K, saw it earlier. Not bad.

Camera was annoying in some places, but mostly when the wasps bit happened.

I was a bit annoyed at the characterization of Haymitch, in the books he seemed to like Peeta, but in this it was like they had everyone blatantly favor Katness, which in the books it was pretty different.

Also would've liked more characterization into Peeta, even if it was just a tad.

The film was worth watching I guess, especially since my gf didn't give me a choice.

 

I can take that back, since I never read the second book yet, but the Wiki for the Second book makes it sound really Horrible. While I agree the Post apocalyptic class warfare, plots are epic sauce... my main issue with the series is the emphasis on romance as a survival tactic. It sounds like a fangirl fanfiction.

Though the first book was admittedly thoroughly entertaining.

Is the romance really so mindbogglingly prominent in the second book? Based on the wiki description here.

 

Randomly jumping in: It was mentioned a few times that the Hunger Games are Panem's way of keeping people from rebelling. It's not. It's a punishment for their prior attempts at rebelling. It's Panem's complete control over resources, the economy, and transportation that keeps people from rebelling.

 

I know the hunger games were said to be a punishment but I thought it was a demoralizing move.

Were going to take your kids, and they will fight to the death for our amusement and your going to let us, because we own you, and you know it.

To dehumanize and make the idea of rebellion a ludicrous dream to never be uttered.

The districts at least from the first book almost sounded like enlarged POW camps. That's why Katnis and gale sneaking outside was so bad ass.

 

Contrary to Sree, I actually did think that the Romance played a rather large role.

Spoiler

I think that part of that may have to do with the fact that in the second book, and to a lesser extent the third book, there are lots of times when the plot and book seem very stagnant. As such the romance aspect gets focused on. I also didn't think that it was handled all that well because of how wishy-washy Katniss is. I understood that she really wasn't sure who she liked etc, but it still felt too much to me like teen drama. I think that the first book did a fairly good job of having her being cold and detached about it, using it as a method to win, but then parts of the later books its like she's just completely done a 180.

I realize that she is a teenage girl in the books, and maybe that's realistic (though I don't think so.) But, it still wasn't something that I enjoyed reading about, and combined with the slowed plots it was something that I probably won't read again whereas I could see myself rereading The Hunger Games. Just my two cents, and while everything Sree said was completely true I thought I'd add a different perspective to it.

 

I have to admit, I didn't experience any issues with the camerawork (unlike several of you, apparently). I didn't miss anything because of it and I wasn't sick at all...then again, Cloverfield didn't really affect me, either, so it could be just me.

The movie itself was pretty good, in my opinion. I was sort of dragged along and had no idea what to expect; what I got was an interesting story with acceptable visuals. I don't know if the movie deserves its hype, but that's sort of irrelevant.

I did really like everything about the Capitol and its society. Outlandish but cool.

 

I actually thought the romance was one of the best demonstrations of it I've ever seen in YA fiction. The reality of it is far more subtle in the film, likely to prevent alienating the tween audience.

Spoiler

For most of the trilogy, Katniss likes nobody. She is faking it; to manipulate the audience into responding favourably enough to send gifts of food, medicine, etc, to distract Peeta from the situation they're in, his wounds, and what she's really thinking. Even though she feels the occasional warmth, and there eventually grows some real emotion between them, there is certainly nothing solid between them. She knows this. Her sexuality is a tool she uses to her advantage.

This is both showing women as the manipulative evil bitches they can be, and as the genuinely good people they can be. The manipulation is all done to ensure her survival, and the survival of Peeta.

The Romeo and Juliet style scene towards the end with the poisoned berries is not one of star-crossed lovers. It's her way of saying fuck-you to the authorities which put them in this situation, and loomed over them in tyrannical oppression for all of their lives.

It's easy to kid yourself into thinking this is a typical girl-meets-boy, fluffy heart bumping ensues scenario. It's not. This was brave, realistic, and fascinating - with enough undertones that anyone juvenile enough to need crappy teen romance can delude themself into believing it's there, thus not alienating the Twitard fanbase with their omgfeelinz.

Yeah, there's a whole host of problems which I won't address, with both the novels and the movie. I won't even attempt to deny that. But think; we've moved from Twilight to post-apocalyptic Battle Royale with a side dose of manipulative murderous bitch in the space of a few years. This is very good. We're back in the right direction, and for all the flaws in the Hunger Games, I see the popularity of the series as immensely promising, and a sign that we're not as fucked as Twilight seemed to leave us.