A Hunger Games Fan Journey - Day 3

To top off the coolest week ever, I had my tickets all ready and purchased for Thursday night: the day myself and millions of fans around the world had been looking forward to. The midnight release of The Hunger Games was finally here! Much of the day was spent conversing with other fans, especially since I arrived around 5PM with just about seven hours remaining until the movie. The casting choices for the film were almost unanimously adored, especially the main three, Peeta, Katniss, and Gale.

The trailer were pretty awesome, that is up until the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 popped up. I am an avid lover of the movies and hater of the books, but that trailer was definitely awful. From the second the Summit logo popped up, everyone was booing unenthusiastically, and then right when Taylor Lautner appeared, the boos turned to screams. Go figure. Either way, by the trailer’s end, everyone was laughing, and I do sincerely mean everyone. It just goes to show you that by now, Twilight is unanimously considered to be a big joke, but everyone keeps watching them.

Then the movie starts, and I’m sold from the opening scene. While many of the fine little touches here and there won’t mean too much to the average moviegoer, I picked up on plenty of subtle touches added in from the book. Peeta making the little ‘X’ across Cato’s arm just before Katniss shoots him; the mockinjay pin being a symbol of hope, despite the lack of explanation with its backstory; President Snow clipping white roses; a chaotic scene in District 11, and many, many more.

As far as acting goes, every single person in the cast is utter perfection. Some actors I wouldn’t even imagine filling the perspective role, and then somehow, they are just perfect. Lenny Kravitz as Cinna? I would never have thought him in that role would work in the slightest (I was thinking someone more along the lines of Tom Hiddleston) but somehow… he brings all the tenderness and love that Cinna has in the book and uses limited screentime to his advantage. The same could be said about Elizabeth Banks, who is nearly unrecognizable as Effie Trinkett. It’s as if she walked right off the page and into the movie with her crazy outfits and hair.

Supporting players aside, Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence have got some killer chemistry together. The whole time spent inside the cave was my absolute favorite chunk of Suzanne Collins’ book, and in the movie it is portrayed so beautifully. I couldn't envision a better Peeta or Katniss if my life depended on it. The romance is totally believable, and comes out very naturally. Josh Hutcheron has a very natural screen presence and is undeniably one of the strongest talents in the movie. He imbues a real sense of love and charisma in Peeta, with just as much power on the page as in movie screens. Jennifer Lawrence is also quite good as Katniss, bringing subtle nuances into her performance and coming off strongest whenever she is on screen with Prim, or defending Peeta.

Once we get into the arena and see all the brutality on display, director Gary Ross really lets loose with plenty of shaky cam/close up shots that really convey a sense of closeness and dread. If I could pick one single thing that was my favorite about this movie adaption, it would definitely be the camera, which seems to fit every single course of action. I also loved the very lax use of a soundtrack, as it makes everything all the more disturbing.

Rue. Rue. Rue. I can’t handle that scene. I couldn’t handle it in the book, and I certainly couldn’t take it in the movie. There are several more moments of tugging on your heartstrings (including the very effective Reaping scene showcased in the trailer), but much of the shock and awe of this film is the amount of love and care for Collins’ work and what has been added to perfect little hiccups here and there. I loved how much more they added in the film as kind a precursor to both Catching Fire and Mockingjay, especially with adding more of the dangerously evil President Snow.

They got everything from the book spot-on while making a few minor changes here and there. Compared to massive plot overhauls in films like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire or Eragon, you can’t have a much more perfect book-to-movie.I think it might be my favorite book-to-movie… ever. It was really that good.

Impeccably perfect in every way, this is one franchise that I will be anxiously anticipating before each release. I plan on seeing it again this week and at least several other times before it leaves theaters. When the film ended, not only did the audience erupt into clapping and hollering, but there was a definite energy and overall feeling from things I had overheard and from friendly chat: book lovers or not, everyone loved this movie.

I couldn’t imagine a better way to end by crazy 3-day journey than with seeing what is undeniably the best film possible that could have been made from Suzanne Collins’ material. Who would have thought it would go on to become the highest-opening non-sequel of all time? November 2013 here we come! Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!