The Hunger Games

[aci01]

I personally think that they should not split up any of the books into two movies. Each book should be one movie.
And I'd not progress the story of the second movie into the 3rd book. I like the story of the 2nd book too much for it to be shortened.

Spoiler: spoiler from the 2nd book

I hope the 2nd movie will focus enough on the Capitol scenes before the Quarter Quell, I think those parts are hiliarious.

If the fans speculations are right and they split up the story at that point or anywhere else, in my opinion both part's script are going to need to have quite a few additional scenes to make the movies worthwhile/sufficient. They can do that, they already did it with THG, but this time they'll have to add even more and totally new scenes to them.

[Andrea Melissa]

@ConfessorPL: Finally read your review, thanks for sharing your opinion with us! I'm glad you liked it but I can't agree with all the negative points you pointed out. Like spirit said the movie was almost 2.5 hours long, there's no way they could give us a detailed version of the book. I wish though they would have sticked more to the book regarding the ending.
Rue pulling out the spear looked also unrealistic to me. I think it would have looked more realistic if Rue was thrown to the ground when she gets speared, but well, I never was hit by a spear myself so I can't truly tell.


@spirit: Forgot to mention that during my 3rd viewing I noticed that I was completely wrong with my perception of the moment when Peeta touched Katniss braid. When he does she actually turns her gaze to his hand holding the braid and then looks at his eyes (like reminding the two-braids story). I think she was looking at the distance before that moment because she was waiting for a reaction of the gamemakers.


I was also wrong about Prim's face on the mirror during the hallucination scene, the glass was not broken but deformed.

[spirit]

I think she was looking at the distance before that moment because she was waiting for a reaction of the gamemakers.

Yep, I also thought that over again and again until I came to pretty much the same conclusion. Jennifer's head turned too slowly for looking at someone who has just called your name ...

[ConfessorPL]

@ConfessorPL: Finally read your review, thanks for sharing your opinion with us! I'm glad you liked it but I can't agree with all the negative points you pointed out. Like spirit said the movie was almost 2.5 hours long, there's no way they could give us a detailed version of the book. I wish though they would have sticked more to the book regarding the ending.
Rue pulling out the spear looked also unrealistic to me. I think it would have looked more realistic if Rue was thrown to the ground when she gets speared, but well, I never was hit by a spear myself so I can't truly tell.

that why i write too:

The HG film had a lot of good and bad things, but all together make a good movie ..... i'm happy to see that they try hard to stick with the book i really am

my friend say that: cling to the details XD

[aci01]

I just reread THG from the first rule change announcement till the end.
Man, there're quite a few scenes I'd have liked to see happening on the movie. Hopefully there'll be deleted scenes on the DVD. I hardly can wait to see what kind of bonus features there're going to be on it.

Also I read some viewer comments about how much they would like if there were an unrated dvd version of the movie. I can live without that, but if there were one I'd watch that version too.

edit: What'd really like to see is an extended version of the movie, preferably 3.5 hours long.

[ConfessorPL]

ooo i wish too that on DvD will be some deleted scenes ** and some funny gags too

[Andrea Melissa]

@aci01:
I was hoping to see deleted scenes too when the movie comes out in DVD/Blu-Ray but according to this NY Times interview of the director Gary Ross, he won't include addional scenes on the DVD! Really disappointing! I hope at least for a blooper/gag reel! He means maybe the initial DVD release, they might add the deleted scenes in an extended version of the DVD to make more money!

If you had another half hour of film run time to use — assuming no consequences or complaints for the purposes of this question — is there anything you’d add to this first film? A cutting room floor wish? — Jenny B., Harlem, N.Y.

A.
Honestly no. The movie I put out is the movie that I want, and I wouldn’t add anything to the running time. Equally, I would never make a movie too short just for sake of running time. I think a director should stand behind the cut of their film. I won’t be putting “additional” scenes on the DVD for the same reason. That said, there are a few things that I didn’t have room for in the script just for reasons of a linear narrative. A good example of that is the Avox subplot in the novel. I loved what Suzanne did but couldn’t find a way to get it in the screenplay and it was never shot.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/20...-hunger-games/



By the way, according to the Box Office Mojo site, THG has made $364,933,000 worldwide during this 2 first weeks! Impressive!
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=hungergames.htm

[aci01]

Wow, really impressive box office numbers!

Hm, I hope what the director said about "no additional scenes" was to not scare away ppl from the cinema, to make sure ppl won't wait up until the dvd release to watch it. But it's probably just wishful thinking on my part.
But I can't believe there aren't any deleted scenes, it's impossible, he just won't going to cut them into an extended version.

[ATLGurl]

I'm A Gale fan, so I was stoked to find this footage straight out of Gary Ross' mouth. They are there, and he may not release them on a DVD, but they exist. Supposedly 20 minutes of deleted scenes. I don't remember what I was looking for when I stumbled across this, but there's a rather large library of face to face interviews with him on MTV. He totally sidesteps the question about the DVD's.

http://www.mtv.com/videos/movies/749...tml#id=1681035

Oh, and go buy some Duracell....sheesh! Commercials are abundant. Does that count as a spoiler?

[spirit]

Thanks for the link, ATLGurl!

Totally agree with Gary Ross about 3D. The content and the messages THG and its sequels are trying to get across are far more important than the cinematography. Still, the visual experience was absolutely great in the first movie IMHO.

Gonna watch the interview with Jennifer now ...
[Edit]
So love listening to Jennifer! She's always so likeable and she has such a clear voice. Understanding her is far easier than understanding Gary.

[aci01]

^^ Good to know that there are deleted scenes. I'm sure they'll put them on the dvd as bonus features.

Another interesting part of that interview you posted, ALTGurl, when Gary Ross says that he doesn't think 3D would be appropriate for this movie/franchise, because it'd turn us, the viewers into the Capitol if he makes a spectacle out of the Games. I kinda agree with it.

But I'm glad that the sequels won't be a 3D because I don't like when they shoot scenes in wierd, unnatural angles just so it'd look good in 3D, it always cheapens the movie in my eyes. I enjoy 3D when it somehow feels natural, not forced.

Thanks for the link, ATLGurl!

Totally agree with Gary Ross about 3D. The content and the messages THG and its sequels are trying to get across are far more important than the cinematography. Still, the visual experience was absolutely great IMHO.

Gonna watch the interview with Jennifer now ...

Just saw your comment, and I agree with it.

[ATLGurl]

http://www.wbtv.com/story/17346514/h...ale?hpt=us_bn5


Here's something else I found. I didn't know Disctrict 12 was filmed here. Anybody got 1.4Million?? LoL

[spirit]

Have you guys already seen this? There is even more on youtube ...




^^ Love that Jennifer is still wearing the "Katniss-braid" in the second video, and to see her speak more seriously about THG than she usually does.

BTW: Saw THG for the third time during my holidays in Styria, thus making it my personal record holder as the movie most watched in cinema.
Now, my appetite is assuaged until the release of the DVD in early fall ...

[ConfessorPL]

wow @spirit nice videos ^^ i enjoy to watch them thanks

[Andrea Melissa]

Missed you guys! Have been too busy lately that's why I haven't been around.

@spirit: Thanks for your PM, going to reply to you later when I get a chance! That is awesome that you watched THG a third time, now we are even! Watching the same movie 3 times on the big screen is my personal record too! I might watch it a 4th time shortly before they stop screening the movie at the cinema but I'm not sure yet.
Thanks for the videos you posted! I especially liked the behind the scenes of the Cinna and Katniss scene before the Games, I admire how Jennifer Lawrence conveys Katniss fear in that scene with her body language.

@aci01: I finished Mockingjay last week, really enjoyed it although it was a bit messy in some parts and the ending felt too rushed. I actually cried when I finished the book, I'm not sure why but I think it's because it was the last novel of the book series and I got really attached to the characters. Only the SoT and THG books have achieved to move me to tears.
*Book 3 Spoilers*:

Spoiler: [SPOILER

However, I didn't cry when Prim died because I knew she was going to be killed, I stumbled on a spoiler on Youtube before I read the book. I didn't know though WHEN she was going to die so I thought she was going to be killed when District 13 was attacked and she ran off to get her cat. I was like "Oh no, Prim can't die because of Buttercup!" I was relieved she didn't die because of him because I simply LOVE that cat! Forget Team Peeta or Team Gale, I'm totally Team BUTTERCUP! That cat not only survived the bombing of District 12 but achieves to return home at the end of the book! He's my hero! Prim's death near the end of the book was very powerful and emotional, she's one of my favorite characters so I was glad that at least she died as a hero.
Which were your favorite moments from the last book aci01?
My favorite parts: the scene between Buttercup and Katniss at the end when both are crying for Prim, Katniss visiting the hospital of District 8 and the epilogue (although it was a bittersweet ending it was realistic that neither Katniss or Peeta have completely healed their psychic wounds caused by the war but could go on with their lives together and even have children.

This morning on my way to work I was surprised to hear a German radio channel talking about THG movie, it's the second time I hear the radio talking about the movie. I had to LOL when the moderator spelled Katniss' name wrong: they called her KATRISS! They were saying THG is still the nr.1 film in Germany at the moment (in Luxemburg too by the way) and that Gary Ross wouldn't direct the sequel! I heard rumours before that Lionsgate was having issues to negociate with Gary Ross the sequel and turns out it's true: He's officialy not going to direct "Catching Fire"!

Here the official statement from Gary Ross:

Despite recent speculation in the media, and after difficult but sincere consideration, I have decided not to direct Catching Fire. As a writer and a director, I simply don’t have the time I need to write and prep the movie I would have wanted to make because of the fixed and tight production schedule.

I loved making The Hunger Games – it was the happiest experience of my professional life. Lionsgate was supportive of me in a manner that few directors ever experience in a franchise: they empowered me to make the film I wanted to make and backed the movie in a way that requires no explanation beyond the remarkable results. And contrary to what has been reported, negotiations with Lionsgate have not been problematic. They have also been very understanding of me through this difficult decision.

I also cannot say enough about the people I worked with: Producer Nina Jacobson, a great collaborator and a true friend; the brilliant Suzanne Collins, who entrusted us with her most amazing and important story; the gifted and remarkable Jennifer Lawrence whose performance exceeded my wildest expectations, and the rest of the incredible cast, whom I am proud to call my friends.

To the fans I want to say thank you for your support your faith, your enthusiasm and your trust. Hard as this may be to understand I am trying to keep that trust with you. Thank you all. It’s been a wonderful experience.

I have mixed feelings, Gary Ross did an awesome work with the first movie but on the other hand I'm not sure if he would be able to pull off the action scenes required for the sequels. Now I'm afraid they are going to hire a director who will bring us spectacular action scenes but who will lack to convey the emotion and reality that Gary Ross achieved in THG. The radio was talking about director names like Michael Bay for the sequel! I was like "WTF! I don't want THG to turn out like Transformers!" I know it's speculation from their part but now I'm seriously worried who is going to be hired! At least the main cast has signed for the sequels, THG sequels without Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss would be a disaster!
Who do you guys think could be a good director for the sequels?

[aci01]

Spoiler: My favorite moments from Mockingjay.

I'm such a girl, so most of my favorite scenes have to do with Katniss and Peeta, but also my least favorite parts are with her.
I loved when Katniss finally broke and realized how Snow using/hurting Peeta to break her, and how Prim and Finnick helped her understand and deal with that. I loved Prim in this book, how mature and wise she was, I should've known it means her days are numbered. But I kinda hated Katniss for how she dealt with Peeta's brainwash.
I was shocked when Prim died, I cried, but as you said it after that point the book got so rushed I hardly could keep up with it, so the end wasn't that satisfying as it could've been because of it. And the whole behind the scene politics and propaganda no matter how realistic it was and that it turned Katniss into a pawn of the Rebel leaders I didn't like that, well Katniss didn't like that either.

So, this book is my least favorite of the trilogy, because of all that politics. In the first 2 books Katniss was in control, she manipulated the Capitol viewers and the Districts with her own wits and actions but in the 3rd book she was the one who was manipulated.
I thought during the first 2 books, mostly the 2nd with all the Capitol scenes, that she'll defeat the Capitol by make the Capitol ppl understand how cruel the Games are and make them decide to end them and throw off Snow's goverment. But all her, Haymitch and Peeta's clever manipulations on the Capitol ppl didn't matter in the end. At least there should've been an uprising among them too againts the cruelty of the Games, but nothing.

I hope so too the new director won't be Bay.

[spirit]

Hey, Andrea! Missed you too ...

Got my books today and can't wait until my exam's over so that I can finally start reading:



That Gary Ross won't be the director of the sequel came as quite a surprise! Wasn't he talking about his plans for Catching Fire in an interview about a week ago?
I absolutely loved the way he approached the whole thing with THG, and I'm quite certain that he wouldn't have had troubles finding the right balance between action and emotional parts.

Seems the quality of the second movie isn't as important to Lionsgate as the commercial success. Why else scare away the director who did so well in the first one, and obviously knows that the scheduled time might not be enough to ensure a high quality in the sequel, with time pressure? Apparently they trust that people will watch Catching Fire anyway because The Hunger Games was so amazing ...

I just hope we'll get a worthy sequel which is at least on the same high level.

[aci01]

Seems the quality of the second movie isn't as important to Lionsgate as the commercial success. Why else scare away the director who did so well in the first one, and obviously knows that the scheduled time might not be enough to ensure a high quality in the sequel, with time pressure? Apparently they trust that people will watch Catching Fire anyway because The Hunger Games was so amazing ...

I just hope we'll get a worthy sequel which is at least on the same high level.

I also hope we'll get quality sequels.
Can't understand why a studio jeopardize a critically acclaimed movie/franchies by rushing production. Well, I know why, but still.
They must think the fans will accept any garbage they throw at them like the Twilight fans seem to.
OR the real reasons of Gary Ross's departure are not what that polite, "politically correct" statement says.

[aci01]

Here's an article. EW's speculations of who should direct Catching Fire.

I love Joss Whedon, he can really pull off "strong female characters" and show their inner sturggles. But I don't think he would do it or Lionsgate will offer him the chance. Too bad. I hope the new director will focus on the characters as much as the first movie not just on the action. I'd hate if the sequels would degrade to a simple action movie.

Also I've read thet Suzanne Collins won't or didn't co-write/help out with Catching Fire's script like she did with THG, so I fear that it won't be as faithful adaptation as THG's script was.

Spoiler: BTW, I just ran into the worst book adaptation I could imagine ever been made.

The movie Percy Jackson & the Olympians is the embodiment of the outrageous handling of a source material. The movie changed some things so irrevocably that I can't see how they could ever go back.
And I don't mean the character's age or hair color and reasonable changes that's something I can easily overlook, but the movie actually changed the reasons behind the events not to mention they changed the actual plot. They wrote the main villian of the entire saga out of the story. Imagined Harry Potter without Voldemort, that's how much they changed the story of PJ book.

In my eyes THG is the new golden standard of book adaptations.




edit: Joss Whedon's already "announced" he doesn't want to direct 'Catching Fire'. That was quick, but not surprising.

[spirit]

If Suzanne Collins isn't involved either, I'm really afraid about what we'll get to see ...

Even if the new director/main-writer is a master of his trade, he just won't have the same approach, and I can't imagine that story filmed in any other way. It was just perfect the way Gary and Suzanne did it.

[Edit]
Of all the directors suggested in the article you linked, aci01, Debra Granik seems the best choice to me, though I must admit that they are not just right about the pros, but about the cons too.