[Expendable.]

Why in the hell would Curaon waste his talent on this?

Seems like he is putting everything he has into Gravity. Could be a nice break. He already took over the otherwise terrible Harry Potter series and made the best one. And this franchise is already shaping up to be much better than that one.

[JGS]

Why in the hell would Curaon waste his talent on this?

He should have wasted his talent on the first one, but I'm sure he's done with for hire sequels.

[titiklabingapat]

she wins if not for stupid monologue. She slits Katniss' throat, Peeta dies due to lack of medicine, Clove and Cato clean up the rest, and Clove uses those crazy knife skills and quickness to keep Cato at a distance. :p

One nitpick I had about the casting is that the career females were supposed to be taller and weigh heavier than Katniss. A Good 50 or so pounds by Katniss' own estimations.

[jett]

Seems like he is putting everything he has into Gravity. Could be a nice break. He already took over the otherwise terrible Harry Potter series and made the best one. And this franchise is already shaping up to be much better than that one.

Cuaron is above this trash.

[Scullibundo]

Cuaron is above this trash.

Ah, this is a better avenue for my bitching. Agreed. So is Wright.

They should hire Andrew Niccol, who really needs a big money maker to get back on track right now so he can then go off an do more higher-budget interesting fair that hopefully isn't so safe/stupid.

[Expendable.]

Cuaron is above this trash.

Considering he is one of the best directors out there, he is above any sort of non-original material like is...like any great director.

They should get their 2nd unit director, before he "retires." It'd be funny if this was his last film, although it would never, ever happen.

[Prologue]

I watched the movie today and enjoyed it. I don't remember the last time i teared up but Rue's scene pulled some heart strings. Have to go eat a steak or something to feel my manliness. I'm guessing the love stuff was just for show?


I'm interested in reading the books, though, the feedback regarding the ending to the third has me a bit on edge. Especially after ME 3's ending, I'm a bit hesitant in investing time into a series that might not have satisfying ending.

[Zoe]

One nitpick I had about the casting is that the career females were supposed to be taller and weigh heavier than Katniss. A Good 50 or so pounds by Katniss' own estimations.

What's Katniss's build supposed to be like?

[JGS]

What's Katniss's build supposed to be like?

I think tiny, but strong. Still the careers are supposed to be stronger. She couldn't gain an advantage on Clove for example.

[Dragon]

I watched the movie today and enjoyed it. I don't remember the last time i teared up but Rue's scene pulled some heart strings. Have to go eat a steak or something to feel my manliness. I'm guessing the love stuff was just for show? I'm interested in reading the books, though, the feedback regarding the ending to the third has me a bit on edge. Especially after ME 3's ending, I'm a bit hesitant in investing time into a series that might not have satisfying ending.

The ending is satisfying enough it's just not what some people wanted.

As far as the love stuff, book spoilers: I haven't seen the movie but I'm led to understand based on other people that they didn't hype up the fact that Katniss was faking her feelings for Peeta in the arena. She did it to stay alive. In the book they go over this ad nauseum so it's quite surprising that such a big part wasn't integrated.

I really should go see this, this weekend.

[Callibretto]

just saw it yesterday after a friend of mine told me how good it was and how she immediately bought the books after watching it etc, I have to say, I didn't enjoy it as much as her. it's engaging enough but everything felt too neat and smooth, and I felt Katniss is so damn lucky to always get help the way she does.

I also though thought the survival premise will push these characters to the extreme, doing surprising thing to ensure survival etc but early on you pretty much get good look of who's supposed to be the bad guy and who's the good guy. it's only after I watched it that I try to wiki the books and found out it's a young adult novel, so I guess it make sense how some of the more crazy scenario or plot twist I can think of will never happened.

I think I'm gonna try to make my friend watch Battle Royale. I wonder what she thinks about that.

[orangecaramel]

Saw this today.. just found out that was Elizabeth Banks. Wowwwwwww

[demosthenes]

just saw it yesterday after a friend of mine told me how good it was and how she immediately bought the books after watching it etc, I have to say, I didn't enjoy it as much as her. it's engaging enough but everything felt too neat and smooth, and I felt Katniss is so damn lucky to always get help the way she does. I also though thought the survival premise will push these characters to the extreme, doing surprising thing to ensure survival etc but early on you pretty much get good look of who's supposed to be the bad guy and who's the good guy. it's only after I watched it that I try to wiki the books and found out it's a young adult novel, so I guess it make sense how some of the more crazy scenario or plot twist I can think of will never happened. I think I'm gonna try to make my friend watch Battle Royale. I wonder what she thinks about that.

Read the 2nd and 3rd book if you want plot twists :lol.

[rhfb]

Just finished reading the last book, sad to say that I think that book one was the best material for a movie. I trust the other movies won't suck, but I'm struggling to see how they will provide a better movie experience, even more so with there being three movies made of the final two books.

Wait and see I guess, but ideally they should shoot 3/4 back to back and make sure each film releases in November the next three years.

Will be interesting to see if any new book material comes out now that the movie as is big as it is.

[Gamer @ Heart]

Just finished reading the last book, sad to say that I think that book one was the best material for a movie. I trust the other movies won't suck, but I'm struggling to see how they will provide a better movie experience, even more so with there being three movies made of the final two books. Wait and see I guess, but ideally they should shoot 3/4 back to back and make sure each film releases in November the next three years. Will be interesting to see if any new book material comes out now that the movie as is big as it is.

I feel ya, though i think the second book could totally work. There is a nice build up of tension and sport while the overall theme of the books shines through. The last one will be tough and probably have a ton of new additions to stretch it out over two movies. That, or be like 90 minutes each.

[Valhelm]

Finnick is pretty young. I think he's in his early 20's.

Were I the casting director, I'd choose some broad-shoulder, kind of oafish person that looks like a jock. This would upset thousands of fans, but I'd be okay with Jake Gyllenhaal in the part, although there are bound to be far better actors out there fitting that description.

[effzee]

Cuaron is above this trash.

If he were to take over and make an amazing film that doesn't hold itself back by following the source material page by page how exactly would that be a waste of his time/talent?

[Rodelina]

the movie glosses over a lot in the books, but katniss is such a whiny bitch in the books

One of the things I appreciated about the books was the fact that Katniss could at times to be a very unreliable, emotionally stunted, volatile protagonist. For instance she throws perfectly good cookies outside of a window in the first book. Who does this?
In all seriousness, sometimes I hated her but other times I admired her. It just made her seem like a real person.

[Gunloc]

Just saw the movie, really enjoyed it. I was planning to read the books first but my friends really wanted to see this tonight.

Gonna pick up the books next week.

[JCX]

One of the things I appreciated about the books was the fact that Katniss could at times to be a very unreliable, emotionally stunted, volatile protagonist. For instance she throws perfectly good cookies outside of a window in the first book. Who does this? In all seriousness, sometimes I hated her but other times I admired her. It just made her seem like a real person.

I assumed she dd it because she thought they might be poisoned so Peeta would have a better shot. Makes sense, considering the situation.

I'm over halfwway done with the book now. I like Katniss more in the book than the movie.

[VistraNorrez]

I'm over halfwway done with the book now. I like Katniss more in the book than the movie.

I'm about halfway through too, and I feel the opposite. I don't like movie Katniss much more, they are pretty close, but spending all this time in a 16 year old's head can get annoying.

[JGS]

The ending is satisfying enough it's just not what some people wanted. As far as the love stuff, book spoilers: I haven't seen the movie but I'm led to understand based on other people that they didn't hype up the fact that Katniss was faking her feelings for Peeta in the arena. She did it to stay alive. In the book they go over this ad nauseum so it's quite surprising that such a big part wasn't integrated. I really should go see this, this weekend.

I think almost oppositely. I think they made it clear in the book that Katniss was confused about her feelings for Peeta even though it started as a ruse.

In the movie, it was clear to me that she was faking especially after that note from Haymitch plus Hutcherson being in on it the whole time.

Were I the casting director, I'd choose some broad-shoulder, kind of oafish person that looks like a jock. This would upset thousands of fans, but I'd be okay with Jake Gyllenhaal in the part, although there are bound to be far better actors out there fitting that description.

Honestly, I see what other posters have mentioned or a Justin Timberlake type although the skin is supposed to be tanner.

I think Gyllenhaal with blonde hair could make the character too.

I'm about halfway through too, and I feel the opposite. I don't like movie Katniss much more, they are pretty close, but spending all this time in a 16 year old's head can get annoying.

I like book Katniss just because she's more complex than what the movie can show. I imagine they are really one and the same with movie Katniss being a more shrewd rather than clueless.

[Rodelina]

I assumed she dd it because she thought they might be poisoned so Peeta would have a better shot. Makes sense, considering the situation. I'm over halfwway done with the book now. I like Katniss more in the book than the movie.

This is true, my interpretation was that she was so hardened that she refused to accept or acknowledge a pure act of kindness without seeing some cynical angle. As if simply enjoying the cookies would make her too soft for Peeta when already she felt indebted to him. Like cookies she could never afford to eat under normal circumstances represented some enemy tactic to weaken her resolve to ultimately kill him. It was just sad.
She wanted to survive of course, but in the novel she completely misinterprets Peeta's (and Peeta's father's) actions; everything he does is out of love and she's the only one who cant tell (even little Rue and Haymitch are aware of this).

[ViewtifulJC]

My parents just got back from this movie

They thought it was a piece of shit

[shira]

My parents just got back from this movie They thought it was a piece of shit

Didn't you tell them it was for tween girls & twilight demographic?

[ViewtifulJC]

Didn't you tell them it was for tween girls & twilight demographic?

No, they just heard all the good buzz/BO news and went see it. They're both 50+ years old, but my mom liked the first Twilight movie she saw

"3/10. Holy SHIT" was the text I got, :lol

[DevelopmentArrested]

This movie was terrible.
The only redeeming part was the acting (esp. Lawrence).

How could a Battle Royale clone be so DULL? The action sequences were godawful; shakey cam work was like Greengrass on acid. The movie was 2.5 hours long and yet did a horrible job at building character relationships and motivations. Fucking zzz.

[Napoleonthechimp]

After reading the 1st, 2nd, and the majority of the 3rd book I have to say these are not brilliant... They go really downhill at the end of the 2nd one and the 3rd book reads like fan fiction. Also: I prefer movie-Katniss over book-Katniss (the latter is whiny and irritating).

No, they just heard all the good buzz/BO news and went see it. They're both 50+ years old, but my mom liked the first Twilight movie she saw "3/10. Holy SHIT" was the text I got, :lol

It's time to cut them out of your life.

[Ratrat]

If he were to take over and make an amazing film that doesn't hold itself back by following the source material page by page how exactly would that be a waste of his time/talent?

yeah, I'd much rather see him adapt bad novels than make original movies too.

[JGS]

This movie was terrible. The only redeeming part was the acting (esp. Lawrence). How could a Battle Royale clone be so DULL? The action sequences were godawful; shakey cam work was like Greengrass on acid. The movie was 2.5 hours long and yet did a horrible job at building character relationships and motivations. Fucking zzz.

Probably because it wasn't a clone.

Why would someone actually watch a movie they "know" is a Battle Royale clone?

[Recon]

Probably because it wasn't a clone. Why would someone actually watch a movie they "know" is a Battle Royale clone?

It really was a clone. I just watched Battle Royale yesterday, and I was amazed how similar they were.

[B.K.]

#1 at the box office again this weekend with an estimated $33,500,000.

[LuchaShaq]

Never read the books but saw it last night.

Had two gigantic issues despite liking it as a whole since my expectations going in were garbage.

1. Why was the first/last fight shaky camed to hell and back? So dumb, neither me or the gf who had read all the books could tell what's what in the slightest. I know they wanted to hit pg 13 and limit gore but that's no reason for bad shaky cam.

2. Theater experience is still the absolute worst way to watch a movie. Fuck humanity. Would have had a better time watching it on my old cracked screen zune hd in a snow bank.

[AceBandage]

Never read the books but saw it last night. Had two gigantic issues 1. Why was the first/last fight shaky camed to hell and back? So dumb, neither me or the gf who had read all the books could tell what's what in the slightest. I know they wanted to hit pg 13 and limit gore but that's no reason for bad shaky cam. 2. Theater experience is still the absolute worst way to watch a movie. Fuck humanity. Would have had a better time watching it on my old cracked screen zune hd in a snow bank.

Agreed on the first point. Actually got a bit dizzy during those scenes. Hate that so much in movies.

As for the second, I have yet to have a bad theater experience, so no comment.

Saw it yesterday.
Loved it. Really well done, and the acting was superb. Also enjoyed the credit music, thinking about buying it.

[crazy monkey]

This movie was terrible. The only redeeming part was the acting (esp. Lawrence). How could a Battle Royale clone be so DULL? The action sequences were godawful; shakey cam work was like Greengrass on acid. The movie was 2.5 hours long and yet did a horrible job at building character relationships and motivations. Fucking zzz.

BR is a classic. This is aimed towards teens with star syndrome.

[JGS]

It really was a clone. I just watched Battle Royale yesterday, and I was amazed how similar they were.

I was reserving judgement on this until I saw it. I was hoping Redbox would have a rental copy. they like putting clones/originals from remakes. No luck so I read the synopsis. It really has very little to do with Hunger Games except for the basic premise.

That is not a clone. That is called a genre. I will concede that they are both in the bloodsport genre. It's like saying Scream is like Nightmare on Elm Street.

However, the funniest part of all this is that people are both saying that it is indeed a clone of Battle Royale while at the same time saying it doesn't do things like Battle Royale does.

[Napoleonthechimp]

And The Running Man existed before Battle Royale. So what?

[Pachterballs]

its not a battle royale clone.

[DevelopmentArrested]

its not a battle royale clone.

fine. take that out of my review.
it's still a poorly directed, banal movie.

[Recon]

I was reserving judgement on this until I saw it. I was hoping Redbox would have a rental copy. they like putting clones/originals from remakes. No luck so I read the synopsis. It really has very little to do with Hunger Games except for the basic premise. That is not a clone. That is called a genre. I will concede that they are both in the bloodsport genre. It's like saying Scream is like Nightmare on Elm Street. However, the funniest part of all this is that people are both saying that it is indeed a clone of Battle Royale while at the same time saying it doesn't do things like Battle Royale does.

It really is very similar. More than just being in the same "genre". Hunger Games is only different in that it has a much more fleshed out back story. But it has a lot of the same scenarios, almost a rip off in some parts.

[oatmeal]

fine. take that out of my review. it's still a poorly directed, banal movie.

Yeah. And what irks me is that story underneath is really cool. Just does not translate to the screen.

[JGS]

It really is very similar. More than just being in the same "genre". Hunger Games is only different in that it has a much more fleshed out back story. But it has a lot of the same scenarios, almost a rip off in some parts.

Until someone can say how, I'll continue to think of them as separate. They are not similar enough to justify the copycat accusation. It gets boring to bring it up each time because it assumes that battle Royale for some reason started it. Saying it copies Battle Royale presumes that Battle Royale was itself an original concept. It wouldn't shock me in the slightest to learn that Ciollins had never even heard of the story prior to her writing Hunger Games. I know I never heard of it until comparisons were made.

I'm not really arguing that Hunger Games is not original, I'm saying Battle Royale is also using a familiar storyline borrowed from somewhere else in time. Royale fans can be comforted in knowing they appreciate the real story more than the masses.

[Valhelm]

I really don't think that Battle Royale and the Hunger Games are all that similar. What is there besides the premise of children killing each other as part of a government policy?

If Suzanne Collins ripped off any work of fiction, it would be Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083.

The relatively obscure young adult novel (released in 2006, a full two years before the Hunger Games) is set in a practically identical world. Both novels take place in a dystopian North America, in which the decadent government rules its impoverished through force and propaganda. Very similar to the principal of the Reaping, all fourteen year olds must undergo "the toss", in which a simple role of the dice determines if they'll be forced to live in poverty or enjoy the luxury of the ruling class.
Well, a group of teenagers (unlike the Hunger Games, these children are volunteers who are being paid) are sent to explore Antarctica alone, reenacting the trip made by Robert Scott nearly two centuries prior. Much like in Collins' novel, the entire affair is shown on television to an audience, and is a major annual event. Although this wasn't present in the book, the film of the Hunger Games and Surviving Antarctica both spend ample time following a young man who helps shape the games each year, who ultimately rebels against the government by breaking the rules to keep some of the children alive and appease the destitute audience.

The similarities aren't only in the plot. In the 2008 novel and the film, the Capitol's citizens are described and shown as having lavish and garish fashion styles. Several characters in Surviving Antarctica have ridiculously colored hair or skin, and one unnamed woman's locks end at her ankles. President Coin, a major character in Mockingjay, is very similar to the US President introduced at the end of Surviving Antarctica.

Much like with Battle Royale, however, the Hunger Games delves far more deeply into the themes and concepts of Surviving Antarctica, and ultimately proves itself to be the better novel.

[vareon]

If you read both books and/or watched the movie, you can tell at the very least Collins didn't have the intention to copy Battle Royale.

[blind51de]

I was fairly disappointed with the movie after it became clear the character development would revolve around the love story.
It ran off the rails when the little girl died and she lost her shit and started laying flowers on her. I guess it's as much a story as I could expect from a children's writer. If the shackles of melodrama it placed on the plot didn't make me roll my eyes in boredom, the overuse of SSSSHHHHAAAKKKKYYYYCCCAAAMMM did.
At least the pre-victorian industrial dystopia was about right, and more interesting than the entire second half of the movie. That's what's in our future, minus the technicolor aristos with the hover trains.

It doesn't live up halfway to Battle Royale, The Lottery, The Long Walk, The Running Man, Lord of the Flies, or even that Battle Royale manga with the butchered translation.

The Hunger Games was partly inspired by the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. (Wikipedia)

Hahaha, are you kidding me?

Would someone mind explaining though the three-finger salute? What is it, some dated revolutionary sign?

[Brazil]

Would someone mind explaining though the three-finger salute? What is it, some dated revolutionary sign?

It's a typical mournful farewell sign from District 12 that implies respect.

[Zabka]

Hahaha, are you kidding me?

What's your beef? The idea of an equal number of boys and girls sacrificed as tributes as punishment for losing a war was lifted right from the myth.

[fuenf]

Liked the movie, went on to read the second and third book and thought that they were getting better and better as the story progressed. Cant wait to see how they will be adapted.

Thoughts on Mockingjay (3rd book):
(Entire series / Mockingjay-ending spoiler) Mockingjay was amazing for the first 350 pages but i still dont really know what to think about the ending. At first i thought that it's some ME3-esque shit but i have to admit that it kinda fits the story (except for the Primrose part). It's just depressing to realize that Katniss was just a seventeen year old Mockingjay in a much larger "game" afterall. Well i guess that's what you get for overestimating her role in the final act and seeing her in a videogame-hero kind of way :(.

[Scullibundo]

Oh, fucking hell. Simon Beaufoy is writing the sequel. I'm going to have to watch the second one now, aren't I?

[PhoncipleBone]

Oh, fucking hell. Simon Beaufoy is writing the sequel. I'm going to have to watch the second one now, aren't I?

Yup. And the second one will make the best movie I think. All meat, no filler.