The Hunger Games

My Rating:

So I kind of dragged my feet for this one. First of all, this semester has been kicking my ass (seven graduate level classes, idk what I was thinking), so I haven't had time to go to the movies. Secondly, I couldn't get through the book. I know most of you who are Hunger Game fans are already done reading this review, but I've got to be truthful. I got through the first chapter. That's it. I believe that the first chapter of a book is supposed to draw you in, and make you want to read on. The Hunger Games did not do that for me. ...So I stopped reading it. I planned to see the movie. I heard such great things about the book, I just figured it was slow starting, so maybe the movie would make me want to finish reading the book.

Well I was half right. The movie is good. It was slow starting still. I was kind of getting bored just watching the first part of the movie. Not till they pick their names does it become somewhat interesting, and then it gets a bit boring again.

What I think it is...is the lack of dialogue. When I write my own books, I often use too much dialogue, and not enough description in the scene, or emotional description. I think that's the opposite of Collins, which is probably why I turn away from the book a bit more than I probably should.

At any rate, I love the big named actors they get to play in this movie. They all do awesome. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson do fantastic. I'm impressed, and I wasn't ready to be impressed. So kudos there.

The districts definitely remind me of internment camps. I think that's the point, so they did well there. I felt bad for those people. And all the people in the capitol are sooo obviously rich. Definitely reminded me of the huge wealth problem we are having in this country.../world.

So once they are picked to be in the hunger games, they go to the capitol and get nice clothes, and food. It's almost sad, because you realize it's treating them like it's their last meal. It's like they are expected to be happy by all of this, when they are about to die. The training is interesting. I think I expected her to be better. Then again, I had been watching the TV show, Robin Hood....so I think when she missed the targets I'm like....what's wrong with her?????? Of course I could never hit the target, so I feel bad saying it. Even in the Wii I'd probably miss...lol. Oh new thought! The Hunger Games on the Kinect! Serious bow and arrow action. That'd be fun!...I'm sure they've thought of that though. Lol
They have interesting mentors though. The main mentor, played by none other than Woody Harrelson, does great. Such a drunk at first. NOt sure what sobers him up towards the end. Maybe he starts feeling for the kids. Maybe he starts feeling like they have a chance. I would probably have to read the book to find that out.
So then the game starts, ...I believe over half way through the movie. It's...barbaric. Kinda scary that anyone finds that entertaining. It's sad. I mean some of them slash CHILDREN repeatedly. I'm pretty sure you don't need to stab someone that many times.

But the kids get out of control. It then turns a little Lord of the Flies at that point. They start like a gang, with a group leader, who all go on a hunt for the main girl, Katness (Jennifer Lawrence). That's when You see her friend from her district a part of the gang, trying to find her. It's a bit heartbreaking after he just confessed to liking her. I kinda hate him at that part.

So eventually most of the people kill each other off. She doesn't have to kill many. Most of her kills are self defense, which makes you like her.Then she befriends a girl who is like ten. My mom says she's twelve, but I don't know any twelve year old girl that small. I used to teach them for a living. This girl was like ten.

Then, of course, the little girl is killed. It's tragic. The district starts to revolt, reminding you what an internment camp probably was like. It made me question why more revolts weren't happening, but my mom said it's more of the premise of the other books in the series.

So then Katness gets PISSED. She finds the boy that betrayed her a few days back, hiding. She forgives him...way too easily IMHO. They just seem to move on, and she helps him from a wound from a sword stab (oh so THAT's why the stab repeatedly....whatever...it was in the leg, not the chest or face).

So they kind of gang up together and one by one the others fall. Till the end. Then it's just the three of them (they started with 24). The bad guy, Cato, who enjoys killing, her and her boy ). They get Cato, and then it's the two of them. Refusing to kill each other, they both are about to kill themselves, when they change the rules (for like the second time) and say that they can both win.

They go back and her boyfriend from back home, Gail sees them together. Well he's seen it the whole time. But still. It's a little heartbreaking, because he's so upset. I don't really understand any of that either. Oh well. I feel like they could have done a better job.


AT any rate, here's my overall opinion. It's a good movie. It's worth seeing. It's by no rate my favorite movie, or the best movie or anything like that.  Unfortunately is has also not convinced me to read the book. Although I appreciate the storyline ALOT more now than I did to begin with, I am not motivated to spend my time reading that book. I think I may read the last two, just so I can have closure, but that's it. It's a good story. It's got a lot of people obsessed over it, so you probably will be too. It's good. I'm just not in love.


<3

LJ