(And a bit of a review of The Hunger Games)
(pic of me at 3 am after the show)
Last night I survived the 74th Annual Hunger Games.
Midnight:O-1.
Me, a few friends and a few hundred teens.
The movie was good but there were a few lil’ things that had me bugged (more on that in a sec), which just confirms how much I like to see the movie BEFORE I read the book.
Here’s why:
When I read the book first…
The movie can be really disappointing. (Ya Ya Sisterhood, Shopaholic… the list goes on and on) Not because the movie is bad, but because my expectations are… different.
If there are any differences or if the movie folks cut a scene in the book that I really love, I may whisper, “inaccurate” somewhat loudly to no one in particular in the theater. It’s pretty annoying for everyone else but I just can’t help it.
If I disagree with who they cast for certain parts I can’t stop thinking about how stinky the actor is for this role.
Basically I walk out of the theater un satisfied and angry about spending so much money. (First World Problem, I know)
When I see the movie first…
I’m never disappointed by a fun flick.
After the movie, when I’ve read the book, it’s ALWAYS better. Even though I know the ending of the story already, the book always has so much more perspectives, insight and narratives, it usually feels like a whole new story.
I love visualizing characters on my own but if I see the move first, I can easily build off the movie visual in my mind. It makes for less rereading of descriptions, especially when in a sci-fi or fantasy book when everything is new. (Hello, the first time I read Lord of the Rings way before the movies came out!)
It’s a win-win! I love the movie then I love love love the book.
Now for my take The Hunger Games…
It was really good… not great. I think they did a great job of cramming what they could of the book into the movie. But, of course, there is SO MUCH MORE in the book. I really missed the scenes with the mayor’s daughter. I’m not sure they really captured why Peeta is so important to Katniss or Katniss’ mom’s mental breakdown or Katniss’ constant struggle of putting on a show, very well. And I couldn’t stand the jumpy camera scenes. Headache central. You’ll understand 10 minutes into the movie as Katniss is going into the woods and you have to look away from the screen before your brain explodes. All in all, it’s worth seeing and I’m looking forward to the next film!
What did you think of The Hunger Games? Do you prefer to read a book first or see a movie first?
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kristen howerton says
The shaky cam was KILLING ME. I seriously felt carsick for the first half hour.
Eli's Lids says
Totally!! Still counting down for the next movie though.
rachael says
Just saw the “staff” pic of Miss Tessa and that fantastic headband. LOVE that flower!! 🙂
Eli's Lids says
I now have a bald girl and love headbands even more than before!!
rachael says
Great post 🙂 I took some ‘modern culture and media’ classes in college and ate it up. I love what Carlee commented about how it’s like comparing apples to oranges to expect the movie to be the book in film version. I prefer to read the book first (we’ve talked about this before 🙂 I because I want to enjoy the story via the words on the page first, before the filmmaker puts images in my head. Interesting what you wrote about the sci-fi details/characters and not having to reread to try to rememberit all. I think though in this case if I had known how the 74th Games had ended (even if the movie was a miniature version of the grotesque elimination of the final tribute), I wouldn’t have had the same page-turning frenzy that moved me through book. I did miss Madge. And didn’t like that sis gave the mockingjay pin, etc. Funny that you mentioned the shaky camera; I actually remember thinking that the shakiness added to the emotional tension during the reaping (but I don’t ever get carsick, so…). I think having read that Collins helped write the screenplay (before I saw the movie) helped me feel like if SHE was ok with the movie’s plot and omissions, then so was I. Also, I recentlywas read Percy Jackson and the Lightning Theif (before I saw the movie) and was SO VERY disappointed in the missing characters (an entire god was missing!), that as close as HG was to the book in was a relief. I didn’t like how short Peeta was (he was taller in my mind in the book). Blah, blah, blah… we’re in the basement during a tornado warning, so I could go on and on… =) Please excuse any typos, as I’m on my phone! 🙂
Eli's Lids says
Tornado!!!! Aaaahhhhhh…
I didn’t mind the shaky camera during the reaping. During the intro it really bugged though. There were maybe 3 times where it was so distracting to me I couldn’t concentrate on what was going on.
Miss you guys and book club!!
OCGardenJen says
Have to agree with you on the cinematography and the mayors daughter being cut out. The mayors daughter scenes just completely missing makes me think forward to the other books and wonder how they will portray who is part of the uprising.
The other thing I thought would have been so simple to portray was their physical hunger and thirst. When they got on the train they panned the camera through the food but don’t show anything about them gorging themselves.
All in all, it was a good movie, the book is always better because there is so much more ‘scope for the imagination’ (thank you Anne of Green Gables for one of my fave quotes)
Eli's Lids says
Totally still a good movie! I wonder about the uprising without the other characters as well. Ditto about the hunger and thirst! I’m hoping in the next one they will talk more about the huge contrast between the districts and the capitol. Especially because we the movie audience has some knowledge of the story.
Also, I’m not sure the long length of time passed in the game was obvious either.
carlee says
oh my gosh…kara…i could write a novel about this…i was going to study film after college in hopes to be a film critic (how noble i know) – but the BIGGEST pet peeve to anyone who studies film is someone who says “i liked the book better than the movie” – my suggestion to help with your let down is to change your attitude about comparisons…they are completely different mediums. film does something no book can. books do something no movie can. it isnt fair to compare them – its like comparing a painting of a person with a picture and saying the painting is nothing like the picture…because it is a representation of the picture…its art if its good.
it helped me with seeing a movie about a book i really liked. you are still allowed to be dissapointed, but the discussions should be different…like – the way the film broke up the plot structure made it lose A, B, C…anyway – i might be getting on my high horse here, but its a personal mission of mine to strike down that way of thinking of book vs. movie.
also – just a note – the author of The Hunger Games co-wrote the screenplay – and i heard her in an interview say that she changed some of the things to improve on the book because she liked such and such way better…i thought that was interesting since i am such a fan of the books – i am going Sat night! woot! can’t wait!
Eli's Lids says
That is too funny! I could see you as a film critic!!
I can’t help but compare, and I get around it by seeing the movie first. I totally get what you are saying, such a different medium. The picture and painting analogy is great!