The Hunger Games: The Movie Review

So, I FINALLY got around to watching the Hunger Games, a good 3 days after I should've seen it. Now, for whoever is reading this, I will not go over a summary of the movie/book and there will be a TON of spoilers. And so: Full speed ahead!

My first reaction was: Underwhelmed. I was underwhelmed by the movie. It hit all the right parts and the added scenes were great! But it didn't spend NEARLY as much time on character development, which I'd heard was the main complaint of the film. And bingo was his name-o, right on the mark.

The cave scenes took probably 10 minutes of the whole freaking film. The most emotional exchanges between Peeta and Katniss, where you see the most tenderness (apart from Rue and Prim) and where you get to REALLY start rooting for Peeta. With the shots of Gale's reaction watching Katniss kiss Peeta, I actually felt worse for him. Gale really won the sympathy card in this movie, even though Josh Hutcherson played his part to the T. Gary Ross just did NOT spend enough time on the interaction between Peeta and Katniss. He also skimmed over Katniss and Rue's time together. Thank god Amandla Stenberg is too adorable to mess with, or Rue's death scene wouldn't have been NEARLY as sad! And even so, I still kept wondering why Katniss was in such a wreck for someone who she didn't really have enough time to care about, besides the fact that Rue was 12 and is like Prim.

Can I just say, though? Willow Shields: Way to go, girl! Now, THAT was some great emotion chemistry right there. Really, ALL of the acting was phenomenal and just so spot on, just crazy! The only complaint is probably Woody Harrelson as Haymitch. I don't think it was the acting, just that you didn't see too much of him and he was just...there. Not super hilarious, not super cranky/angry, not super smart, not super...anything. Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman...oh my god, it's hard to believe he never read any of the books. He was just so spot on! And, of course, HUGE round of applause to Jennifer Lawrence, who just embodied Katniss. Her subtle intensity kept me going the whole movie. But I'm still reserving judgement on Donald Sutherland. I don't think he's creepy enough for President Snow. Not yet, anyway...

Another complaint about the film: SHAKY CAM. WTF, GARY ROSS? I would like to SEE the horror of these children dying and the mutts attacking, as terrible as that sounds. You know why? Few reasons: I don't like getting motion sickness while being completely. stable. >.> Also, the books are all about the graphic killing of CHILDREN. Minors. Kids. The Capitol citizens love every gory moment of it, which makes it THAT much worse! So, why in the world would the game makers not have a steady camera to see every evil second of the show? I really wish they would've gone all out, damn the R rating. Yes, I know they had to appeal to main audience of pre-teens and yes, I realize that reading about a death and SEEING a death is very different, but still. I feel that was sort of a Capitol-propaganda thing to do.

And can I just say, Cop-Out ending strikes again! Suzanne Collins seems to be loving this, because she did the same goddamn thing in Mockingjay! Example: La-di-da-di-di super long chapters about major events, lots of writing about minor events, lots-of-things-happen-after-each-other, and then quick little snippets of what should've been super major things, then DONE. THE END. Audience: Wait...what?! Ms. Collins needs to stop this habit of dragging out the somewhat boring beginning then speeding everything up at the end. It's as if she's going, "OK, I'm so going to write this out detail for detail! Yes!" Then she realizes it's getting long, "Oh, crap, quickly! Let me just cover all the basics and-yes! Done!" Not. Good.

But, finally, I just wanted to point out that even though there were some obvious problems, this movie was more than I could've hoped for. Even though I felt a little disappointed by things, I DO want to emphasize that this movie did make me feel things. It did make me care just enough to feel that sadness towards Prim, Rue, Katniss, Peeta, and Gale. I just hope the filmmakers maybe listen to some of the major criticisms that movie critics and fans alike have been saying, so that Catching Fire will be even better!

I have to be surrounded by other people? Gross.

My recent experiences with group singing classes and acting classes have reminded me of something crucial: I hate social groups. I hate 'em. They remind me of why I hated public high school and loved going to my charter school here in Cali. I never had to be reminded of how awkward I am or how this guy liked me or didn't like me or how that girl looked prettier than  I was-yadda yadda yadda, blah blah blah-that sort of shit. When I work by myself, I'm not distracted by stupid human insecurities and can work on whatever I SHOULD be working on. I LIKE being by myself, or with one or two people at a time. If it's a large group of people I'm comfortable with, OK that works, too. But, otherwise, I'm just doubtful of everything and it's ridiculous. Other people are annoying and hurtful. Just like the internet! :D It's much better to just focus on stuff by yourself. You get a LOT more stuff done.