Catching Fire discussion post
I just got back from Catching Fire and....
I LOVED IT.
I mean, look. I'm a fandom girl, so obviously I have a lot of thoughts, so here goes:
I LOVED IT.
I mean, look. I'm a fandom girl, so obviously I have a lot of thoughts, so here goes:
- Loved the streamlined scene wherein the new D12 peacekeepers come in/Gale's whipping. While I would see a 14 hour movie, I am but one person, and I know things had to get cut. This was one scene that really benefited from the cut. The peacekeepers were an awesome threat on the district and they just came in and destroyed.
- The Victors' interviews with Caesar. That was amazing. As was everyone watching Katniss with her bow/arrow in the training center. Can someone write me fic about all the Victors going out drinking together the night before the Games? Yes?
- Katniss and Peeta sleeping together on the trains. I thought for certain that would get cut, but it didn't.
- Something I missed: Katniss and Peeta getting twelves. Not necessary, I suppose, but we saw the hung Seneca as well as Rue painted on the floor. Probably confusing if you haven't seen the first movie or read the books.
- Loved every kiss in the movie. Katniss/Gale, Katniss/Peeta, Finnick/Mags, etc, etc.
- Something else I missed: any and all scenes between the Quell announcement and the Reaping. We didn't get to see them train! The movie was so short! Why was it shorter than the last one?
- EFFIE. Especially her scene at the Reaping bowl, and the night before the Games. And Katniss appreciating her desire to unite the team with gold. And her red dress, good lord. I would wear that in my real life.
- JOHANNA. Her voice was higher-pitched than I imagined, but she was perfect. Swearing on stage, yelling at Snow during the Games, having no one left she loves.
- Corollary: the elevator scene. YES. Katniss's face was phenomenal.
- Mag's death was good. I though the decision to have her never talk was a strange one, but I thought they nailed her, and her relationship with Finnick most especially.
- The use of Snow and Plutarch was particularly effective. I loved the way they wanted Katniss to fight dirty in the Games but she didn't, and the scene where she almost shot Finnick until he reminded her who her real enemies are was wonderful. I did love Finnick, even though I remember being highly skeptical when he was cast. I still... don't get the accent, but ok.
- Something else I missed: any other mention of the pregnancy after the interview. Haymitch and Effie bring it up that night, but no one mentions it in the arena, which is weird.
- Also, we don't get to see or hear anything about Haymitch's Games, which was emotionally devastating. And we don't get as much as I would've liked with him talking about the relationships the Victors have with each other, though it's there.
- The finale was always something I had a hard time picturing, but I thought they really brought it to life. I still don't entirely get Beetee's plan, but it worked for me.
- Katniss on the hovercraft, grabbing a weapon since she had no idea who she'd find on there. Katniss attacking Haymitch. Katniss, hearing Gale tell her there is no District Twelve. WHOA.
- My theater full of people were great! One weirdo quietly wolf-whistled the kisses (but waited an entire minute after the Katniss/unconscious Gale on a table kiss, which was strange) and the girls behind us were raised by wolves and only now allowed to interact with humans, but the theater clapped three times: once after Katniss blew up the arena, once at the end after the mockingjay art, and once when Phillip Seymour Hoffman's name card came up, which was adorable.