Normally, book adaptations are not my favorite. Mainly because everything gets skewed in translation and many things that I looked forward to seeing in the movie do not make an appearance. However, the Hunger Games was probably the first book adaptation (in which I read the book first) that I LOVED and left the theater very satisfied.
Going into the movie, I had very high expectations that the movie would follow the book and Jennifer Lawrence would give an incredible performance. Both expectations were met with flying colors.
The special effects for portraying the Capitol were unreal. The juxtaposition between District 12 and the Capitol was perfect! Also, all the costumes for the Capitol citizens were great as well. They jump straight into the beautifying and don't spend long on it which was smart. Also, the meeting with Cinna was brief but enough to get that he actually cared about Katniss.
The parade: the one problem I had with this scene was that it was kind of a big deal that Katniss and Peeta were going into the games as a team and we didn't really get that. Also, as far as I can remember, when they hold hands, it was sort of part of the plan but also because they were both nervous. This wasn't really the vibe you got in the movie. The costumes and the parade were awesome. Definitely how I pictured it.
All of the training scenes were great as well! Especially when Katniss shoots the arrow at the gamemakers. However, again, they were supposed to stick together in training and they often showed them apart working individually.
Going into the movie, I had very high expectations that the movie would follow the book and Jennifer Lawrence would give an incredible performance. Both expectations were met with flying colors.
The 'reaping' scene was definitely longer than I thought it would have been. A lot of time spent on reactions and all of the town piling in, which I thought could have easily been cut down. But other than that, the scene was executed amazingly! I love how they incorporated the message from President Snow to explain things to viewers who have no read the book. Both Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson's reactions were spot on!
One of the things I am noticing people did not like was the rapid cuts and shakiness of the camera in this scene (and mainly through out the whole beginning of the movie). I, however, loved that! I think it definitely added to the eerieness of scene.
Regardless in book adaptations, they have to condense things or just completely cut them out, which can either really hurt the movie or enhance it. With the train scene, they definitely covered all the important things and left it short and sweet. I do remember Peeta and Katniss struggling to sleep so maybe that should have been incorporated but all in all, not a big deal. We got that Haymitch was a hot mess and that Katniss and Peeta weren't cool with it. Awesome. Moving on.
The special effects for portraying the Capitol were unreal. The juxtaposition between District 12 and the Capitol was perfect! Also, all the costumes for the Capitol citizens were great as well. They jump straight into the beautifying and don't spend long on it which was smart. Also, the meeting with Cinna was brief but enough to get that he actually cared about Katniss.
The parade: the one problem I had with this scene was that it was kind of a big deal that Katniss and Peeta were going into the games as a team and we didn't really get that. Also, as far as I can remember, when they hold hands, it was sort of part of the plan but also because they were both nervous. This wasn't really the vibe you got in the movie. The costumes and the parade were awesome. Definitely how I pictured it.
All of the training scenes were great as well! Especially when Katniss shoots the arrow at the gamemakers. However, again, they were supposed to stick together in training and they often showed them apart working individually.
The only problem I had with the interview sequence was that when Peeta confessed his love for Katniss, she is supposed to be on stage with the other contestants, so everyone sees her reaction the news. In the movie, Katniss is off stage. After this scene, Katniss attacks Peeta for what he did, so then Peeta decides to work alone. However, this is news to the audience because they never really discussed working as a team. Also, a tiny flaw.
If anything the film got ridiculously accurate was the actual Hunger Games. Every single sequence was spot on. The 'tracker jacker' scene was exactly how I pictured it in my head and its kind of scary how closely they matched up. Rues death scene was incredibly sad (most of the theater was crying) and I think a lot of it had to do with Jennifer Lawrence's performance in this scene. The one change that I LOVED was that they gave us other people's perspective on the games rather than just Katniss's. I really love how they cut back to Seneca and the gamemakers actually creating the obstacles for Katniss. Also, the tiny glimpses of Gale through out the Games were great. I really love how they gave minor characters more of a role in the movie (ie: Gale, President Snow & Seneca).
The cave scenes were definitely executed well. Another one of those long sequences in the book that they had to cut down but they did it effectively. They did cut a lot of the kissing parts out which is fine but it wasn't really convincing what Katniss was trying to do, and I wouldn't blame that on Jennifer Lawrence, it was more the script. The thing I am surprised they left out was the fact Katniss had to trick Peeta into sleeping in order to go to "the feast" because he made it clear that he would not let her go. But again, it's a small detail and they got the rest of those scenes right.
Then we all know the end. I actually loved how they ended it in the movie because it leads into the second movie more than the book ending did. Plus, the book ending was not that great so they definitely made this ending more intese.
Overall, the cinematography was fantastic; some artsy creative shots but also some classical shooting as well. The sound mixing was incredibleeeee. Billy Ray should be awarded for Best Adapted Screenplay. Editing was great as well. The intense scenes were cut rapidly and the slower scenes had longer takes to make it more impactful.
Some things I wish they incorporated: Katniss and Peeta's decision to go in as a team in the training stages, in Peeta's interview when he says he's in love with her; she's on stage and not offstage so they can see her reaction, they find a place on the rooftop during training and it kinda becomes "their place" to get away.But these are all minor and did not bother me that much at all.
What was real interesting was the way that they got the brutality across by all the kids killing each other; especially with the beginning scene at the Cornicopia. It was a brutal scene but they showed it in the perfect matter. Not too graphic so its rated R but not to subtle where you completely ignore the fact that kids are killing each other.
I'm literally obsessed with how well they adapted this movie. It's actually quite scary how right they got it. It's definitely something the Twilight series should envy, considering I feel like I'm watching a completely different story with those movies. I would recommend everyone to go see it, even if you didn't read the book.
Rating: 9.5/10
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