The Hunger Games - Part 2

[smashmode]

I had questions like: why were the games necessary again?

The way it was explained in the movie was that it gave just enough hope to the outer districts to keep them in line.

 

[Tobias]

Its going to keep legs based on its great cinemascore as well as its appeal to a wide demo

55/45 under 25/over 25
60/40 Women/men.

The guys are going to like the dystopian/Running Man/Lord of the Flies angle.

If you take out the Midnight showings, It actually increased From Saturday to Friday.

I think you are right.

Could HG approach a billion at the WW box?

Maybe not but I think it has a chance to oudo both TA and TDKR at the BO. Something I hadn't thought prior to it's premier this weekend and the overwhelmingly positive reaction.

 

[DJ Kornphlake]

In an unusual move, ABC Family has acquired the cable rights to The Hunger Games, which it will air in 2014:

http://www.deadline.com/2012/03/abc-family-acquires-the-hunger-games/

The deal also includes the second movie, Catching Fire. Guess ABC Family/Disney wants to add another franchise to their 'collection' alongside HP.

Almost as bad as them playing Blazing Saddles. They edited like a third of the movie out.

 

[ALP]

Hey guys, I'm probably going to catch this tomorrow after hearing good stuff about it.

I never read the books, or didn't even know what it was until like two weeks ago after I started to hear all this buzz. Is it like, a kid's film or is it actually a good film?

Like not to crash on anyones boat here, because I really have no say because I know next to nothing about the books and this film, but this movie comes off as a "teenagers love it cause it's the new cool thing" kind of film.

I'm almost 20 and Male, should I see this or what.

Thanks.

That is exactly what it is. I actually liked the film, it's a decent movie. I give it a solid 7/10 but it is nothing special at all. It's no Star Wars, it's no Harry Potter. There's no deep or rich mythology like what you'd expect in a 'phenomenon.' It's an incredibly simple film that is being propelled by every teenager in the country.

 

[eddy]

Saw the movie on saturday. Loved it. I rate it a 8/10. Loved J.Lawrence's acting. She definitely carried this movie cause I couldn't take my eyes off off of her. My favorite part was when she shot the apple out of the dude's hand, when she kissed Peeta in the cave and later when she couldn't find him and got scared. Loved Rue and the reactions to her death. Thats when I thought to myself "Wow, this movie is good." Woody was awesome as always. I could watch him read a phonebook for 2 hours.

I don't get the people saying they can't watch a movie with a female lead or involves romance. I missed like maybe 5 minutes at the beginning so maybe I missed alot but I didn't really see much of a triangle in this movie. Yeah I know theres the other guy but he was barely in the movie so..? And as for not liking "a teenage female coming of age story" what does it matter what the character's gender is? As long as the writing is good and the acting is good then it shouldn't be a problem. Then again, I'm always partial to good stories with female leads(Buffy, Alias, Terminator to name a few) so what do I know?

EDIT, and I'm not a teenager propelling this film. I'm a 27 year old male who just likes good movies.

 

[bullets]

Hey guys, I'm probably going to catch this tomorrow after hearing good stuff about it.

I never read the books, or didn't even know what it was until like two weeks ago after I started to hear all this buzz. Is it like, a kid's film or is it actually a good film?

Like not to crash on anyones boat here, because I really have no say because I know next to nothing about the books and this film, but this movie comes off as a "teenagers love it cause it's the new cool thing" kind of film.

I'm almost 20 and Male, should I see this or what.

Thanks.

I thought it was ok . The focus is actually more on survival than romance. It's an interesting premise. I think Katniss's journey could appeal to anyone.

 

[Tony Stark]

Went and saw the movie last night. Excellent adaptation of the book, and just a great filmmaking accomplishment. I hate to call this the "next Harry Potter", because the books have a much more serious undertone, really not seen since some of the science fiction works of Logan's Run, the Andromeda Strain, and others of that nature.

While the movie plays up the "love story" aspect a little more, ultimately the book is about what kind of attrocities do we allow to exist in our society, to the point that we are willing to accept it.

The movie makers should be credited for staying so close to the books, something that the Potter films failed to do since the first two movies. The movie is not exactly like the book, nor should it be. The book is a first person narrative from Katniss, and while the movie devotes nearly every film cell to Katniss, there's some exposition and views of what's going on with the game masters, and other Districts for dramatic effect. Nothing that really detracts from the story.

My one dissapointment was the design of the Cornucopia. The book describes it as golden and having the woven pattern etched in it's design. In the movie for something that was meant to look grandios, it looked rather average to me, barely resembling a real cornucopia.

The movie is hard to watch from an emotional perspective, and Rue's death scene was almost unbearable to watch, and struck home the reality of the brutish game they were playing. Without saying any words, they were able to portray Katniss' disgust toward the capital and being forced to fight the games.

Overall this movie is a tremendous accomplishment, and I believe Oscar nomination worthy. The film makers and actors just did a fantastic job of bringing the book to life.

10/10

 

[Drizzle]

Overall this movie is a tremendous accomplishment, and I believe Oscar nomination worthy.

For makeup and costume design, sure. I felt that all the actors did a good job, but I didn't notice any Oscar-worthy performances. If Alan Rickman didn't get a nomination for Deathly Hallows Part 2, I wouldn't expect to see anyone from THG nominated. Now the MTV Movie Awards, on the other hand...

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

They did show them. It wasn't like weather or drought or anything like that, but more man-made elements devised against the tributes. For example, the wall of fire, the tracker jacker nest, the berries, and the mutts. Those were the dangerous elements created by the gamemakers.

but didnt he mention freezing to death/exposure, etc?

The way it was explained in the movie was that it gave just enough hope to the outer districts to keep them in line.

Yup, which on it's own is somewhat non-sensical when you think about it. The book gave far more detail apparently about why an elaborate televised game of children murdering one another was necessary and why they wanted to keep the districts "in line" in the first place i.e. the 13th District, which is never mentioned directly in the movie.

Loved Rue and the reactions to her death. Thats when I thought to myself "Wow, this movie is good." .

this brings me to another gripe. How does a 12-13 year old girl, who weighs all of maybe 70 lbs, get impaled in the solar-plexus with a large war spear and not fall down immediately? She's just standing there with it sticking out of her and doesn't even make a sound until Katniss turns around and looks at her. I get the whole "dramatic effect" thing but c'mon!

 

[The Guard]

My one dissapointment was the design of the Cornucopia. The book describes it as golden and having the woven pattern etched in it's design. In the movie for something that was meant to look grandios, it looked rather average to me, barely resembling a real cornucopia.

Yeah, I found it pretty underwhelming in the film.

 

[gugumugats]

That is exactly what it is. I actually liked the film, it's a decent movie. I give it a solid 7/10 but it is nothing special at all. It's no Star Wars, it's no Harry Potter. There's no deep or rich mythology like what you'd expect in a 'phenomenon.' It's an incredibly simple film that is being propelled by every teenager in the country.

It's not just about the mythology, its popularity may be due to how relevant it is to contemporary times:

*class inequality
*the unreality of "reality television,"
*a critique on the kookiness of contrived cheesy romances (ahem, Twilight)
*sending young people from the poorest part of the country to die in battle.

Most of all, it delivers a convincing heroine who is not just a female version of a male hero and whose biggest conflict isn't getting a boyfriend.

Then again, a big part of it is a fad. I liked the stories from the books, I just didn't enjoy the actual writing/style.

 

[Rock Sexton]

It's an incredibly simple film that is being propelled by every teenager in the country.

Sure seems that way.

 

[ALP]

It's not just about the mythology, its popularity may be due to how relevant it is to contemporary times:

*class inequality
*the unreality of "reality television,"
*a critique on the kookiness of contrived cheesy romances (ahem, Twilight)
*sending young people from the poorest part of the country to die in battle.

Most of all, it delivers a convincing heroine who is not just a female version of a male hero and whose biggest conflict isn't getting a boyfriend.

Then again, a big part of it is a fad. I liked the stories from the books, I just didn't enjoy the actual writing/style.

I understand and I definitely see that there are important issues relevant to current times in the work... however, I highly doubt that's why it's become so incredibly popular. Like you said, it's the fad mentality at work and even I am guilty of it. I'm a teenager who saw this just because everyone else was talking about it lol

A survey was done and showed the majority of the people who saw this film opening day were under the age of 19. They aren't rushing into the theater to learn about class inequality haha. No other group can create a phenomenon quite like teens and young adults.

 

[gugumugats]

I also want to add that Twilight may have had a hand in the Hunger Games fad .... With the Twilight saga ending, something will need to fill the coming vacuum, and Hunger Games was there.

How the hell did Twilight become a fad? I don't particularly hate Twilight, I just don't get it.

 

[DJ Kornphlake]

Everyone in the theater laughed at the Twilight trailer at my showing.

 

[ALP]

The most 'fadiest' part has become the "Team Peeta" and "Team Gale" stuff. The fangirls took that directly from Twilight.

 

[Tony Stark]

I also want to add that Twilight may have had a hand in the Hunger Games fad .... With the Twilight saga ending, something will need to fill the coming vacuum, and Hunger Games was there.

How the hell did Twilight become a fad? I don't particularly hate Twilight, I just don't get it.

I agree, but here's the thing. As you mentioned in your earlier post, Hunger Games actually has substance, where as Twilight doesn't.

I am as mystified as Twilight's success as you are.

I also think that Hunger games is equally appealing to men as it is women, althought the story is obviously female focused. But as you mentioned the story is not about the romance, the story is about people struggling to survive and the sacrifices people must make to survive. In Katniss' case it's faking her feelings toward Peeta in order to gain sponsors for the games. Peeta is heartbroken, but Katniss did what she did to survive.

 

[dark_b]

I agree, but here's the thing. As you mentioned in your earlier post, Hunger Games actually has substance, where as Twilight doesn't.

I am as mystified as Twilight's success as you are.

I also think that Hunger games is equally appealing to men as it is women, althought the story is obviously female focused. But as you mentioned the story is not about the romance, the story is about people struggling to survive and the sacrifices people must make to survive. In Katniss' case it's faking her feelings toward Peeta in order to gain sponsors for the games. Peeta is heartbroken, but Katniss did what she did to survive.

i dont think it was in the movie.

 

[Tony Stark]

For makeup and costume design, sure. I felt that all the actors did a good job, but I didn't notice any Oscar-worthy performances. If Alan Rickman didn't get a nomination for Deathly Hallows Part 2, I wouldn't expect to see anyone from THG nominated. Now the MTV Movie Awards, on the other hand...

I thought Jennifer Lawrence was terrific. I've really enjoyed her as an actress, she was great in XFC, but pulling the lead role in this, I thought she did a fantastic job.

Bottom line though, a film this early in the year, no matter how well it does at the box office, will likely be ignored by the academy in 2013.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

Yea you're both wrong. She is a decent actress. As proven in Panic Room, Adventureland and The Runaways. The reason she's terrible in the Twilight films is because they are appalingly written and she pretty much despises the franchise.

I agree. Both her, and Robert Pattinson (though on a larger scale) hate Twilight. Stewart has definitely had some good performances in indie movies.

 

[Tony Stark]

i dont think it was in the movie.

I mean that from the standpoint that for the most part we are shown nearly everything from Katniss' perspective. Obviously moreso in the book, but the only scenes we see away from Katniss, are the ones where they show what's happening in the game room, or Haymitch gathering sponsors, or the President Snow's reaction to things, usually all directed toward Katniss.

Where it's not "female focued" is that the story being about survival and doing what needs to be done to win, is universal to men and women, the lead here just happens to be female. Unlike Twilight were it's all about school girl fantasies and desiring after men, etc., etc.

 

[gugumugats]

I think the female-focused aspect of Katniss versus any other male action hero is her capacity for empathy and her maternal instincts.

From her volunteering in her sisters place to taking up a surrogate younger sister in Rue or even taking care of Peeta, Katniss really comes of as a nurturer.

God, I hope this post doesn't come of as sexist.

Now that sexism was brought up .... Did you notice that the female tributes used projectile weapons (archery/throwing knives) while the guys had more phallic-ish hand held weapons? (swords, spears).

 

[smashmode]

A question for the book readers:

Spoiler

In the movie, it showed that Katniss was totally playing it up for the game, until there was a moment where peeta was applying the salve to Katniss head wound, it looked like they share a moment (Where maybe it just wasn't all fake/game). Is this also true in the books? Or in the books was Katniss just all about the game and didn't have a 'moment' with peeta?

 

[ALP]

Twilight became popular for the same reason that Justin Bieber is popular. Pretty boys and mushy romance for the teen girls to fawn over.

Yeah, I love how clear it is that Robert Pattinson hates Twilight. He reminds me of Johnny Depp in the days of 21 Jump Street.

One of the best parts of Hunger Games is that it's got a big audience of both males and females like Harry Potter. Twilight is totally female skewing.

 

[smashmode]

I think you are right.

Could HG approach a billion at the WW box?

Maybe not but I think it has a chance to oudo both TA and TDKR at the BO. Something I hadn't thought prior to it's premier this weekend and the overwhelmingly positive reaction.

Not sure how well it will do overseas. I think its possible this is a 400 million + Domestic BO. Weekend 2 numbers will dictate that. If it falls 45% I think 400 million is doable.