Hunger Games: The Movie!

Wow, first of all I loved it. The movie didn't feel rushed, if anything it pushed the limits on running time. I felt like the important events from the book were all present. I think Gale is too much of a hottie and giving Peeta a real fight for the title of "favorite boy."


I loved the actors. Considering there are a lot of children in this movie they did a great job of finding talented actors. I didn't feel like anyone was picked just for the look of the character, they also had to be able to act. I mean the girl playing Katniss has been nominated for an Academy Award! And let's face it...I LOVE Stanley Tucci!!!! I think Rue and Thresh were awesome as well. I could totally see that boy being upset about Rue.

The Games. Between the game makers and the action, I was pretty happy with how the actual game went. There were a couple changes but nothing I didn't understand. Meaning, I don't think some of the kids expected to watch this movie would have done too well after...if the Mutts at the end were as gruesome as they appear in the book. I am a bit disappointed about the missing scene from Katniss and Peeta as they are brought to the hover craft at the end of the games. But as I mentioned before, the movie was LONG I can see how that would be an easy transition to cut.

Really, my biggest problem was the relationships. The movie really didn't develop any of the complicated relationships between the characters very well. One minute Katniss doesn't want anything to do with Peeta as a teammate, and the next she's upset because he doesn't want anything to do with her as a teammate. You don't get anything from Gale. He's there, he's not there, and he's there again. Nothing. I also had trouble with Cinna and Kaniss. She seemed to trust him very quickly, but you don't see why or how that came about. A short conversation does not a true friend make. I understand this is a complicated movie to make, but considering how long they let the movie go on...I feel like we should have been able to get more out of these connections. I will say that Seneca Crane and President Snow talking about the Games in his garden was amazing. I feel like I got a better understanding of how President Snow ticks than I did of how Gale did. I hope to see some of these relationships develop more fully in the next movie.