Hail, hail! The Games gang's all here!

[wisteria_]

My brain refuses to write a proper review of The Hunger Games, so I'm just going to do some assorted thoughts -- and I have a lot of 'em! Of course this has spoilers for the movie. I did include a few spoilers for the next two books, but they're vague, at the end, and clearly marked.

Comments

[brightcupenny]

Actually, I agree with you on both Taylor Kitsch and Kristen Bell. Like 'em fine, don't want 'em as Finnick and Johanna. For me, they just don't fit.

[wisteria_]

I was never a huge fan of Riggins or Kitsch on FNL, so I'm biased here. ;) For Finnick, my objection is based more on personality. Kitsch can do cocky, and he's sexy (though he doesn't appeal to me), but I just don't see him working with Finnick's brighter cockiness, for lack of a better term. I imagine him more as how Cato and Marvel came across onscreen.

[liliaeth]

I don't know enough actor names to have any specific ideas on who should play Finnick and Johanna, other than that I feel that Johanna should be poc. Even if only to give the movie more poc chars in a major role that actually survive up to and beyond the third movie. And considering that Johanna's skincolour isn't mentioned in the books, there's no reason she has to be caucasian

[wisteria_]

ITA. It would be a great opportunity to feature a prominent (and awesome) character who isn't Caucasian.

Incidentally, someone on one of the blog posts -- can't remember which -- was concerned that Wiress or Beetee might be played by an Asian-American, which could play into the "Asians are good with technology" stereotype. I can see the issues there, though I still think more diverse casting is good anyway.

[liliaeth]

I have to admit, in my dreamcasting, Finnick would be played by an Asian or Native American. Bronze skin could easily fit either of those. (hey if olive skin can be seen as caucasian...) It would be an awesome signal to kids everywhere if the hottest guy in Panem was poc.

(still think that Steven Yeung would make an awesome Finnick)

[wickedgillie]

See, now for some reason, I thought Johanna was very specifically fair and blonde per canon, so the visual casting didn't bother me at all for KB. Then again, I am probably due for a re-read of Catching Fire. I've only read it the once so far.

[elly427]

I am the only person in the entire world yet to see this movie.

[elzed]

No, I'm there too!

[wisteria_]

Hee! Why have you not been yet? Still finding the time? :) It's a lot of fun, and hey, it's so successful that it'll be around for a while!

[latteaddict]

Yes, more FOOD! The districts looked poor enough but now that you mention the food I'm thinking they didn't stress just how starved everyone was. The fact that Katniss and Gale hunted seemed like a fun time they shared as opposed to it being a necessity to keep their families alive. And though it was hinted at, it wasn't made particularly clear that kids had their names in so many times because their family bargained them off for more provisions. So while the train ride and the Capitol looked opulent, the excess of food seemed muted. I still wish they'd shown Katniss getting the loaf of bread from district 11.

The script version of the bread scene didn't make much sense, so I'm glad they just made it into brief flashbacks, even if those didn't make sense either.Yeah, I was hoping for a more poignant moment and if I hadn't read the books I would've missed just how special that moment was supposed to be. And I think Katniss looked more sick than starved sitting there in the rain. Ah well, the books and movie are perfect companions. The

[wisteria_]

I can buy that some things were cut for the sake of expediency, but the *hunger* aspects really didn't come across onscreen. Instead of eyeing the food on the train, why not have her diving in despite her determination to scorn it all? The loaf of bread would've also been great, though I guess Gary Ross chose to condense that whole sequence by showing how Rue's death incited the rebellion instead. Hmm.

FWIW, the early draft of the script had (I think -- been a while since I read it ) Peeta giving Katniss the bread in the Hob when they're both older than 12... which is wrong on so many levels! The version they shot was meaningful to us because we understood what was going on, but it probably didn't make sense to newbies.

And yeah, bring on Catching Fire!

[swlangley]

Was I the only one going, Man I wish I could watch Mockingjay? I mean, don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the movie a lot, there were a lot of nice details that I really enjoyed, but the entire time I kept wishing I could watch Mockingjay.

[wisteria_]

Hey, me too! But then we seem to be the only ones who actually LIKED Mockingjay. ;) It's going to be so challenging to film, though, and I'm not surprised they might split it in two.

[liliaeth]

Not the only ones, Mockingjay is my favorite of the three books

[swlangley]

Same here! It has its problem, as do all of them, but it's still good. Plus I like the whole "Yes the capitol people should have a Hunger Games, For Prim" type thing. Its the best example of Haymitch and Katniss' short hand language.