I know, I know, this is long overdue but please understand
that I've been living a hectic life as a student and my mind has been occupied by
this dead white man named J.D. Salinger for days now. But I finally have
managed to see The Hunger Games, the much-anticipated adaptation of the widely popular novel series of Suzanne Collins, directed by Gary Ross.
The casting director was Debra Zane and we must give her the
credit for doing her job all right. Let’s begin the analysis with the
supporting characters. Woody Harrelson gave justice to the role of Haymitch
Abernathy although he didn't look drunk in most of his appearance in the movie
unlike in the book, but that was something I understand because his
participation in Katniss’ survival was more essential in the story. Lenny
Kravitz was my only complaint about the characters because he was not what I imagined as Cinna, for he’s too much of a guy to be
Cinna. It’s hard to imagine that a very manly guy could be a stylist—forget
about his being a stylist; he didn't even look like a Capitol citizen. His gold
eye liner didn’t make quite an impression at all. Elizabeth Banks was ideal for the role of Effie Trinket. From looks to manners, she was Effie Trinket.
Especially in the way she talks, which was very odd and comic, which was very
Effie. Donald Sutherland was good as President Snow, with a silent fatality
that made the viewers fidget. Stanley Tucci did a great job as Caesar
Flickerman, with his smiles and grimaces and easy banters that made the show
light and fun, and made us forget that this was about a game of life and death.
Wes Bently’s portrayal of Seneca Crane was a bit of a stretch because Seneca wasn't really mentioned in the book—I’m talking about the first book alone—but
his rather large appearance in the film was a nice one because it made the
viewers see how the game makers work and especially, how deathly President Snow
is. Willow Shields and Paula Malcomson were very suited as sister and mother of
Katniss. I liked how they look much alike, with their blonde hair and round
blue eyes, they made Katniss looked like an adopted child as the book
described. Amandla Stenberg was also great as Rue as well as Dayo Okeniyi as
Thresh and Alexander Ludwig as Cato.
Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson played the characters of
Gale and Peeta. I’m aware that there’s a lot of you who didn't prefer Josh
Hutcherson as Peeta, but we have to give it to him because he played Peeta’s
character so damn well, with the apparent fear on his face when his name was
picked in the reaping, the innocent smile he made for the Capitol citizens, the
funny yet heartfelt interview he had with Caesar Flickerman, and the love and
care he showed towards Katniss, he was, without a ghost of a doubt, Peeta
Mellark. (I fell half in love with him at the end of the film if you want to know
the truth.) That was the reason even though Hemsworth was fantastic as Gale, I
liked Hutcherson, and I loved Peeta—so much. But let’s not forget that this is
Jennifer Lawrence’s movie. I honestly didn't like her as Katniss the first
time I laid my eyes on her, with her blonde hair, blue eyes, and alluring body,
it was hard to picture a very hot chick—she “originally” looked so much of a
lady, I tell you—as famished and savage. But when I saw her all made over as
Katniss, I truly was in shock. I was thinking, “Is that…Jennifer Lawrence?? Oh my, that’s not Jennifer Lawrence, that’s KATNISS EVERDEEN!!!” She was
exactly the girl that I imagined when I was still reading the series, with the
sad and tough look on her face, the way she moves with dexterity, the way she
fights with obvious experience, and the way she talks with a suppressed angst
in her voice that makes you step back. Her portrayal of Katniss was nothing
short of perfection. Jennifer Lawrence was Katniss Everdeen. She brought it on
with a bang.
Enough said about the characters, let’s now take a good look to the development of the plot. The cliché about the book being better rings
true in this case. The movie was good but the book was highly exceptional. Some
say you should see the movie first before you read the book so you won’t be
disappointed. But I say you should read the books first before you see the movie so
you’ll have compassion to the progression of the story in its entirety, for the movie didn't turn out as a living, breathing brainchild of its own. I
actually prepared myself that some parts of the book won’t be included in the
film and the relationship development among the characters will be somewhat
rushed because we must consider the fact that reading a whole novel takes more
than two and a half hours. Thus, those weren't the things that made my eyelids
drooped. It was more about the inaction of the game. Come on, it’s The Hunger Games, the tributes were supposed to be
killing each other and fighting for their dear lives but they seemed to be in
no real danger. I was expecting to see lots of suspense and gore but I didn't meet that expectation. To tell you the truth, the scenes that I pictured in my
head when I was still reading the book were more terrifying than the scenes in
the film. And the cave scene between Katniss and Peeta--that was so poignant in
the novel--was seemed too rushed. But
on the bright side, I must commend Gary Ross for capturing the most important details of the plot.
The set of the movie was awesome in any way. The arena was the
same as I imagined it, and you can really see the poverty and despair of
District 12 in contrast to the richness and extravagance of the Capitol. The costumes and makeup were also amazing, especially the bizarre fashion of the Capitol.
So for all the craze that The Hunger Games has created. I leave you with this: It is The Hunger Games damn it! Pull that
one-hundred-sixty bucks out and watch the film!—although I still
think that you should read the books first before you see the movie. If it
happens that you don’t used to read novels, then reading The Hunger Games Trilogy would be a very good start. Don’t you
worry; the books are so superb you could devour them in less than a day. I kid you
not.