AHOY, SPOILERS AHEAD!
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
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GO NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED!
Okay, so deep breath.
I finally watched The Hunger Games movie on Saturday night! Yay! I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for this movie to come out, and so I walked into the theater like a nerdy schoolgirl who's meeting Luke Skywalker for the first time.
Does that simile even make sense?
Hmm, moving on.
So here are my thoughts! In numbered form!
1. I cried twice.
The first time? I teared up when Katniss volunteered to take Prim's place during the Reaping. Gale scoops up Prim to take her to her mother but she screams out, "Nooooo!" Oh, the tears. The second time? After Rue died. Of course. How can you not cry when Rue died?!
2. Stanley Tucci = Amazing. Let's worship him.
The expansion of Caesar Flickerman's character from book to movie was 100% brilliant. Caesar's dialogue was such a wonderful way to explain to the audience what was going on in the Games and---let's face it---Stanley Tucci was awesome in the role. That smile. That charm. That smarminess. It was such a smart casting decision.
3. Another actor to worship = Jennifer Lawrence.
Three cheers for Jen Lawrence, eh? She totally brought her A-game to the role of Katniss Everdeen, fully embodying Katniss' resiliency, her strength, and her soft heart. One of my favorite scenes was during the lead-up to the Games when Katniss waits with Cinna before her entrance to the arena. You can just see the fear in Katniss' eyes and in the tremble of her hands. She doesn't have to say a word.
Is it okay for me to call her Jen? I hope so. :)
4. Team Gale.
I know, I know! I love Peeta too but I've always been a Team Gale girl at heart. It certainly helps that Liam Hemsworth is so darn attractive!
(How can the Hemsworth family produce such good-looking sons?! Are they descendants of Zoolander?!)
5. The Roman Empire Redux!
In the book, the Capitol is painted as garish and almost carnival-like but the movie opted for a darker tone. I especially liked how the director wove in a few nods to the Roman Empire: the chariots, some of the Tributes' costumes, and the modernizing of the Coliseum for the stadium scene. (At least, I thought the stadium looked like a modernized version of the Coliseum....)
6. Nepotism helps.
Every time I saw Jack Quaid (AKA Marvel) appear on the screen, I only had one thought running in my mind: "Your mom is Meg Ryan! Your dad is Dennis Quaid! This is why you're in this movie!" Good ol' nepotism.
7. Rue is black. Get over it.
Arghhhhh, racist people! *Eye twitch*
8. I missed a few scenes from the book....
Like when District 11 sends Katniss the bread intended for Rue. *Cries*
And Madge. I like Madge.
Or when Peeta's dad visits Katniss after the Reaping and gives her a bag of cookies.
9. But I loved the additions to the movie!
Like when District 11 rebels after Rue dies. Awesomeness!
And all of the scenes with President Snow. *Shivers*
Also, the behind-the-scenes glimpses of the Gamemakers at work. It gave the movie an uber creepy slickness that reminded me of reality shows that we watch everyday on our television sets.
I re-watched the film with my dad today and I enjoyed it even more. The first time around, I think my brain was far too analytical. Buttercup should be orange! I thought the tracker jackers would be bigger! Can I hire Stanley Tucci to be my best friend? But upon my second viewing, I could sit back and relax more, enjoying the movie as a movie instead of nitpicking all of the details.
And it was a great movie.
A really great movie.
It isn't fair that I have to wait a whole year for the next one!
*Cries*
*Sobs into Finnick's shoulder*
HOLD ME, FINNICK!
So what did y'all think of the movie? Thumbs up? Thumbs down? And no, you can't have Finnick. He is MINE!
