With the recent release of the movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins's "The Hunger Games," it has generated much hype and excitement, as expected with any teen movie blockbuster (Think Twilight meets Harry Potter). Where the book generates great character development and special relationships between the audience and the characters, the movie unfortunately falls short. Like any movie adaptation, it will never replace your emotions and feelings for the book. While you would expect the movie to somewhat meet your expectations, it doesn't even come remotely close. As someone who has read and thoroughly enjoyed the books, it seems like another terrible Hollywood remake.
Here's my biggest gripe: Character Development. As someone who is interested in cinema, being able to tell a story where the audience can understand, relate and emphasize at an emotional level with the character is extremely critical. In the book version, Katniss was this strong heroine-type figure, yet nervous and vulnerable on the inside. Her father's death is what gave Katniss the strength to sacrifice her life for the most important thing in her world: her family. While dealing with poverty and oppression, being there for her sister and taking care of her family is what let Katniss to persevere though these hard times. Katniss had to act like a women in a teenager's body. As a reader, I not only emphasized with Katniss's struggles, but I felt like I was listening to her inner thoughts. That's character development. The only glimpse of that in the movie is in the Reaping scene, where Katniss sacrifices her life for her sister. However, even that is fast forwarded. The movie focused on the "Games" part of the book, which is fine. However, it's Katniss's strong moral and family values that allow her to preserve through near death experiences and win it all.
In perspective, this movie will probably not win an oscar. All jokes aside, this was a great movie for those who just want to see a fast paced and action pact movie. However, for those who loved the dark undertones and the great character development of the book, you for sure will be truly disappointed. There were themes and parts of the books that were just flat out missing in the movie. At the end of the day, what do you expect? This is just another over-hyped teen love/action movie, not something done by the likes of Hitchcock, Scorsese, or even Malick to name a few ( this is certainly not "The Tree of Life"). So just sit back, relax, and let the disappointed wash over you with this movie adaption of Suzanne Collins's, "The Hunger Games."
ALthough I disagree, I think your points are REALLy strong. Also, I see completely what you're saying about character develpment.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Joey. There was a lot missing. But isn't your last line a bit harsh? With all this in mind, just "let the disappointed wash over you?" I think some people really enjoyed the movie. I've heard from someone that her class cried during the scene where Rue died. I didn't quite get there myself. Usually, if I'm really into something, I would cry.
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ReplyDeleteI agree also with you, but I don't think that the last line was at all harsh. I mean the movie wasn't compared at all to the book. I mean it is great to watch for fun, like you have mentioned, but there are so many tiny details missing that the movie has no character development at all. Some scenes were okay but overall the movie was okay.
Deleteonly fans of the book would understand...this sums it all up...there isn't anything serious about this film or any of the following ones, it's truly just a Hollywoodization. Oh if this movie were done more seriously and indy, it would end up being one of the greatest works of all time
ReplyDeleteChiming in late...sorry Having read the books, Im going to spare myself the movies. Although its a step up from Twilight, thats not saying much. Katniss lacks any type of development in fact shes a Mary Sue, albeit a stronger Mary Sue but one nonetheless. Honestly she gets lamer(just my .02) with each progression. The plot was predictible: Typical dystopian future where anybody who's rich is bad and willing to exploit people peceived as lower than them(jerks) and everyone whos poor is good, almost saintly hard working and oppressed which someone from the oppressed class becomes the hero or heroine in this case by some kind of action inciting the "poor oppressed masses" to rise up. Kids being taken to the middle of nowhere to kill each other....seen it Battle Royale. And it kind of irked me that Ms. Collins selfishly and falsly claim her idea as original, compared to Koushun Takami who made no secret of being a fan of Stephen King. I agree with a previous poster that the Hollywoodization makes it worse. If it were done indy it probably would have been more palatable.
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