So, I finally got to go see The Hunger Games! It was quite an experience for me. I was in a real tizzy because I was running late on my way to the theater. I did not want to miss the previews---I was looking forward to them just as much as the movie! I simply had to see the previews for The Host and Breaking Dawn: Part 2.
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| Sheldon in his "spot" |
After speeding the entire way to the theater, and being so stressed about missing the previews that I got heartburn, I arrived at the theater only to find that someone was in my spot! (Cue Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory). If you know me at all, you know that I have to sit in the middle of the very back row when I go to the movies. I cannot tolerate anyone sitting behind me, crunching their popcorn. Why do people have to chew popcorn so loudly? And I hate sitting too close to the edge because all I can see are the running lights on the stairs. Can you tell I have problems when I go to see movies? This is why I never go to the movies! I am just too picky.
Anyway, two people were in my spot, and since my rules of personal space dictate that I cannot sit closer than four seats away from strangers, I had to make a choice. Sit on the back row close to the edge---gasp!---or sit in the middle of the theater not on the back row. I cannot even begin to tell you how I agonized over this choice. I am sick, people, sick! I started off on the edge of the back row. All the way through the previews, I found myself casting ugly looks towards the two women in my spot. (They were totally oblivious as the theater was dark by then). I stayed in that spot for the first part of the movie. After the Reaping, I moved to the middle of the theater (this was a timed move, to make sure no one came in late and sat too close to my final seating destination). And the move was positive: I found the shooting of the film to be so jumpy that sitting in the middle of the theater gave me a better viewing experience than sitting closer to the edge.
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| I still love Gale! |
After I overcame my seating issues---this is why I do better going to the movies alone---I was able to enjoy the film. Overall, I thought it was a really great film. I loved the acting and thought the casting was perfect. I was not sure about Josh Hutcherson as Peeta but ending up thinking he made a great Peeta. I am still Team Gale---is it just me or did they downplay they Gale scenes?---but am slightly more open to the idea of Peeta and Katniss together now that I've seen the movie.
As with any book to movie adaptation, I missed the parts that were cut from the book. The bit about the Mockingjay pin bothered me, I wanted to see more of Katniss's life before the Reaping, and I wanted to see the victory tour after the Games. I also, like Natalie, wanted to see Katniss break Peeta's heart at the end of the movie, like she does in the book. Oh, burn, Peeta, burn! I have a feeling these movies are going to be very pro-Peeta. And I'll just have to learn to live with that.
I loved the special effects as well as the costume design. Those two elements really made the movie for me. I also loved getting to see the Games through the Gamemaker's perspective. I enjoyed seeing them manipulating the environment, and thought it added another layer of depth to the movie.
Overall, I enjoyed The Hunger Games. I can't say that it will be a movie that I buy and watch over and over again, like, say, Twilight or any of my Jane Austen films, but it was very well done and I will definitely keep watching the series.
