Hungry for More: Hunger Games Movie Review by Alison, Teen Blogger
I went and saw the Hunger Games movie last Sunday night with a friend. Both of us being big fans of the book, we had the highest hope for the film. I am happy to say that we were not disappointed by the film in the slightest! It was incredible. Those of you who have read the book know that a lot of the book is in Katniss’ head, thoughts that tell the reader what is happening and how she is planning her next move. Director Gary Ross found a great balance of action and cinematography to try and portray the thoughts of Katniss. Ross did something really smart when he decided to show scenes in the game maker’s room. It really struck me just how horrific The Capitol really is as we watched the game makers place burning trees and mutts into the area with such ease and zero regret.
The acting in this movie was actually really good. I expected Jennifer Lawrence to do a good job, she is an Oscar nominee after all, but the one casting that I was unsure of was Josh Hutcherson as Peeta. All I could think about was some of his past roles in flicks like RV and Bridge to Terabithia. I had a hard time envisioning him as Peeta. Hutcherson, however played the role of Peeta perfectly. Although Woody Harrelson put on a good show as Haymitch I had always thought of Haymitch as more of a drunken Dr. House. I don’t know if anyone else agrees with me in that, but I think that Hugh Laurie would have been a great Haymitch. All in all the cast was great, Elizabeth Banks made a hilarious Effie Trinket and Lenny Kravitz as Cinna was too cool for words.
The sets and special effects are what made the film for me though. Between the coal-filled dreariness of district twelve and the high-tech tribute training facility in The Capitol, all of it was what I had pictured it to be in my mind.
You could really believe that these places exist in the world and that there really was the technology to drop a digital tree onto a digital map and have a very real tree appear simultaneously into a very real landscape.
I am very happy as a fan of the books to be able to say that the movie did the books justice. Although missing some parts from the novel, they where not really missed in my opinion. Everything that was cut had a reason to be cut and they kept everything they needed. I would give this movie 4.5 out of 5.
Looking for something to read while
we wait for Catching Fire to hit theatres? Fellow teen blogger Emily has
written a blog dedicated to what to read after the Hunger Games! (http://halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/teens/blog/untitled-resource3.html)
I have one trilogy to add to her list though! I highly recommend the Matched
Trilogy by Ally Condie. The last novel is due out in November this year!
Teen blogger,
Alison
