Just thought I'd put this out there because EVERYONE is using Hedlund as who's been cast. NO ONE has been cast yet. This is driving me crazy. My Goodreads is blowing up with "This person has been cast!" and "Justin Beiber as Finnick" (first off what effin drugs are you on to even believe that rumor?!?!?!) It was only just decided that Gary Ross will not be directing the next one. I'm not even sure they've replaced him yet. It's kind of hard to cast without a director... So once again, because this is turning into a huge pet peeve, FINNICK HAS NOT BEEN CAST YET! What everyone is getting there castings from is a site talking about fantasy castings! Nothing is official yet.
Of course the movie is going to be different from the book, and true to norm, the book is a LOT better. All-n-all though, I don't think it was too bad, and I'm definitely looking forward to the next three. (Mockingjay is being made into two movies; following the HP and Twilight trend.)
I get that because of movie time constraints that parts had to be tweaked or left out, but I really don't get why they changed some things. I did like some of the tweaks though just because it flowed better when it came to film and you can't get every detail in.
I'll just make a list...These are in no certain order, and include both the things that I liked about the movie and things I didn't:
***SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE WHOLE SERIES***
I get why they left out the Avox story. It's an interesting part of the book , but would have slowed down the pace of the movie.
Even though Madge becomes a good friend to Katniss, she wasn't really crucial to the storyline. I liked her, but it wasn't absolutely necessary for her to make it to the big screen.
An infuriating bit to me is that it sometimes seemed like they were leading the story to different conclusions. In the movie it doesn't really come across that Katniss has conflicting feelings for Peeta. They made it seem like she has already chosen him. Whimsical glances at Gale in the end just doesn't cut it.
Along the same lines as number three: Why the hell would they cut out the whole district token thing?! They hide the mockingjay pin and Snow comments on it at the end. I understand they are building up to Katniss being the mockingjay, but come on!
Cinna's part in the movie is all wrong. It makes sense to save time and not go into the prep team details, but Cinna is kind of crucial. If it wasn't for reading the books, I don't think I would have realized just how significant he is in the story and to Katniss. Also, I wasn't sure how Lenny Kravitz was going to do as Cinna, but he was pretty awesome. If only they would have expanded his character a little more...
The camouflage was pretty cool. I pictured really good camouflage in my head while reading, but the movie kind of took it beyond that.
The fight on top of the cornucopia seemed a little less climactic compared to how it was written. It was kind of a disappointment to me...
BIGGY! WTF IS UP WITH SENECA CRANE AND THE NIGHTLOCK?!?! How are they going to do the hanging Seneca dummy in the second one, if he doesn't hang?
It's dumb that such a teensy detail bothered me, but how hard could it have been for a Hollywood prop maker to come up with a crown that separates into two? Honestly. It wouldn't have slowed things down at all to show the right crowning of Peeta. Or to show A crowning of Peeta. Yes, the story is about Katniss, but Peeta won too, and the fact that it is a huge "eff you" to the Capitol, makes it a pretty significant part for him to have also made it out. They could have acknowledged it better.
I did love being able to see what was going on outside of the Games; like Haymitch working sponsors and the gamemakers at work.
Woody Harrelson made a pretty awesome Haymitch. Too bad they didn't have the time to show him fall off the stage. That and I don't get why Katniss and Peeta could't have already sort of known him though, like in the book.
The mutts at the end of the games sure didn't look like wolves....
One controversial topic that arose from this movie is that some racist morons got mad that Rue and Thresh were played by black actors. This is just my guess... But I imagine the reason they cast the way they did is BECAUSE THEY ARE BLACK IN THE BOOKS.
"And most hauntingly, a twelve-year-old girl from District 11. She has dark brown skin and eyes, but other than that, she's very like Prim in size and demeanor."âKatniss Everdeen, while watching Rue's reaping.
âThe boy tribute from District 11, Thresh, has the same dark skin as Rue, but the resemblance stops there.â-Katniss' description of Thresh.
And, honestly, since the book never said otherwise, I had assumed that Cinna was black because of his name. It obviously stuck cinnamon in my head and I pictured brown skin. I like that Suzanne Collins didn't feel the need to dwell on skin color. She describes the character, then moves on.
So... that all is my ramblings on the movie. I'm sure I could think of a lot of other bits, but nothing is coming to me at this moment.
SO! I have been thinking a lot about this blog, and I really want to get it rolling and see where it goes. Because The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is the current fad, I figured I'd start there!
Hunger Games: I have wanted to read this trilogy for a very long time, just never got to. So now that the movie is out, I decided now is the time so I can compare. I haven't seen the movie yet, but all I can say about this book is: WOW! It's amazing. An instant favorite. I would keep telling myself: "Just one more chapter, and I have to go to bed/do something around the house." But then the last sentence of the chapter would pull me in, and I'd HAVE to go on "Just one more chapter." And before I knew it the book was done, and I was onto Catching Fire. It just pulls the reader in! The characters and storyline are awesome! I love Peeta! Katniss is the strong girl I think anyone could side with, and girls reading wish they could be. It's hard not to fall in love with every character, really. You just want to hug and shelter Prim. Cinna is such a good friend. Haymitch is the drunk with good intentions. Gale was a bother for me, but only because I was so rooting for Peeta the whoke time. Even then, he was hard not to like and before you know it you're torn between love interests. (I'm still all Peeta though by the way lol) And Effie Trinket is lovably annoying... if thats possible. I can't give this book enough praise really. It really made me laugh out loud, get a little teary, and my jaw actually dropped at one point. I'm sure I was quite a site for others around me, but it's just so easy to get caught up in the story.
Catching Fire: At first I was a little worried that I wouldn't enjoy this book as much as the first. I figured without the Games, there would be less action. Wrong. I don't want to include spoilers, but this book was definitely not lacking in the action department. The whole love triangle thing in this book really bothered me though. It was just so back and forth constantly. I really just wished I could yell at Katniss to make up her mind already. Those two poor guys.
Mockingjay: This whole series demands attention. Really, my only problem with this book is that it was like the equivalent of climbing a mountain and randomly falling of a sudden cliff at the top. This book built up so much to just end too suddenly. It felt like it was action, action, and more action.... to sudden jump to a GLIMPSE of the future. The closure of it seems like it was just thrown in quickly to wrap it up and be done. It doesn't ruin my opinion about this book though. It was really, really good.
I finished the whole trilogy in a week. It could've been because I hadn't had a new book in awhile so I was starving just for more reading, but the way the end of every chapter left you hanging before the next, it was hard to find a place to put it down for long. I reread my books, but I like to put quite a bit of time in between reads so it doesn't seem boring. Until now. Never before have I put down the final book to a series and think "I just might go back and reread the whole thing all over again now." I grew so attached to the character's that I almost felt slightly depressed it was over. I really wish there was more to this series than the three books. I think there is a lot more to be told.
I am finally going to see the movie tomorrow so, even though this is a book blog, I'll probably do a review of it too , and keep up to date with the franchise here.
âHappy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!â
-Effie Trinketâ
âFairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.â
â G.K. Chesterton
I'm pretty obsessed with Goodreads. It's a pretty healthy obsession though... lol I think every reader should check out the website! Book clubs, new book recommendations, meet new people, and talk about books.
So... I've never blogged before, but have wanted to for quite some time now. I always want to talk and talk about books I'm interested in, but I have basically nobody who cares to listen so I think this would be a good way to spill all my thoughts and such about books. That being said, if this page is totally lame I apologize, because I'm new at all this. It may take time for me to learn the ropes and actually get into it.
âAnyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.â
â Albert Einstein
Anyways, I HOPE this works out!
Tiff
P.S. I'm aware that already my name is dumb but I'll work on that! lo
Ms. Bibliomaniac @lilmsbibliomaniac - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
