to believe the hype.
At least for the moment I will stick with The Fry Chronicles.
It feels like a lot of people are divided when it comes to Hunger Games. Initially everyone was loving it all over the place now I’ve seen a lot of comments saying that they agree with me. So I’d say there is a HG resistance out there….
I finally watched this Joel and I can’t really disagree with many of your points. I was somewhat disappointed by the movie, having read the book:
1. Lack of character depth: Totally agree, everything about the movie felt watered down from the book and for the most part, you really couldn’t care less about anyone outside of Katniss.
2. Also agree that it’s not explained well if at all in the book. Basically, the Hunger Games are a way for the Capitol to demonstrate their iron fist and rub it in people’s face that they are taking their kids away every year to play in these ”games” and absolutely no one is willing to do anything against it.
3. Actually Gale isn’t even a love interest in the book!!! So it was painful to see everytime the movie would cut to show Gale’s jealous or disappointed face!!!
4. Biggest pet-peeve ever. The shaky cam made me shake my head throughout the movie ahah
5. I didn’t mind it although in the book, they actually put the berries in their mouth but then puke it out before it’s too late. Not really PG-13 I guess…
Hahahah not always we are agreeing to this extent Castor.
I agree with you Joel although My sister and I couldn’t last through the whole movie. We walked out after about an hour! It was just so bad! Every minute was torture. I can’t imagine enjoying the book now knowing the premise of the story. One should not have to read the book first to understand a movie. I just don’t get the attraction of this story. Too surreal and ridiculous for me. Kudos to you for finding something good to say about it. I just can’t. I succumbed to going to it because so many of our friends and family loved the book and the movie. I will have to remember to go back to trusting my insticts again! Two thumbs down! Thanks for the forum!
Thanks Diane, I almost feel like you and your sister disliked it even more than me and I didn’t think that was possible. #hungergames
what exactly did you not like? i thought the weirdness was actually pretty good idea because it definitely caught my attention and its based in the futer where that kind of style of hair and clothing is cool, i feel like we’re on that way right now with those kids who all color there hair pink and green and other stuff.
Great post! I thought it was an awful movie and I’m baffled about the money and acclaim it is getting. I’m gonna stay away from sequels for sure, the young actors apart from Lawrence and Fuhrman were awful, there was very little character development and the action scenes were not only boring but also very poorly executed.
Thanks for stopping by Sati, I cant say I disagree with you anyone of your points.
Here’s an idea: read the book, because your writing sucks shit, and reading helps… just a little bit.
Thanks for taking the time and leaving such an insightful comment!
Although I did not watch the film personally or read the books, I have seen analysis on the film’s plot. According to some, the Hunger Games are a means of control for the Capitol over the rest of the districts. Apparently it is to prevent them from uprising and it also serves as brutal entertainment for the elites of the Captiol.
As far as the voluntary issue, it is not voluntary. They are chosen though a draw of their name, and only children between the ages of twelve to eighteen are eligible. One male and one female contestant must be chosen for each District. Katniss voulnteered to take the place of her sister, since it was believed becoming a tribute at a young age translated to instant death.
I also recommend watching Battle Royale; now that’s a film that’ll leave an impression!
I actually watched Battle Royale after seeing Hunger Games and I do agree its a superior film in every level. Thanks for stopping by Aidy!
Her name is Rue, not Rye
The original blog entry was chock full of grammatical errors. However, in the grand scheme of things, who gives a fuck if her name wasn’t Rye?
This movie based on ”Battle Royale” duo-logy?
Well – ”Battle Royale” was sooo much better!
well for me, the whole movie disappointed me.. the trailer looks badass but the movie is so boring and weak, and when something awesome happens, boom, there goes a lame line that ruins everything.. and why did they have do exaggerate with the technology and all that crap.. they tried too hard
well that’s just not true. xD, did you even pay attention? or are you like a child who wants every seen to have a sword fight and explosions
I think I’m one of the few people who didn’t like the book or movie. To me the only difference between the book and the film adaptation was that the book gave you a little more information and that’s about it. All the characters are flatand the only parts I thought were decent was when Katniss volunteered and when Rue passed. Other than that, the characters are flat and boring to a point where the fighting/death scenes were the only parts I didn’t yawn at. I think the majority of the fans liked the movie because it really was just like the book: boring and no sight of good development. BUT THAT IS MY POINT OF VIEW! There’s nothing completely wrong if another person enjoys the story, just like there’s nothing wrong with me disliking it.
just like game of thrones
I was just wanted to see Jennifer lawrence on this movie, nothing else
You spelled rues name wrong ding dong!!!!!!
I disagree with everything you said, I am sorry but all the issues you had with the movie seem to have come from high expectations and the fact that you only watched it once. you say that the characters had a lack of backround but all the background they had was displayed in front of you, not a lot of things happened to her, she was just a mate in a district, her interesting background is that she knows how to hunt and will do anything for her sister, second you didn’t seem to understand the concept of the districts sacraficing 2 members to compete. in the seen where they were all watching the video it states (and i may be wrong but this made me understand better) that 13 districts went into war and 1 of them won, they took over and kept the other 12 to sacrifice there people as punishment, you also said why are they so passive about killing so many people? well if you look at history you will notice there were a lot of nations, cults, and gangs that have worse forms of torcher and they had raised children to believe that it was a good thing to do this. Gale wasn’t in love with Katniss nor she love him back, he was the guy who showed her humanity in that land by apologizing to her instead of congratulating her. i never noticed a shaky camera so i guess i can just ignore it. and lastly the end was fine, they had to show the people that they didn’t own them (as said by Peeta in the dark room by the window seen) so they were gonna kill themselves and give them no winner and show the districts that they were better than that. there was no rush, the plan was made in the middle of the movie that they would say there could be 2 winners then change it back, they did not expect they would kill themselves. I suggest you watch it a couple more times to figure out the story and not get distracted by anything else, you have to really pay attention for it to make sense.
i am sorry if i have offended your opinion but just felt like you didn’t get a good enough look at the movie to make these accusations.
You suggest to watch the movie a few more times?
I would rather to volunteer for the reaping than suffer the pains of viewing this drivel again.
I’m glad I found this site! I just got the movie via Netflix and had high hopes for its entertainment value. I must say I was totally bored from the start, the characters were plastic figurines, the copycat storyline was rather old and tired, and I thought the movie was about 20 minutes too long. I was reminded by my stepdaughter that these books were written for a young (ages 14-17) audience! Keeping that in mind- it all makes sense! Short attention spans, too impatient to invest the time to appreciate character development, and not too many subplots to keep track of. I know I’m generalizing the age group of 14-17 year olds but I think I’m close to the mark… I think the books and the movie missed it’s audience- too gory for the kids and far too basic for the adults. This is the mark of an unprofessional amateur author. Too bad they made Suzanne Collins far too much money for what little effort it obviously took! That’s my 2 cents.
I agree with every one of your points.
This was one of the worse movies I sat through.
I could not have cared less about any one character.
The idea that after the apocalyps the world would be run by reality show producers was idiotic and yet justifiable as the viewing public of such shows are shallow and unconscious as the characters in the movie.
Let me tell you something, buddy. When People make book adaptations, it’s supposed to be like the movie. But if they make the movie completely different, the people who actually read the books don’t like the movie. If they completely change the movie, then it won’t really be a freakin book adaptation!
I expected to see a more ”raw” approach on the killing. I know I am sounding insanely morbid, but why pull the camera away during nearly every ”cheesy” death. I’ll stick with Lord of The Flies.
Ok well, just so you know, I have the movie on DVD and the directors said that they didn’t use the tripod because the hunger games are a show for the capital. They didn’t want to turn this into a show, what katniss is trying to fight. My parents had a rule. If I wanted to go see this movie, I had to read the book first. Maybe that’s what you should do before you start making assumptions!!!!
Umm yeah her name is Rue, not Rye.
you are totally wrong firstly its rue not however you spelt it secondly the ending was fine the entire movie was meant to be a real life copy of the book. also gale is one of the main characters in the whole series and without him it wouldnt be the same this whole blog shows how ignorant you are
I agree I fell asleep during it, one of the MOST boring movies I have ever wasted money on!!!
I’m a 12 year old girl, and I think the hunger games is another stupid chick flick like the titanic. All my friends are ”girly girls” and have no idea how much these kinds of movies suck. Don’t even get me starte on JB or 1D -_-
I know what you mean about the gruesome story i mean yeah i know i know there’s saw there’s all these very gruesome movies but just watching kids that are literally like 12 and watching a 18 year old slaughter a little 12 year old kid is very gross and the teenagers who slaughtered the little kids ENJOYED it and was acting like LOL HAHAHAHA DID YOU SEE THE LOOK ON HER FACE SHE WAS LIKE DON’T KILL ME! HAHHAAA
That was a cruel movie just watching teens and kids kill eachother, its different to the other movies and if they are to make an actual video game of that if i could i’d do whatever i could to get it banned….
Thanks Novia, thats oftly kind of you.
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