As you are probably aware – I went to see The Hunger Games last night, along with hundreds of other exited young girls. I didn’t actually realise until I arrived at the cinema how much of a ‘girlie’ phenomenon it was, considering the elements of sci fi and action it upholds throughout. However, I suppose the aspects of romance balance this out!
Despite rather rude and obnoxious staff members at my local Odeon Cinema (this is always the case, not sure about you) I was anxious as I took my seat nevertheless, as I’d just finished the novel hours earlier and was hesitant as to whether the film adaption was going to ruin it for me. Luckily, this wasn’t the case at all – as the film really does the novel justice and portrays much of the action beautifully. Jennifer Lawrence really embodies the character of Katniss, as does Josh Hutcherson playing Peeta.
I was a little unsure at the casting of Peeta, as Josh has only previously starred in comedy films or Disney-esque teen flicks however by the time the credits began to roll, I was officially obsessed. He really reflects how the character of Peeta was portrayed in the novel, kind hearted, good looking and perhaps a little misunderstood. If you don’t like the sound of The Hunger Games, just go and see it for Josh Hutcherson. He looks great with blonde hair!
The portrayal of The Capitol and their wacky style is amazing to watch, and it really delves into the idea of a futuristic ruling class with gadgets to rival those in James Bond. I won’t spoil it for you – but the overall effect of the film is that you want to jump into the action and help Katniss win. It really does keep you on the edge of your seat and Jennifer’s portrayal of Katniss means you are rooting for her safety from the very beginning.
The film adaption inevitably cuts out a few scenes of the novel, but keeps up much of the fear and anticipation felt by Katniss as she approaches The Hunger Games arena. Stylists Cinna and Portia are portrayed flawlessly, as is Haymitch (although I thought he was a little too sober in comparison to the novel). The casting in the film was excellent, however I hadn’t imagined Cato to be blonde and attractive, as I’d pictured him as a giant brute.
Jennifer Lawrence is great at playing the heroine, as she has previously displayed by her role in X-Men: First Class earlier last year. She is beautiful in an unthreatening way, but has a really powerful presence about her. Something about her tells me that she’s very different to other Hollywood stars and I wish her all the best of luck in her future ventures!
The only criticism I could make (if I was really being picky) would be the filming style in certain places. Whilst depicting certain scenes, they judder the camera (albeit to make it look more authentic) but it can leave you feel a bit dizzy and confused. It’s quite hard to tell what’s going on when the camera is shaking so much, as it really juxtaposes against the beautiful shots of Katniss and Peeta.
The ending (I won’t ruin it for you, don’t worry) leaves it open for the next film (coming out November 2013). The two year gap between films is probably due to the aging of characters between novels one and two, which in comparison to other series (such as Twilight and Harry Potter) seems a fair amount of time.
If you are wondering what the fuss is all about, you can catch up on the book series here. Otherwise, the film is in cinemas for the next month or so – so if you do have the opportunity to see it, I would recommend it 110%!
What do you think? Did you enjoy the movie or was it a let down in comparison to the novels? Do you think it is vital to read the novels in order to keep up with the fast paced storyline? Or do you only have good things to say about it? Let me know!