[Review] The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games promotional poster

So, I just watched The Hunger Games in TS quality which I downloaded it from here. I didn’t get a chance to see the movie in theater because when THG’s airing, I was busy preparing my final exam. I’m so excited to see this movie, because I’ve been reading The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins in the last few days. I managed to get the PDF version, so if you want them, you can download it here. I got interested in the book when my friend, @pipigo brought that book and tell me a bit of the story. (Thanks to her, anyway) Since I’m a huge fan of fantasy novel, I started to read the books right away and finished all of the three in less than a week.

Apparently, it was an epic book. I couldn’t believe that the author is a woman because there are so many scenes like war with all of its strategies, self-survival in the woods, even the archery and the snares knowledge. But then, what inspired the author was when she watched a war and a game on the TV, then the universe of Katniss and Peeta popped right away. Furthermore, her father once participated in the civil war, so she must be knew or told about some war things. Genius.

Synopsis

The Hunger Games sets in a world (or a nation) called Panem, with its 12 districts. Every year, each districts has to send a girl and a boy in the age of 12-18 to later be chosen as ‘tributes’ and down to the arena and fight to the death. There are 24 tributes in total, and the last standing man (with the others dead) will be the victor. District 12 sends Katniss Everdeen, a hunter who volunteered to replace her helpless 12 years old sister, and Peeta Mellark, an adorable baker’s son, who later bound to a game, literally game, of love, in order to survive in the arena and stay alive.


Adaptation

I know in every movie that is adapted from a book, it’s always the book which is more awesome. Well, of course, the filmmakers couldn’t put every details in the book into the movie. There’s character missing, though, like Madge, a friend of Katniss and also the mayor’s daughter. Katniss got the Mockingjay pin from the Hob instead of getting it from Madge.


The movie is quite fast-paced, the unimportant details is cut but every significant scenes are put neatly. Since I already read the book, I understand everything. I wonder if the others who didn’t read the book could catch it or not, because the movie is lack of exposure. It didn’t explain why Gale should put his name on the reaping for 42 times, and all the strategies Katniss made didn’t spoken out so it’s just like losing a bit of her cleverness. Unlike in the book, I really know how clever Katniss is, and how great the Game goes. The ending it’s a bit different from the book, they should be fighting on a tree instead of on a some kind of structure in the middle of Cornucopia. And the mutts isn’t creepy as I imagined, ha.

Anyway they add some scenes that’s not mentioned in the book (or probably it’s just me who missed it) like Seneca Crane speaking to President Snow while the game goes on. Oh, and the gamemaker’s room! With the hologram control and everything. It’s quite cool, though.

Above all, what disappoint me most with the film is… the romance scenes between Katniss and Peeta. Is it just me or Katniss is not quite seductive? I mean, she’s not cute enough to be a person who’s madly in love. I only feel a small  hint of chemistry between them. Too bad the rooftop scene is replaced only with a conversation in the window, because I would like to see Katniss and Peeta caressed by the wind under the stars and it’d be just romantic yet sad, right? :(

Script

Yes, the script! As I watched the movie, the dialogues from the book are still fresh, ringing in my ears. So when it came to scenes, I could almost guess what would the casts say. But several clever dialogues (at least in my opinion) are missing in the movie. They’re like:

• When Gale pulled Prim out in the reaping, he should’ve said “Up you go, Catnip.” Instead, he said nothing. Because Gale would be so cool when he said that, wouldn’t he?
• Caesar Flickerman, he didn’t say “Twirl for me,” when Katniss shows off her flame dress.
• When the gamemakers announced the change of the rules that there can be two victors from the same district, Katniss should’ve yelled “Peeta!” and when she found him on the mud, Peeta should’ve said something like “You here to kill me, Sweetheart?” (or something like that, I forgot) I like the way Peeta imitates Haymitch of calling Katniss ‘Sweetheart’, he’s just… cute? Lol.
• Again, when Katniss cleaned up Peeta’s wound, Peeta should’ve said “Since we’re madly in love, we can kiss whenever we want, you know.” Hahaha! That’s the line I really want to hear from Josh Hutcherson’s own lips!

Cast

The Tributes

• Katniss Everdeen: She’s potrayed by Jennifer Lawrence—who’s incredible. I couldn’t imagine anyone but her potraying Katniss. I heard Abigail Breslin (My Sister’s Keeper) and Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones) are considered to play Katniss as well, but they both got a squeaky voice, and they’re too lovely to be surviving in the woods. Jennifer’s as fierce as Katniss, but still beautiful as ever. Her heavy voice, and when she sings the birds would stop singing just like they did for Katniss’s father. Ah, she’s just perfect!
• Peeta Mellark: Oh, Josh Hutcherson is just fine, he’s lovable as Peeta should be. He’s quite geeky, and, yes, he’s fine, I like him.
• Gale Hawthrone: When Collins describes Gale, Taylor Lautner’sdelicious body crossed my mind instantly. Gale’s the strong and clever type. I shocked when I found out that Liam Hemsworth potrays Gale. Because Liam’s too stunning! Hahah, but I think Liam is just fine. He’ll make a wonderful appearance in the war scene on the second and third movie. I’m counting on you, Mr. Stunning! :P
• President Snow: One thing: fail. He should be more ruthless and mouthless (and beardless?). Like Voldemort, maybe. He just looks like an old man sitting in a chair, staring at his roses and, yeah, gardening. Not fearful as he should be.
• Haymitch: Oh, just as I imagined. A though mentor, but he’s less sober than in the book, isn’t he? Just have a real drink, Sir!
• Cinna: Perfect flamboyant type. I fancy his golden eyelids!
• Cato: Noooo! I imagined Cato looks like Ade Rai or even Hulk. Strong and ruthless. But then… Alexander Ludwig is too good-looking for a Cato! Nooo!
• Effie Trinket: As weird as I imagined, but I thought her hair would be more pink. I love the way she says “Welcome, welcome,” in the reaping, it’s just her signature (or all of the citizen of the Capitol’s).

Soundtrack

Too bad I watched the film  on my poor old laptop, so unfortunately I couldn’t really enjoy the music :( So I downloaded the album awhole, and I like most of the soundtracks. What’s catch my ear is Taylor Swift’s Safe and Sound. It keeps there, linger in my ears. And when I watched the music video, it’s AWESOME! Taylor’s so beautiful with her haircut!

Outfit

I know! I know everyone’s reaaally curious with Cinna’s genius designs! Katniss and Peeta’s costume in the first parade is just as I imagined, it really burns, wow. I wonder if it’s really flame or only some special effect. If it’s real, I would like to wear them hahaha. And then, Katniss with the jewelled dress, when she twirls. I thought the flame would be up to her chest or even chin, but it’s only on the edge of her dress? But that’s quite good, of course. And I’m really waiting Catching Fire the movie, when Katniss wears several costume for the Victors Parade. I guess it’d be more than that; it’d be a fashion show B-) And of course, the wedding dress she’ll be wearing in the interview session, and when it burns she’ll be transformed into a Mockingjay. Uh, such a clever clothing idea, dear Suzanne Collines!

Conclusion

Once again, a 143 minutes movie couldn’t contain everything in the book. So its absence of details and exposure like the missing appearance of the Avox, too quick-paced ending, and the lack of romance are just forgivable. The movie itself should have had a narrator, explaining Panem and the games and everything so the viewer would more excited to get into its world just like the fans of Harry Potter really get into the magic world, hahaha. (Anyway I’m not comparing this movie to any, because nothing, as far as I knew, is like The Hunger Games!) Overall, this is a good movie.

PS. PG-13 rating is quite acceptable because the bloodbath scene is just not as gore as it is in the book :P

Happy Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favor!


Download The Hunger Games!
Movie (500 MB, TS quality): IDWS
Indonesian subtitle: IDWS
PDF (English): The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay