The Hunger Games

[John Locke]

She's 20. Only 4 years older than the character.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

^And yet some people keep talking about her like she is 35 years old.

 

[Hush]

JL will be fine in this movie. OsGom your being a tad ridiculous, no book is every adapted perfectly, even LOTR's has its flaws and changes. I have faith in this director and the author is doing the script treatment for the film so what ever is cut that she deemed worthy to cut I'm okay with. As for the jacket, I believe that will be her jacket from the arena just my opinion.

 

[jmc]

I will say Jennifer does look quite mature for her age, that said I don't really see the issue, age probably won't even be brought up in the film.

 

[John Locke]

No age did play a very minor role in the beginning of the first book. But I could seem them changing that minor detail.

 

[KRIM]

To be fair, that age range is a comparatively rapid stage of development. 12/16/20 gives off a stronger distinction than 30/34/38.

 

[OsGom]

JL will be fine in this movie. OsGom your being a tad ridiculous, no book is every adapted perfectly, even LOTR's has its flaws and changes. I have faith in this director and the author is doing the script treatment for the film so what ever is cut that she deemed worthy to cut I'm okay with. As for the jacket, I believe that will be her jacket from the arena just my opinion.

I'm not saying that JL wont do a good job or that the script needs to follow the book exactly. What I'm saying is that for me, the gravitas of the book is that children were put into an arena and forced to kill each other. Casting older, yes even 4 years older, dulls the trauma of that theme. As others have said JL and the rest of the combatants look very mature (with the exception of Rue).

In addition, the devil is in the details, the more details they change from the book, they less appealing I find it. And they have changed a lot.

I really want this project to work but remain skeptical that they are going to make a product that resembles the greatness of the novel based on the images and advertising I've seen so far. In fact I was ready to write this project off up until they cast Harrelson, Banks and Tucci.

Hopefully the upcoming trailer will change my mind.

 

[danoyse]

^And yet some people keep talking about her like she is 35 years old.

Seriously. I'm 37. She looks like a kid to me.

 

[Hush]

I'm not saying that JL wont do a good job or that the script needs to follow the book exactly. What I'm saying is that for me, the gravitas of the book is that children were put into an arena and forced to kill each other. Casting older, yes even 4 years older, dulls the trauma of that theme. As others have said JL and the rest of the combatants look very mature (with the exception of Rue).

In addition, the devil is in the details, the more details they change from the book, they less appealing I find it. And they have changed a lot.

I really want this project to work but remain skeptical that they are going to make a product that resembles the greatness of the novel based on the images and advertising I've seen so far. In fact I was ready to write this project off up until they cast Harrelson, Banks and Tucci.

Hopefully the upcoming trailer will change my mind.

So the gravitas of Teenagers forced to kill each other in an arena is easier for you to swallow? I think either way its pretty horrendous of the Capital but I think the reason the production team may have slightly bumped up the ages is because the people who would go see this film are going to be Teenagers and they have to have someone they can relate with in the film and seeing through the eyes of a child is harder for that audience. They did the same with the Percy Jackson movie (which is just horrendous in comparison to the book) only it didn't really work for the story but it brought in money which is the goal of these movies.

You say the devil is in the details but in the previous sentence you say that you don't think the script needs to be just like the book. So which is really your opinion, because you sound like your pissed they are changing stuff but than you say something like that. I'm not meaning to attack you just trying to get an idea of your thought process and where you stand on this particular detail. They way I see it is Suzanne has been involved in the production process since the beginning and didn't just sell off the rights like Riordan did with Percy Jackson so she has a say in what is being changed and such so I like to think that if its alright with her its alright with me and I'm a HUGE fan of the book.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

She's 20. Only 4 years older than the character.

21.

But she does look a bit older then her actual age. She incredibly beautiful and very talented, but that doesn't change that she looks closer to 25 then 16.

 

[danoyse]

I'm not saying that JL wont do a good job or that the script needs to follow the book exactly. What I'm saying is that for me, the gravitas of the book is that children were put into an arena and forced to kill each other. Casting older, yes even 4 years older, dulls the trauma of that theme. As others have said JL and the rest of the combatants look very mature (with the exception of Rue).

In addition, the devil is in the details, the more details they change from the book, they less appealing I find it. And they have changed a lot.

I really want this project to work but remain skeptical that they are going to make a product that resembles the greatness of the novel based on the images and advertising I've seen so far. In fact I was ready to write this project off up until they cast Harrelson, Banks and Tucci.

Hopefully the upcoming trailer will change my mind.

But with the exception of Rue, they weren't small children. They were teenagers, and teenagers are still, for all intents and purposes, children. 20 isn't geriatric, and Lawrence proved with Winter's Bone that she can more than pull off the role of a teenager. She's a terrific actress. Nearly all of the actors playing the tributes are within an acceptable age range of their characters - at least close enough where it shouldn't be an issue if they play their parts well.

And it's not like it hasn't been done before:

The Harry Potter kids were in their early 20s and still playing 17-year-olds fighting a war. Michael J. Fox was 23 when he played 17-year-old Marty McFly. Edward Cullen is eternally 17, but Robert Pattinson has aged from 22 to 25 filming the Twilight movies (and he was almost 20 when he played a Hogwarts student). Just about the entire cast of Glee is in their 20s - one of them is almost 30.

It's just how they cast teenagers in movies, it's nothing new.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

But with the exception of Rue, they weren't small children. They were teenagers, and teenagers are still, for all intents and purposes, children. 20 isn't geriatric, and Lawrence proved with Winter's Bone that she can more than pull off the role of a teenager. She's a terrific actress. Nearly all of the actors playing the tributes are within an acceptable age range of their characters - at least close enough where it shouldn't be an issue if they play their parts well.

And it's not like it hasn't been done before:

The Harry Potter kids were in their early 20s and still playing 17-year-olds fighting a war. Michael J. Fox was 23 when he played 17-year-old Marty McFly. Edward Cullen is eternally 17, but Robert Pattinson has aged from 22 to 25 filming the Twilight movies (and he was almost 20 when he played a Hogwarts student). Just about the entire cast of Glee is in their 20s - one of them is almost 30.

It's just how they cast teenagers in movies, it's nothing new.

Were they going to replace the Potter kids after 6 films? t:

Not all teenagers in film are played by 20 somethings. For every Michael J. Fox or Robert Pattinson, there is a Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice or Saoirse Ronan in Hanna.

 

[ironwez20]

Meh i think's shes perfect as Katniss and I cannot wait for the trailer. its going to be real interesting to see if this is the new best thing. I hope it doesnt end up like Percy and Eragon.

 

[John Locke]

Okay but you got to admit that Ryder and Ronan are a rarity. Most are played by someone older.

 

[jmc]

21.

But she does look a bit older then her actual age. She incredibly beautiful and very talented, but that doesn't change that she looks closer to 25 then 16.

Very true, I think it would be less of an issue if Jennifer looked younger than she does, it's not her fault that she looks older than her actual age.

 

[danoyse]

Were they going to replace the Potter kids after 6 films? t:

Not all teenagers in film are played by 20 somethings. For every Michael J. Fox or Robert Pattinson, there is a Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice or Saoirse Ronan in Hanna.

The point about Harry Potter was that the kids were still believably playing teenagers in their 20s. I've never heard a single complaint that these kids were looking too old for their roles.

Winona Ryder was still playing teenagers in her 20s. She played a 13-year-old when she was 18 in Great Balls of Fire. I was watching La Bamba on TV the other day...starring 25-year-old Lou Diamond Phillips as 17-year-old Ritchie Valens. Newt was supposed to be seven in Aliens. She was played by a 9-year-old. John Connor was supposed to be 10 in Terminator 2. He was played by a 13-year-old whose voice was changing throughout the movie.

Hunger Games is two dozen teenage characters, it's stunt-heavy, and they're not going to cast a bunch of underage kids when they can cast older kids who can still pull off the roles.

And if you think this is bad, wait until Ender's Game gets made into a movie. Does anyone really think we're going to see an actual 6-year-old playing Ender?

 

[ironwez20]

Actually some people did kinda complain about Harry potter kids becoming to old but that all went under the bridge after goblet of fire.

 

[Liam_H]

The reason (for me at least) was that the Potter kids along with everyone else were the same actors (RIP Harris). You saw them grow up on screen for 10 years so it was a lot easier to buy.

 

[OsGom]

So the gravitas of Teenagers forced to kill each other in an arena is easier for you to swallow?

Yes, Huge difference between adults murdering each other and children murdering each other.

You say the devil is in the details but in the previous sentence you say that you don't think the script needs to be just like the book. So which is really your opinion, because you sound like your pissed they are changing stuff but than you say something like that. I'm not meaning to attack you just trying to get an idea of your thought process and where you stand on this particular detail.

I thought my message was pretty clear. I would prefer the film to exactly emulate the book. Who wouldn't? Realistically that's not going to happen. I maintain high hopes for this project. Yet the majority of the images, IMO, have failed convince that the filmmakers are capturing the look, themes or story for which I hope and envision.

Jennifer Lawrence is beautiful and incredibly talented. But the pictures I have see of her as Katniss have the look of a 22 year old catelog model for LL Bean rather that a 16 year old struggling to survive is a dystopian future.

If you look back this all started because I pointed out that the jacket JL was wearing in a picture didn't look like it was her father's and that maybe if it was slightly oversized, as it was in the books, it might add to the illusion that she is younger.

Sure I understand that this franchise is being marketed to fill the void that will be left by Twilight. However being a fan of these books and pretty much hating Twilight, I had hoped that these movies would shoot for something more. I worry about the elements that will be lost dumbing down the story for the Twilight crowd.

 

[kickass]

Your worries and issues are pretty sound OsGom. We can only hope for the best. I hope I enjoy whatever tweaks and liberties the movie takes.

 

[ComicChick]

Very true, I think it would be less of an issue if Jennifer looked younger than she does, it's not her fault that she looks older than her actual age.

and Katniss doesn't exactly look her age. she's far older maturity wise considering what she's already dealt with and what she does on a daily basis. she's grown up a lot faster than most have

and rue is the only one i remember being young in the hunger games, at 11. the ages vary 11-18 but i seem to recall everyone else being on the farther end of the spectrum. if i'm wrong, please correct me. i plan on re-reading the book again before the movie comes out

 

[ComicChick]

JL is very attractive in pics, but i just try to remember that one the tributes are selected and go to the capitol, they are "beautified" to look their best on screen for the audience. her (and everyone else i'd assume) blemishes, scars, scrapes etc were all removed to make her look better.

i can't wait to see what her dress from the parade will look like

 

[Hush]

Yes, Huge difference between adults murdering each other and children murdering each other.

You think Teenagers are adults? I am 23 and see teens as kids. I guess we will just have differing views on this.

I thought my message was pretty clear. I would prefer the film to exactly emulate the book. Who wouldn't? Realistically that's not going to happen. I maintain high hopes for this project. Yet the majority of the images, IMO, have failed convince that the filmmakers are capturing the look, themes or story for which I hope and envision.

See I think that is okay though since they have the Author of the series okaying the changes enless it comes out that she didn't at some point during the production.

Jennifer Lawrence is beautiful and incredibly talented. But the pictures I have see of her as Katniss have the look of a 22 year old catelog model for LL Bean rather that a 16 year old struggling to survive is a dystopian future.

I just don't think she looks that old, and even so she is supposed be older for her age because she is the sole provider for her family in one of the harshest districts in all the land. She would have a look of Maturity to her and honestly the few pictures we have seen are promotional shots so of course she will look good.

If you look back this all started because I pointed out that the jacket JL was wearing in a picture didn't look like it was her father's and that maybe if it was slightly oversized, as it was in the books, it might add to the illusion that she is younger.

I believe that in this pic she may be in the arena and this is a Jacket she is wearing in the games only because that Bow looks to nice for her District 12 bow.

Sure I understand that this franchise is being marketed to fill the void that will be left by Twilight. However being a fan of these books and pretty much hating Twilight, I had hoped that these movies would shoot for something more. I worry about the elements that will be lost dumbing down the story for the Twilight crowd.

I don't think it will be dumbed down for the Twilight crowd but just advertised for that crowd. It would be wise of them to advertise to that crowd because honestly that's where they will make there money and sell more books hopefully so people will get that book experience.

 

[Art_of_Crime]

Loved the first book. Thought the love triangle in the other two was kind of obnoxious, but still really enjoyed them. Thought Kat was really kind of a pain in the ass for the series.
I could see these being butchered... mercilessly. Still, it will be fun to see certain key scenes on the big screen.

 

[ironwez20]

Why isn't there a thread for "The Host" ??

Two super duper cute hot guys, Jake Abel and Max Irons have been cast as the two male leads.

Why dont you just make a thread about it then. Anyway I hope we get the trailer at twelve o clock tonight it's supposed to premiere on itunes aswell.