redwoodalchan (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
redwoodalchan) wrote2013-05-08 11:06 pm
redwoodalchan) wrote2013-05-08 11:06 pm
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Oh, yeah--last weekend I finally got around to watching the Hunger Games movie!
Just so you're aware, I knew next to nothing about the actual content of the Hunger Games story before I saw this movie. My only experience with it comes from the movie, so if I misinterpret something or make a note of something that was done differently in the books, that's why.
So, I know that The Hunger Games is often compared to that Japanese story Battle Royale, but now that I've seen both movies, I actually think that while there are plenty of similarities, they're minor enough that they could very well just be coincidence.
Let's see.... Well, first of all, I think it was kind-of neat how the tributes, who had spent most of their lives in poverty owing to the totalitarian state, basically got to experience luxury beyond their wildest dreams upon being selected (hence why those in power view it as a good thing). Of course, the fact that the tributes are basically selected at random kind-of lessens the impact of that a bit. I think it'd be pretty cool if people volunteered because they simply couldn't bear to live in abject poverty anymore. But I just generally love the idea of tribute selection being treated as an honor--I have a soft spot for stories that present situations in which characters are trained to view their imminent death as a good thing.
Katniss and Peeta were the most insipid protagonists. I feel like literally any of the other characters who had any screen time at all would have been more interesting. I think Haymitch and Effie were my favorites (especially Haymitch) because they were just pretty fun (I loved Effie's "They don't get to have dessert and you do" line when she's speaking of the District 1 tributes). I also feel like there's got to be more to Effie, at least, than meets the eye. Cato was pretty neat, particularly toward the end. I'm not sure what I thought of him and the rest of the District 1 tributes killing people like it was perfectly normal. On the one hand, it's appropriate to the setting, but on the other, it's only toward the end that we get any clues as to why they act that way--and only from Cato; we know next to nothing about any of the others.
Cinna was pretty cool too, though I think I might have liked him a bit more if he were less unambiguously friendly and helpful.
Rue was adorable, but I feel like she wasn't really developed well enough for me to feel anything much for her. Somewhat interestingly, what really struck me was when they showed projected images of all the dead tributes--I just found it strangely affecting, even though I didn't know who most of them were.
Of course what was really interesting about this movie is that the whole point of the Hunger Games was that the elite of that world can gain pleasure out of watching the kids perform and die. Due to the nature of the film it also sort-of forces you into that role, where you have to watch Katniss show off and try not to die. It's definitely an interesting story to adapt to film, in that regard.
So, I know that The Hunger Games is often compared to that Japanese story Battle Royale, but now that I've seen both movies, I actually think that while there are plenty of similarities, they're minor enough that they could very well just be coincidence.
Let's see.... Well, first of all, I think it was kind-of neat how the tributes, who had spent most of their lives in poverty owing to the totalitarian state, basically got to experience luxury beyond their wildest dreams upon being selected (hence why those in power view it as a good thing). Of course, the fact that the tributes are basically selected at random kind-of lessens the impact of that a bit. I think it'd be pretty cool if people volunteered because they simply couldn't bear to live in abject poverty anymore. But I just generally love the idea of tribute selection being treated as an honor--I have a soft spot for stories that present situations in which characters are trained to view their imminent death as a good thing.
Katniss and Peeta were the most insipid protagonists. I feel like literally any of the other characters who had any screen time at all would have been more interesting. I think Haymitch and Effie were my favorites (especially Haymitch) because they were just pretty fun (I loved Effie's "They don't get to have dessert and you do" line when she's speaking of the District 1 tributes). I also feel like there's got to be more to Effie, at least, than meets the eye. Cato was pretty neat, particularly toward the end. I'm not sure what I thought of him and the rest of the District 1 tributes killing people like it was perfectly normal. On the one hand, it's appropriate to the setting, but on the other, it's only toward the end that we get any clues as to why they act that way--and only from Cato; we know next to nothing about any of the others.
Cinna was pretty cool too, though I think I might have liked him a bit more if he were less unambiguously friendly and helpful.
Rue was adorable, but I feel like she wasn't really developed well enough for me to feel anything much for her. Somewhat interestingly, what really struck me was when they showed projected images of all the dead tributes--I just found it strangely affecting, even though I didn't know who most of them were.
Of course what was really interesting about this movie is that the whole point of the Hunger Games was that the elite of that world can gain pleasure out of watching the kids perform and die. Due to the nature of the film it also sort-of forces you into that role, where you have to watch Katniss show off and try not to die. It's definitely an interesting story to adapt to film, in that regard.