Wow!

[vr_trakowski]

I just saw The Hunger Games film, and it's by far the best book-to-movie adaption I've seen in years. 


It's gorgeously shot, for one thing--the cinematography is beautiful, and I was really impressed by what they did at some points.  The acting is mostly excellent.  The special effects, and there aren't many, are believable on the whole. 

What really got me, though, was the fact that they translated almost straight from the book.  There was a lot they had to leave out, of course, but what did drop can mostly be done without, and the few changes made help to fill in the gaps.  In fact, there was only one thing I feel they should have put in--the gift from Rue's District--and one thing I thought was out of place (the riot). 

It was interesting to me how many sniffles there were in the audience at certain points. 

I read the book recently and thought it good, but I wasn't very enamoured of Katniss.  I think I liked her better in the film, but the character I ended up feeling the most for was Peeta.  The actor's an unusual choice for the role, given his lack of standard handsomeness, but it works quite well.  I am more inclined to read the rest of the series than I was before watching the film. 

The soundtrack is also lovely and not as heavy as I expected. 

Comments

[phdelicious.livejournal.com]

I thought it was a great adaptation, but I wanted to yell at them to "Hold the Damn Camera Still for Minute!" I mean, ok, it works for stuff like the Reaping, the Cornucopia, the Fire, the Trackerjackers but I think it would've been more effective if they hadn't shakey cam'd the entire movie.

I liked the substitution of the riot for the gift wrt Rue's district because it's easier to explain visually and it actually sets up things that happen in the second book.

[vr-trakowski.livejournal.com]

Heh, that didn't bother me too much, but I can see how it could be annoying.

I haven't read the other books yet, though it's clear there's gonna be a revolution...

[phdelicious.livejournal.com]

I have motion sickness issues so I noticed it a lot particularly the second time I went.

The second and third books sort of go down hill from Hunger games in terms of execution, but its an interesting arc. Make sure you have the 3rd available before you get to the end of the 2nd.

[vr-trakowski.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the warning! I think I'll get those from the library.

[amaranthinesong.livejournal.com]

I loved the books, and I loved the movie. I actually connected more emotionally with the story once I had seen the movie. I do think that the gift from District 11 would have been awesome to leave in, but the riot made the movie extra powerful to me, I suppose. I cried so hard through that part (for real, I was stifling my sobs). The riot really made the torment of all the District 11 inhabitants palpable, and I agree with phdelicious... I thought it worked well for setting up the main plot of the 2nd book/movie.

[vr-trakowski.livejournal.com]

I have still to read the other books, but then I just read the first one a week ago. :P Late to the party again.

I really felt for both Peeta and Gale, I will admit!

[amaranthinesong.livejournal.com]

Lol I was pretty late to the party too, I read the first book after the movie had already come out... I was determined to read it before I saw the movie. I managed that, though! ;)

[vr-trakowski.livejournal.com]

Heh, me too. It was on my list to read, or try to, but the previews for the film pushed it up the column.