The Hunger Games - Part 1

[mclay18]

Went to my local cinema, about 8 sessions all sold out or near sold out. I might sit this one out for a week.

Or you could come back after two days or during the week. Movies like these get most of the fans to come opening day (hence the $60M+ opening day record, but $138M weekend), then it tapers off 35%-40% for the next two days. If you come see it Sunday, it won't be nearly as busy.

Good word-of-mouth usually buoys the second weekend, but the opening weekend loses a bit of steam because Friday tends to be front-loaded.

The turnout for our theater was pretty incredible. We sold out a 7:10 showing, and immediately opened another auditorium to satisfy demand. Same with the 9:40 show -- all four shows were very full. There was even a very decent turnout for the late shows at 11:20 and 11:30 -- which almost never happens.

 

[Lobo]

Saw it last night and loved it. Excellent adaptation.

 

[obin_gam]

gonna see it tonight, am positively sceptical so I'm guessing its a 3/5, 7/10 kind of movie. A classic "it's okay"

 

[Donut]

The Hunger Games Pulls in $68.2 Million Opening Day

Via Comingsoon.net

 

[Doctor Jones]

Good to hear. I always like to hear when book adaptations are successful like this. It only happens every few years or so.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

^That would have been a great opening weekend but it's just the first day.

Anyway, here is my review I texted to my sister. (I rewrote it for this thread)

I guess my overall impressions of "The Hunger Games" is that it is a decent enough movie but it doesn't leave enough of an impression as it should with the dark story of kids killing other kids in a sick tournament. The characters are too thinly drawn and the dialogue needed work. My reaction to film's view of the future is decidedly mixed as the silly capital costumes often didn't work for me. The shaky camera work gave the movie an air of undeserved air of pretentiousness and I had an issue with the film's pacing because it felt too long and it seemed like it took too long to get to the meat and potatoes of the story. I guess I would have been fine with the amount of time it took to get to the games if I loved the build up but I didn't, I just felt nothing for it. The first half has decent performances but I felt that the characters came off as stereotypes or shadows doing the build up and the build up just plan wasn't interesting enough, I can't put my finger on why but it just didn't grab me.

What the movie has working in it's favor are fun performances from Stanley Tucci and Woody Harelson, sometimes really effective work by Josh Hutcherson (who was one of the better child stars) and subtle but fine work from the magnetic Jennifer Lawrence. (Liam Hemsworth just came off bad to me but he had a small role so maybe I shouldn't judge too harshly.) Her character isn't much but she does well with what she has to work with. When the actual Hunger Games started I think that the film just works far better. It's exciting and interesting and the brutal violence is disturbing in a good way. I really liked this part of the film and wish that the first half had matched it.

Rating: 7 out of 10.

This movie is the opposite of John Carter in that John Carter had a really entertaining first half but went down hill and Games has a really so-so first half but a very well done second half. I prefer The Hunger Games approach because it's always better to finish strong.

 

[flash13]

I loved the movie It was what I expected and a better adaptation than almost any other book to movies I've seen. Jennifer Lawrence is awesome as usual and Josh Hutcherson was perfect as Peeta. Loved the rest of the cast as well. (Also I find it funny that The Hunger Games sits at 87% on RT, same as JL's other blockbuster movie X-Men: First Class.)

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I knew Lawrence was a star when I saw her superb performance in Winter's Bone. I adore her and am very, very happy with her success.

 

[Project862006]

The film looks to be on pace for a total weekend box office gross of $138-$142 million now, which would be ahead of expectations and would place it between the openings of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 and The Twilight Saga: New Moon. It would also set records for biggest March opening and biggest non-sequel opening.

 

[obin_gam]

Surprisingly better than I thought. It was very long, however, and also felt that way, but it is difficult to see where they could trim because I think in the end it was a good character presentation and story.

Small things that bothered me is that she never had to take difficult decisions and that the film feels like it chickened out at a lot of occasions. It is very predictable as well, anyone who have seen any teenage adventure matinee in the 90's can figure out how the movie will play out.

What really bothered me was the end. It could have been so much better if they weren't forced to follow the books. This could have been a very thought-provoking film the makers had dared to do something of their own.

All in all I recommend the film, it is not great, but it is not bad either. An excellent example of "a perfectly ok movie."

7/10

 

[Sith Scotti]

Great movie and very close and true to the book.


A solid A + from me

 

[MadVillainy]

I saw it yesterday, as a huge fan of the first book I think they did a pretty good movies. Some moments I liked a lot better in the books then in the movie (to be expected), but they really did a good job with everything.

The beginning of the games at the cornacopia was really good, really captured the brutality and with just a PG13 rating (I guess having no sex and light cursing allows you to get away with more violence). The whole games themselves were great, pretty much what I expected

What I didnt like was:
-how they did the cave scene between Peeta and Katniss. Glad it was shortened but I think the speech Peeta gives Katniss in the book shouldve been handled differently
-I didn't like the small tweaks to the ending they made
-I thought the characters of the tributes was over the top except for Alexander Ludwig as Cato. He was perfect
-As Ive heard/read some say the part before the games felt too long and I agree with that.
-Shaky cam and the whole "Bourne method" of editing the fist fights got on my nerves after the cornucopia
-I felt that the score didnt have that big of an impact.
-Im probably in the smalll minority but I think some kind of narration from Katniss couldve helped.

But performances were good, every character was how I pictured them in the book (weirdly I pictured Tucci as Cinna, but he did great as Caesar), action was decent. Overall a pretty good movie

7/10

 

[Rock Sexton]

I'm lost guys.

What exactly is the huge fuss over this film? I had never even heard of the franchise until the trailer first went online. I never even once considered going to see it.

 

[nocomics]

^That would have been a great opening weekend but it's just the first day.

Anyway, here is my review I texted to my sister. (I rewrote it for this thread)

I guess my overall impressions of "The Hunger Games" is that it is a decent enough movie but it doesn't leave enough of an impression as it should with the dark story of kids killing other kids in a sick tournament. The characters are too thinly drawn and the dialogue needed work. My reaction to film's view of the future is decidedly mixed as the silly capital costumes often didn't work for me. The shaky camera work gave the movie an air of undeserved air of pretentiousness and I had an issue with the film's pacing because it felt too long and it seemed like it took too long to get to the meat and potatoes of the story. I guess I would have been fine with the amount of time it took to get to the games if I loved the build up but I didn't, I just felt nothing for it. The first half has decent performances but I felt that the characters came off as stereotypes or shadows doing the build up and the build up just plan wasn't interesting enough, I can't put my finger on why but it just didn't grab me.

What the movie has working in it's favor are fun performances from Stanley Tucci and Woody Harelson, sometimes really effective work by Josh Hutcherson (who was one of the better child stars) and subtle but fine work from the magnetic Jennifer Lawrence. (Liam Hemsworth just came off bad to me but he had a small role so maybe I shouldn't judge too harshly.) Her character isn't much but she does well with what she has to work with. When the actual Hunger Games started I think that the film just works far better. It's exciting and interesting and the brutal violence is disturbing in a good way. I really liked this part of the film and wish that the first half had matched it.

Rating: 7 out of 10.

This movie is the opposite of John Carter in that John Carter had a really entertaining first half but went down hill and Games has a really so-so first half but a very well done second half. I prefer The Hunger Games approach because it's always better to finish strong.

I pretty much agree with ya on most of it. It did feel long in spots not sure if it was just the story or what. The acting was decent no real complaints. Not sure its same for everyone, but didn't realy feel any emotions for the other combatants they were just fillers, but I thought they could of focused more on the one group/guy(forgot names) to give you a reason to hate/like them. Ya, a few ppl gasped when the little girl died, but other than that. The whole shakey camera syndrom has gotta stop it just takes away soo much from the action sequences....
The love triangle wasn't that believable imo, they could of done more with the one guy to give ya more emotions towards one or the other. Or just focused on the two combants love story instead of keep panning to the one guy...but thats just me.

Overall, a decent movie not sure how it compares to the books,
as I've never read them??? A few complaints, but no movie is ever perfect.

 

[Octoberist]

8/10

I read the book and it was was very faithful. However I was shocked at the use of shaky camera; not only is it dated but literally there were scenes where it went on for almost a minute.

That being said, it was very faithful and like many critics have stated, it had a very heady 70's era sci-fi to it.

Also the CGI was decent! The Capital looked original enough that it doesn't rip off Blade Runner.

 

[jmc]

I'm lost guys.

What exactly is the huge fuss over this film? I had never even heard of the franchise until the trailer first went online. I never even once considered going to see it.

Go see it then and make up your mind.

 

[Octoberist]

I'm lost guys.

What exactly is the huge fuss over this film? I had never even heard of the franchise until the trailer first went online. I never even once considered going to see it.

May the odds be in your favor!

 

[Drizzle]

So what do you guys think the chances are of seeing an unrated cut on Blu-ray?

 

[Rock Sexton]

Go see it then and make up your mind.

Honestly, I doubt I will. Nothing in the trailer got me interested.

The premise sounds like "Running Man" for tweens.

 

[jmc]

Honestly, I doubt I will. Nothing in the trailer got me interested.

The premise sounds like ''Running Man''for tweens.

Well go see it and judge for yourself. Judging by the reviews you'll at the least be entertained.

 

[Sith Scotti]

Honestly, I doubt I will. Nothing in the trailer got me interested.

The premise sounds like "Running Man" for tweens.

Your loss .

 

[obin_gam]

Honestly, I doubt I will. Nothing in the trailer got me interested.

The premise sounds like "Running Man" for tweens.

I thought so to at first glance but it actually is better than it appears.

 

[rayc1971]

Honestly, I doubt I will. Nothing in the trailer got me interested.

The premise sounds like "Running Man" for tweens.

thats what i thought too a running man for teens judging from the bland trailer.i never read the books or heard of it either with potter ending and twilight near ending this looks like the next big franchise!

 

[The Apocalypse]

I just got back from seeing it. I enjoyed it, and the acting a great but something felt off. I can't put my finger on it though. I think it felt as if the relationships that Katniss had seemed forced.

 

[jacobed]

Id say thats because she is forcing most of them.