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Harry says THE HUNGER GAMES left me hungry for the book
Last year, whilst in the midst of working with my occupational therapist having me do a zillion weighted stomach crunches, she asked me, "Have you read THE HUNGER GAMES?" I'd been hearing about THE HUNGER GAMES for quite some time at home. Yoko had read it and the following two novels in a wild voracious abandon that was frankly impressive. Her conversations with friends were constantly going into details they loved about the book.
From everything I heard, it was essentially a BATTLE ROYALE type situation of kids chosen to fight to the last boy or girl, but it was in a future that kept being described from the perspective of this main character of Katniss. When my OT described the novel she reiterated that what drove her to love the book was the perspective of living, surviving and dying in this future. Both of them bonded with her character, so I was curious to check it out.
I kind of fell in love with the book. I read it as a more complete universe than what I saw in the old Michael York LOGAN'S RUN... in the sense that there's this capitol in some post-apocalyptic universe that had a new civilization, devoid of our times' history and focused upon this one singular moment of history. THE HUNGER GAMES are made up of the 12 Districts, each of which provides a service to the Capitol. A young teenage boy and girl are chosen to fight to the last remaining survivor in a constructed environment filled with survival challenges, unseen game masters, and your fellow combatants, each trying to survive and when great rewards for their home districts. The Science Fiction aspects in the book are very well thought out. This is a completely new society. This is how they operate and it's all seen through the eyes of a young girl who trained herself to hunt and kill to support her family and community must represent District 12 and survive at all costs for her little sister's sake.
I love Katniss. She's a wonderfully strong female character. She does what must be done. At the same time, she wasn't an overt manish woman. She felt thoroughly feminine. I loved her thoughts behind her actions. They so complete the character.
I knew we were going to lose that depth to Katniss in the transition from Book to Film. Narration is one of the alleged cardinal sins of filmmaking... Which absolutely doesn't reflect my love of a well done narration. I love Katniss in the book, but on screen... as written and shown... I felt I never really got to know her. It wasn't just the memory of Peeta giving her the bread in the rain, it was how she said it. If narration was a problem, then bring Rue's character in earlier in the story and have Katniss share some of those thoughts with her. They're incredibly important thoughts - along with many others that needed to find a reason to be spoken to inform an audience, that come in clean to the franchise.
The film is a solid film. It just felt oddly pleasant and not nearly enough pain. My father felt it was overly mushy, and that thought alone disturbs me because in the book - you know that Katniss is playing to Peeta, but is in fact in love with Gale. In the film, you don't really get that. That's kind of important. Instead, we just see Gale as being jealous and Katniss not seeming to care. I'm not a fan of that change, Jennifer Lawrence has the unfortunate task of conveying the lie, but not really being given an opportunity for us to see the truth.
Not all the changes were bad though, the Dog Creatures thankfully no longer have the faces of the fallen upon them, like in the book. That was something I wasn't anticipating as going over well. Oddly, I found myself thinking... RUNNING MAN did it better... but then laughing and thinking... No, this is a far better film than RUNNING MAN, it's just not as fun.
Everything felt a tad sedate. The Capitol reminded me of one of those Star Trek utopian/there's something wrong/societies. Donald Sutherland's President Snow was a surprise for me. I have yet to read the 2nd and 3rd books and like the Therns in JOHN CARTER, I suppose Gary wanted to show Snow's influence to have a "villain" that is truly a potential nightmare inducer, and Sutherland easily fits that bill.
I felt the score and the cinematography and the production were all just a tad too clean, everything just a tad too perfect... from Peeta's laughable self camo, to every kill. To the way the kids look towards the end of the film being as clean and groomed from beginning to end.
What still works on the film is the premise and story, just not as well as in the book. Which is often a problem, but this film, I really wanted it to be several measures stronger than what I felt I got. Like I said, I love that first book, but just didn't care for the translation to the screen. It's alright, but that's all.
Readers Talkback
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the DOG PEOPLE aren't lame. Also might want to throw a spoiler tag on this. Not everyone knows there's gonna be DOG PEOPLE.
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March 22, 2012, 10:42 p.m. CST
Wow! The big fella reviewing a movie again... I like it.
by Turd Furgeson
Read the book Harry, you will really like it. Very cool world Suzanne Collins created.
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...three...a zillion! Great job!
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Billdeberg Group, CFR, DLC, Romney, Obama, Clinton Crime Cartel, Angelina Jolie, Jay-Z, RNC, Monsansto, HARP, Chem-Trails, George Clooney. There, saved you five minutes.
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But the second one I literally walked around the house with it, couldn't put it down.
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March 22, 2012, 11:02 p.m. CST
just saw it tonight and it´s great. Jennifer Lawrence is a star. - playmo.tv is the shit
by Bjarni
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March 22, 2012, 11:03 p.m. CST
I wonder how many kids in the world are going to name their new pet felines 'Katniss'
by Tigger Tales
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March 22, 2012, 11:07 p.m. CST
There is no way the film could pack the gravity of the book
by DoctorZoidberg
It would be too intense and scare off the younger kids. I was pleasantly surprised how powerful and intense the books were. Hoping the movie has even 75% of the gravitas.
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A zillion is quite impressive!
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March 22, 2012, 11:20 p.m. CST
Harry wasn't bowled over by a movie? Must not have gotten paid, I assume...
by googamooga
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Did not have the faces of the fallen on them. They had tags with the same number district they came from, and their hair color was similar to what it had been in life. Also, way to not give a spoiler alert, douche.
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March 22, 2012, 11:24 p.m. CST
The film is a solid film. It just felt oddly pleasant and not nearly enough pain.
by googamooga
Somewhere, every teacher who ever attempted to impart some knowledge of the English language upon Harry is crying...
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March 22, 2012, 11:36 p.m. CST
Harry says THE HUNGER GAMES left me hungry for the book
by frankenberry
I imagine you're always hungry for something.
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March 22, 2012, 11:49 p.m. CST
The third book is so bad it retroactively ruins the first two
by spmahn
First book is great. Second one is good, but not even close the first. I wouldn't wipe my ass with the third one though it's just that bad.
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There are actually just two books in the hunger games duology. No need to read that third also-ran.
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And hungry for brisket. And hungry for ice cream sundaes. And hungry for Pizza! Pizza! And hungry for the Truth, dammit! And... I thought there'd be more smartass comments like this. This is embarrassing. I'm embarrassed.
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March 23, 2012, 12:24 a.m. CST
So the kids are watching socially relevent dystopian sci-fi instead of Harry Potter and Twilight
by Nerd Rage
How did that happen? I thought this current generation was being kept completely in the dark.
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March 23, 2012, 1:13 a.m. CST
This annoys me because John Carter was nothing like PRINCESS OF MARS.
by Gus
I have been reading the John Carter books because of all of the plugs this site has been cramming into my face. The book is SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE FUCKING FILM. What really sucks is that there is SO MUCH SPIN coming from this site about it. Why did I even listen to you? I should have waited to check it out from REDBOX in three months. The film left so much to be desired AND IT COST $250 million to FILM???? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? When did AINTITCOOLNEWS mean WHORING YOURSELVES TO STUDIOS?
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If you haven't read the 3rd book, then don't , or at least skip the last 1/2 to 1/3 of it. It honestly was so bad that it kind of made me mad that I bothered reading the others. The way it was written just felt like the author got tired of the story and just started writing an outline of whatever popped into her head. The way the book ended was so absurdly forced. I was like beside myself. I read all 3 books in 3 days, and when I finished I felt like I had been pranked. So much potential and she totally ruined it. They need to recall all the books and have her rewrite it. I just hope they don't follow the story in the 3rd book in the movies, though it sounds like that's what's going to happen which stinks.
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it's the battle of Good vs. Evil, with a little Nazi-symbolism thrown in for good measure!
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March 23, 2012, 2:53 a.m. CST
Oops — No private screening and one-on-one director interview for THE HUNGER GAMES, I guess.
by justmyluck
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How is the fact that 24 kids being forced to kill each other for a corrupt capital not enough pain? Even though it's been done enough times already but still, it would kill me if I had to watch or even get a choice to watch people kill each other. One more thing, the only reason why it was more light hearted than the book was so the studio could get away with a PG-13 rating and make more money.
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March 23, 2012, 4:36 a.m. CST
HARRY FUCKING LIKED GODZILLA AND FANTASTIC FOUR 2
by HASBEER_WILLCHEET
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for those that didn't like the third book, particularly the last 1/3 of it...why? i'd love to hear genuine and explained opinions, not just "itsuxandurgay", as i personally loved the third book (although the middle seriously dragged). my anticipated guess is that people were expecting it to be like the first two, but the story had moved on and there was no looking back (side note, if you read her foreword/afterthought/whatever she explained that the third book was all about PTSD, which to me was pretty clear in more ways than one). and that last 1/3 of the book is pure unadulterated chaos like i've never seen - to me, this was intentional, because it was chaotic for the characters, and especially with that *gut punch* of a death near the end (and if you think about it, makes perfect thematic sense for where the book was going). i'm trying to be as spoiler-free as possible, considering, but i would love to hear a rational explanation for why the third book is utter trash with no redeeming value, because for me that book actually gave the series meaning (well, except for the weak epilogue).
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March 23, 2012, 4:57 a.m. CST
Fucking hell, Harry, don't overdo it with all these reviews. Your nearly on one a month now. SLOW DOWN MAN!
by Kill List Hammertime
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March 23, 2012, 5:36 a.m. CST
And where are the major changes to this website that you so eloquently promised? Huh?
by Kill List Hammertime
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March 23, 2012, 6:43 a.m. CST
The look of theis website is tired, badly needs a revamp! ComicBookMovies.com is a whole lot fresher!
by CeejayNightwing
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Surely?
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March 23, 2012, 7:55 a.m. CST
I knew we were going to lose that depth to Katniss in the transition from Book to Film. Narration is one of the alleged cardinal sins of filmmaking... Which absolutely doesn't reflect my love of a well done narration.
by Cracklite
If you feel that way, I strongly suggest that you give up all together on movies and start writing for a Literature review site, which would make more sense! It is your absolute right to feel that books are inherently superior works of art than movies, but if you believe that you should not call yourself a lover of movies, it is completely incompatible! I love literature and love movies, both do things that the other can't, or at least not as well, but both are just as important in my eyes, and neither should look at the other in a condescending way, if you disagree...forget about movies once and for all!
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March 23, 2012, 8:10 a.m. CST
Eventually, this will be compared to the quality of the Star Wars film
by Dharma4
The Hunger Games = A New Hope, in terms of it being a great science-fiction movie/book all on it's own. Very enjoyable and you could easily it enjoy everytime you pick it up. Catching Fire = The Empire Strikes Back, eventually going to be remembered as the greatest for it's much more darker and broader scope, and, of course, that memorable cliffhanging moment. Mockingjay = Return of the Jedi, the most debatable one, in terms of quality and if it really did the disservice to the overall trilogy. -Namaste-
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Mockingjay reminded me of one of those horrible late season episodes of M*A*S*H directed by Alan Alda that was all hammer-to-the-head anti-war preaching. I really enjoyed the first two books, but the last one really stunk and was a huge letdown.
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Saw it last night, and thought it was excellent. Were there some elements that could have been fleshed out in more detail? Yes,,,but then you'd have a four hour movie. (An HBO miniseries might have been cool). I felt all the streamlining worked. As with Harry Potter - the question shouldn't be whether every interesting character, subplot, or the concept made it to the screen, but, does what DID make it to the screen work? And for me, it sure did. HG was a winner...IMHO.
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When I was listening to NPR and heard the squeal of 8th Graders joyous with glee to see this it instantly lost me. I just don't have a desire to see Battle Royale lite as one TBer called it, with a pinch of Twilight.
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I freaking love that movie, I'm sorry a film about watching people fight for survival in a dystopian future as entertainment to control the masses, was done great by the Running Man.
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March 23, 2012, 8:51 a.m. CST
Harry: "I was disappointed by The Muppets because it was nothing like Hugo"
by sunwukong86
Its like that all over again
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March 23, 2012, 9:06 a.m. CST
usualy spot on; he liked Transformers, Green Lantern, Ghost Rider, John Carter!! He must be busy honing his 6 pack!!...
by cameron
If someone can post a clip of Hary attempting 1 sit up i'll stop throwing flour at the Kardashians!
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I assumed it was more young adult fluff but after reading the book at the urging of some very intelligent (and well-read) people I was genuinely impressed with the story and characters. It’s a solid read and while it borrows heavily from other dystopian tales it managed to forge something that is decidedly unique and compelling. There’s a reason why authors like Stephen King (who publically denounced Myers and the Twilight novels) are endorsing this as something more than a cash grab aimed at adolescents. Also, this film is nothing like Battle Royale and it’s a shame that some people are assuming as much.
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As much as I find the Schwarzenegger film fun (“NOW PLAIN ZEE-RO!!”) including Richard Dawson’s inspired performance, it is a horrible adaptation of the source material. The original novella by Richard Bachman (aka Stephen King) ranks up there as two of his greatest un-filmed properties – the other being “The Long Walk.” I’m not sure if producers would have the stomach to film the book’s real ending in post 9/11 America, but the story is highly compelling and would make for a great movie.
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Best review I have ever read by Harry, whose reviews I normally can't finish. Fairly concise, reasonable paragraph length, and focused on the film. Well done.
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March 23, 2012, 9:16 a.m. CST
I think reading Dune before seeing the movie actually made the movie better.
by UltraTron
I remember not having any problems with Dune because my mind filled in any blanks using the book. Like when the Baron mentions the Duke of Canly or whatever. My mind was like Duke of Canly: Yada Yada from the house of so and so. Stories get all jumbled together once you know them. Dune is one of my favorite movies and I don't know how I'd feel if I never read it.
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March 23, 2012, 9:20 a.m. CST
considering Harry hasnt read Harry Potter, Twilight, Game of Thrones, or John Carter...
by Robert Evans
I doubt he's gonna read the Hunger Games.
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March 23, 2012, 9:21 a.m. CST
Dharma4 - "Catching Fire" = Empire Strikes Back? Hunh?
by I_Snake_Plissken
The Hunger Games was highly compelling and a great read. Catching Fire started a crappy downward spiral – the first half of Catching Fire doesn’t know what to do with itself, it meanders all over the place. Then, with apparently no new ideas, it just rehashes the first book. Mockingjay is flat out terrible – it reads like the mutant offspring you’d get if RED DAWN had sex with CAN’T HARDLY WAIT.
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There comes a point when you’ve burned through just about every ounce of credibility and I think we’ve arrived at that point. Actually, we hit that point back when you derided Inception for not being enough like Dreamscape and Elm Street 3. Now it’s just getting sad. (Also, claiming The Host was on par with JAWS will be etched on your tombstone.)
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On the eve of the biggest opening of the year and two weeks removed from JC and we get a lukewarm review. I respect Harry and the writers on this site more than anyone as my cinema worshipping soul is very much tuned in with this place but maybe there's some annoyance that this will take off while JC didn't.
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Let me just clarify. Harry proclaims his undying love for John Carter, which loses $200 million. He then provides multiple follow-up posts blaming the media and marketing for the failure. Then he follows that up with a bad review of The Hunger Games, which will likely make $500 million - domestic. Does he even watch the movies anymore?
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March 23, 2012, 10:02 a.m. CST
Hunger Games is NOT literature. You fucking unread idiots.
by Stereotypical Evil Archer
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March 23, 2012, 10:18 a.m. CST
teddyoh, the financial end of a movie should have no influence on a review.
by Stereotypical Evil Archer
Why does it matter to you?
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Today's subject is ... *Rude Boy* lover and Barbados' favorite daughter, RIHANNA!! So, CHOPlings, does she REALLY let you fall in love in a hopeless place?
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March 23, 2012, 10:34 a.m. CST
I'd rather see a remake of Running Man with a younger cast
by Joe Plumber
Or better yet, Smash TV:The Movie.
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March 23, 2012, 10:35 a.m. CST
Let me guess... no helicopter ride to the premiere for Harry right?
by ChickenStu
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Star Wars and Lord of the Rings didn't even make that...individually... so this piece of piss won't get near it.
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March 23, 2012, 10:39 a.m. CST
choppah, I don't think there's any question Rihanna takes it in her turd cutter
by Joe Plumber
And girl that digs rough sex surely likes having her poo pushed.
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March 23, 2012, 10:41 a.m. CST
This film looks unremarkably shot, almost made for tv quality, at least in the trailers
by Joe Plumber
Can anyone who saw it tell me if that is the case regarding the whole movie? Don't expect to learn anything about the cinematography from a Harry review.
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Now I really can't wait to see this. Ross has made two films before this and both to me are near masterpieces. I know thins one is going to be great.
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It hasn't really changed ever, which I kinda like, but this site has the most knowledgeable talkbackers, and that is golden. Some of the stuff posted on comicbookmovie.com just baffles the mind (Yes, here too, but not as much). I love Aint it Cool!!!!
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Imagine how you'd feel if you read an **actual** good book. It'd probably blow your mind. It'd be like reading 'The Hunger Games' crossed with 'Twilight' crossed with 'Harry Potter and the EhhhhwhateverzzzzZZZzzzz' crossed with the latest "good book" by Dan Brown! Only, you know, **actually fucking good**, because it had been written by an author with a modicum of talent and imagination.
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March 23, 2012, 11:08 a.m. CST
Holodigm - The major "mission" in the third book was a waste - SPOILER
by bobarhett
Katniss led that commando mission in the third book through lots of traps and danger. And yet, when they got to the capitol, the rest of the good guys arrived at the same time. The "gut punch" fit with the rest of the books, but Collins couldn't give Katniss' crew at least ONE thing to do that would allow the good guys to get there? Push a button, Turn off the power, SOMETHING? Instead, it felt like everything Katniss and company did in that book was a complete waste of time.
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Those of you who had those numbers, please go to the counter to collect your winnings. Now accepting bets for the CATCHING FIRE review.
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how many hundreds of movies has he gushed over that had zero characterization..... Especially JOHN CARTER.
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I find it interesting that JOHN CARTER was brought up yet again by Harry in a review that is supposed to be about THE HUNGER GAMES. Why? Because Harry can't let JC go. He won't admit defeat - even when other films around JC are doing much better and getting better reviews cause "they were better movies". This POV taints his review of THG.
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March 23, 2012, 11:59 a.m. CST
I think Rihanna only takes it in the face...literally.
by Tikidonkeypunch
If you put it in her butt she would most likely call the cops on you.
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that is all
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NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I VOLUNTEER AS TRIB..... Oh, wait. There's a possibility of death, right? Screw that! Later, sis! Look on the brightside.... With a name like Primrose, your life was gonna suck anyway. Good luck! You're gonna need it. Katniss Out!
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March 23, 2012, 12:31 p.m. CST
Haha, it is like a negative review from Harry is a positive.
by Randy
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what are you a 13 year old girl? speak like a fucking man for christ's sake. embarrassing.
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March 23, 2012, 12:53 p.m. CST
So, they gave you free tickets, and a shirt..... BUT, no toys?
by Nick
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A real joy...ass firmer than the bite of a Gecko and full of sweet molten mudhoney; Plus, she kept a smile on Liam the whole time" replies co-star Alexander Skarsgard when asked about the Carnal Carmel Caribbean Cutie, "...I'm just happy Liam threw a fuck my way...he's a sport like that though, and Rhianna was a total professional about it, anything for the production ya know." When asked about a particular memory involving the Songbird Sodomite, Skarsgard smiles, and related the following, "Liam is hung like an god damned Silverback Ape, when we were filing on the Mighty Mo for a few days, Rhianna walked up the gangplank and said...'I could take Liam, I sure as fuck could handle this bitch', so we called him Mighty Mo the rest of the shoot. Anyway...Rhianna earned her points on this shoot, but she was up too the challenge...always ready day or night, the crew loved her. But I guess they grow Bananas bigger in Barbados cuz that girl had people running all over the Island looking for bigger fucking 'Plantains'...I guess she tried a Pineapple but the little prickly spines weren't too her liking...bitch is really fuckin particular about her fruits
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I knew I wanted Liam for the film…” say’s Battleship Director Peter Berg; “…but it was casting Rhianna that sold him on the project.” “Getting someone like Liam Neeson isn’t easy…there is the scheduling, there are the usual questions with script and of course cost, but what can kill a casting of Liams caliber is access to anal, quite simply…in this business …it can come down to ‘no anal, no Liam’. Rhianna was the best casting decision I’ve ever made…she is amazing…trust me, Rhianna will have a career in front of the camera as long as her ass wants one…or can take it”. Berg isn’t the only person praising Rhianna, the Barbadian pop singer, tabloid regular and long time rudeboy punching bag , as she makes her acting debut with ‘Battleship’; a $200 Sci-Action Epic some are calling Transformers at Sea, cast and crew alike seem taken with the 24yr olds dedication and professionalism on set. “She’s the reason I bothered to show up…” replies award winning actor and world reknown Swordsman Liam Neeson, “…Honestly…at this stage in the game it’s about ‘experiences’, not the money, I really had my heart set on some reflective time in Cambodia…then Peter says to me, ‘well…I just cast Rhianna’, …at that moment I totally forgot about the near hairless slit around Angkor Wat and booked the soonest fuckin flight...in coach mind you…to Hawaii.” When pressed about the Rhianna casting, an unknown quantity in the acting world, Neeson is quick to praise her talents, “I first heard of Rhianna when I ran into Chris Brown…the singer…lovely fellow; he was still with her at the time…and the conversation turned to women as it always seems to do, I related a story about hanging with Jim Cameron back when he was in his ocean exploring phase, and how we both loved the Icelandic Ass we encountered in Reykjavik while in the North Atlantic.” Liam at this moment takes a pause, as if gathering a memory; “…so Chris say’s to me, ‘Brother…you ain’t had shit till you dipped your ship in some Barbadian …my bitch, Rhianna, girl got a ass deeper than the fuckin Marianas Trench…I ain't fuckin lying either...the fuckin Trieste would get lost down there...shit aliens might be livin there like them bitches in Abyss for all I know..I ain't reached bottom yet’…I knew right then and there I had to work with such a talent, this film was a godsend.” "Turtles dude...Turtles..." said Rhianna when asked about the inspiration for her most note worthy talent. The Barbadian Beauty is lounging near the pool at Disney's Alona resort when we met, her panther like face glistening in the afternoon humidity as pale skinned childen from the mainland scamper about; she is radiant, beautiful, and not the least bit shy about telling her secrets... "See...growing up in Barbados...its a small place...we all know each other...and there be more guys than girls, so a woman has to set herself apart early ya know. One day...I was about 10-11, I be down on the beach..and we gots lots of these motherfuckin turtles see...them fuckers be everywhere, like fucking sea roaches...anyway, I go down there and one of these fuckers be shitting out some eggs ya know...so I think, "Girl...if you could do that, these motherfuckers would stand up and notice. So..being 10 and not knowing fuck about anything...I gets me one of them eggs, head out behind some sand dunes, and put it up my ass. I mean...shit took some fuckin effort...and at first it hurt like a bitch...but I got that mother up there...and well...here we are on this movie..right?." Rhianna laughs heartily at relating the tale; "...you shoulda seen my pops when I get home...face all pinched up cuz I couldn't get that shit back out...he took one look and he knew what I done; so he takes me and smacks me across the face...hard..that shit popped right out this shit.." she continues lifting her sundress and exposing her perfect black ass; her dark chocolate ring blacker than Pu'u O'o lava and to this reporters eyes twice as hot. "..After that...pops said no more fucking sea turtle eggs...and tossed me a plantian..shit man..I was in heaven from then on. Shit...when I be singing, if I think of them plantains of hom I don't even need no fucking auto tune.". "A real joy...ass like a vice and full of molten mudhoney; Plus, she kept a smile on Liam the whole time" replies co-star Alexander Skarsgard when asked about the Carnal Carmel Caribbean Cutie, "...I'm just happy Liam threw a fuck my way...he's a sport like that though, and Rhianna was a total professional about it, anything for the production ya know." When asked about a particular memory involving the Songbird Sodomite, Skardgard smiles, and related the following, "Liam is hung like an god damned Silverback Ape, when we were filing on the Mighty Mo for a few days, Rhianna walked up the gangplank and said...'I could take Liam, I sure as fuck could handle this bitch', so we called him Mighty Mo the rest of the shoot. Anyway...Rhianna earned her points on this shoot, but she was up too the challenge...always ready day or night, the crew loved her. But I guess they grow Banannas bigger in barbados cuz that girl had people running all over the Island looking for fucking Plantains....I guess she tried a Pineapple but the little prickly spines weren't too her liking...bitch is really fuckin particular about her fruits Battleship opens May 18th.
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March 23, 2012, 1:26 p.m. CST
Has Harry/others comparing this movie to the book gotten the memo?!?!
by babblerouser
YEY freakin GADS! I think I'm going to start my own production company focused on bringing novels to the big screen. Gonna call the company "Not as good as the book" productions... Then, when these chuckleheads plop their asses in the theatre, the lights go dim, and the movie starts..they will be hit with...BLAMO! "NOT AS GOOD AS THE BOOK" productions. For a company logo, instead of the lion roar ala MGM, maybe I'll ripoff HST's ol Gonzo/Peyote Fist logo. And I'll replace the peyote button in the middle with a likeness of a movie ticket so EVERYONE WILL KNOW IT IS A MOVIE AND NOT A FREAKIN BOOK.
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March 23, 2012, 1:27 p.m. CST
great reporting, conspiracy. First thing I’ve read that makes me want to see this film.
by frank
I noted Rihanna’s pantherlike appearance in an earlier Battleship thread.
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So I'm reading the 1st Hunger Games book, and while this woman is no great talent, she's not bad either. I liken it to reading Harry Potter. If the second book is the "Empire" of the trilogy, I'm really looking forward to it! And, I have to admit, the world she sets up is pretty damn solid. I'm actually enjoying it! Easy read, too! But as far as the Battle Royal comparisons go? She claims she's never heard of it until now, but there's NO WAY that BR didn't influence her. Battle Royal : Main character's mother is "lost" (he mentions she'd run off), father is dead. Futuristic/dystopian society where the program is used to frighten the population into compliance. Game's televised (at least the beginning and end, anyway). Young kids thrown into a controlled area and forced to fight to the last man standing. Unknown(ish) force used to help main character. Hunger Games:Main Character's mother "lost", father is dead. Futuristic/dystopian society where the program is used to frighten the population into compliance. Game's televised as a "reality show" (the book was written in 2008, you say? How relevant!). Young kids thrown into a controlled area and forced to fight to the last man standing. Unknown(ish) force used to help main character. As you can see, it was easy to simply cut and paste across the two. Now I'm not dissing HG, because as I said I am quite enjoying it....but the claims of "nothing like BR" are bullshit, and frankly if I wasn't enjoying it as much as I am, I'd call shenanigans.
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Rihanna happens to be one of my wet dreams.I am going to enjoy your new story with her thoroughly.
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March 23, 2012, 1:33 p.m. CST
franks_television...Thats where I pulled it from..hope you dont' mind.
by conspiracy
It was just such a fitting description I couldn't think of anything better.
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My Christ, conspiracy, this is a new highlight. Excellent conceit.
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What's your take on it? Rihanna - yay or nay?
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March 23, 2012, 2:19 p.m. CST
choppah -- sadly, I only became aware of her as a result of her tragic domestic violence issue, because I am old and unhip.
by Boborci
Funny, but as producers, you always want to try some out of the box casting, which when it hits can be amazing. So music is sometimes where you go. Think the late great W Houston in the Bodyguard. So I tend to root for off beat casting. On the other hand, this is FPF so I should just say the whole thing sucks. All of it. Whatever it is we are discussing, it sucks.
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March 23, 2012, 2:20 p.m. CST
warning: Boborci is a TAlKBACK character. Any similarity to Roberto Orci is purely coincidental.
by Boborci
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i ask only that you reference FPF in all of your films as admission to the ride. You can do it like the Coens did POE and OPE... that will get smiling...
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It's about glorious things. Rihanna is glorious, as is her behind, which is the focus of FPF. We are not here to tear anything down today; we are here to celebrate. The more Rihanna, the better. Now, otherwise, the *everything sucks* attitude is generally correct for AICN talkbacks. Consider FPF an island of joy in a sea of revulsion and bitterness.
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... in more ways than one.
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March 23, 2012, 2:34 p.m. CST
you're right bob! A completely different character! And...
by tailhook
boborci is a far better writer than Robert Orci.
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boborci also has a bigger cock, according to your mother.
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There's the Fudgepack Friday spirit!
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I always look forward to your FPF contributions. By the way I forgot to compliment you on your terrific part 3 to the Clooney/Keibler FPF from last week. I loved all the "Amok Time"/Pon Farr references. I kept expecting Clooney to yell out "Kali-fee" during the contest. Excellent work there brother.
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March 23, 2012, 3:01 p.m. CST
dickwhitman...Dude...I thought about "Kali-Fi" after I wrote it...!!
by conspiracy
Someday...somehow...I'll figure out a way to show you all how I write this shit. Never more than 30mn..always during work. Yes...I'm paid to write smut...unbeknownst to my employers.
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Feels like if you read the book you'd enjoy it more. Having not read it, I didn't see what the big shit is about.
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March 23, 2012, 3:04 p.m. CST
And don't call yourself Old Bob...same generation here...
by conspiracy
I don't need people of my generation reminding me of my own impending slow progression towards room temperature.
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No, don't eat the book Harry!!!
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March 23, 2012, 3:18 p.m. CST
My advice Bob...Observe, but don't soil yourself here...
by conspiracy
we are all headed to a bad end.. ...save yourself buddy, resist the urge I know you have to write; lest you end up like me...forever a tainted figure adrift in a sea of regret and indefensible online stupidity. It's too late for me...I wake up...ready to please the masses...giving them what they demand...then go home and take a long rape shower in a feeble attempt to wash away my sins.
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March 23, 2012, 3:19 p.m. CST
Hmmm..."Alan_Grant..." didn't care for my Rhianna story...
by conspiracy
I aim for 100% customer satisfaction. I shall try harder next time...
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March 23, 2012, 3:19 p.m. CST
My review (I liked it, sorry to all the haters who haven't seen it)
by Mattman
I really liked this movie, though it is not the sci-fi masterpiece some critics are shamefully claiming. (Comparing it to The Matrix will do it no favors). It's very solid. Every character is thoughtfully cast. Elizabeth Banks is impressive, disappearing into her extravagant role. Woody Harrelson does a terrific job as the drunken trainer, providing some comic relief from the dire happenings, but very serious when he needs to be. Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Lenny Kravitz, and even Wes Bentley (an actor I normally haaaate in every role) are all excellent. Jennifer Lawrence is just a fantastic actress who can probably handle anything you put on her shoulders. She's downright graceful in this, as the character needs to be. You feel for her and really want her to survive. The other kids are well cast, especially Amanda Stenberg as the adorable little Rue. The sci-fi world is slowly revealed to the audience. It starts in the slums of one of the districts, where kids sign up for the game lottery to get food for their family. Once the kids are chosen, we're taken into the city, where everyone is flamboyantly rich, excessive, and wasteful. The lavish, over the top design is one of the more original future worlds I've seen in a long time. I loved all the makeup and costume design. This should easily get a nomination for costume design. The movie sold its premise well, because I quickly became seethingly angry with this society. There is a romance, but it does not overwhelm the movie. It is actually quite touching at times. The actors are always convincing, and despite being very young, it does not feel like an angsty romance. It feels like two kids who know they are in love and are prepared to do what they must for each other. The actual games can be very unsettling. It's one thing to read about kids killing each other, and it's quite another to see it happening onscreen. However, this is also one of the movie's greatest flaws at times. Even though the book is for young adults, this is R-rated material through and through. The first death scenes are handled well, pushing the PG-13 to its limits, but the director also knows that what you don't see can be more disturbing than what you do. Sometimes seeing a kid's horrified face, followed by a splash of blood on the grass is more unsettling than seeing the knife sink into flesh. However, a few of the death scenes are mishandled, and feel like a PG-13 cheat. I have some issues that keep this from being classic sci-fi: There are some unconvincing effects, although apparently this had a more modest budget of $78 million, so I guess that's to be expected. The score is a bit heavy-handed at times, telling you how to feel. Everyone is a little too clean, even after days in the game. I wanted to see more dirt on their faces. I wanted to see them deteriorating as they search for food. A lot of the other kids in the game are brushed over, which is understandable, I suppose, given that the movie already clocks in at 2 hours and 20 minutes. But there are some moments that don't have the impact they should because you don't really know who that kid is. Sometimes the movie is not as shocking as the inherent material. There are a few moments where it feels by-the-numbers. Luckily, only a few. All in all, though, this is solid, smart sci-fi. It is derivative of many other ideas, but so is a lot of good sci-fi. The point is it uses these themes for maximum effect and shapes them into something that feels original. The fact that young adults are enthralled with a deeply disturbing cautionary tale is a good thing. There is a lot going on here. It's not Twilight. It's about more than two lovers making googly eyes at each other. If tweens sweep into theaters for this, and it puts ideas in their little minds that they wouldn't have otherwise thought twice about, I see no downside.
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I know we disagree on John Carter...but your reasoned review actually makes me want to give this a shot. Maybe Netflix though, based on the news reports here in Fresno...I just have visions of a theater full of mutated suburban teens with cellphones grafted to their hands texting the entire time.
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What the fuck?
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Glad I could make even so small a contribution to the festivities.
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Yeah, it's not a movie I'd say, "OMG GO SEE IT NOW!!" about, but it is well worth the price of admission. It isn't the second coming of sci-fi. But it also isn't mindless entertainment, so I will be impressed if audiences flock to it. And if anyone thinks this is a romance, they are dead wrong. There are love story elements scattered here and there, but this is more of a survival story. Avatar is MUCH more of a romance than this. So comparing it to Twilight just because tweens have read both is boneheaded.
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March 23, 2012, 3:52 p.m. CST
And Conspiracy, we need more cordial fellows like you on these TBs
by Mattman
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March 23, 2012, 3:53 p.m. CST
Somehow I don't think that Bob's disclaimer about being a talkback character would hold up in court
by Joe Plumber
Don't worry Bob, we all have something to lose by not maintaining our anonymity here so your in good company.
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If the author says she never heard of Battle Royale she's god damned liar. Its technically not plagerism more like the Carlos Mencia style of "borrowing" material.
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anybody here up this way?
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Harry just loves to be the contrarian, no matter how much it hurts his cred. See the Muppets review also.
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Harry's like the annoying friend who always roots for the underdog team whether they deserve it or not
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There were no references to how District 12 and Katniss reminded him of (insert a tme in Harry's life here).
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the movie was sterile. nothing ever felt serious. the villains didn't seem like AWFUL people. and how about when the one district rebels and starts destroying shit? we never hear about repercussions or any reform. this movie is vanilla as vanilla. 5/10.
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Your OT? OT stands for Operating Thetan, not occupational therapist. Maybe it stands for that too but clearly you, okay, so it DOES stand for that, but, still .... I am NOT a Scientologist, I have no idea how I even know what OT stands for. Wait, what site is this again?
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This book and I had a bit of a sweaty fling but ultimately decided that we were better off as friends. We have a lot in common but the chemistry isn't there to make it anything more.
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Fuckers...
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March 23, 2012, 9:31 p.m. CST
So, Harry, ultimate movie geek, is saying in this review that it's perfectly fine to judge a film based on the source it's adapted from.
by SnootyBoots
Personally, I couldn't agree more. I've always been a book first person. When ever I see that a movie is coming out based on a book I've been meaning to read, I make sure to read the book first, because I want THE AUTHOR'S vision in my head before some arrogant filmmakers get their hands on it and screw it up. Which is often the case. And JOHN CARTER is a prime example. I recently reread A PRINCESS OF MARS and, my word!, how Harry can love that movie when it is such a woeful adaptation is beyond me.
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Basically the reverse of the process that Sam Worthington and Sigourney Weaver and company went through in Avatar so they could walk around on Pandora in Na'vi bodies. If Battleship does well, and if she has some acting chops, then in Avatar II or III Rihanna could play a Na'vi that is captured and cloned by the new villains (lead by Michael Biehn hopefully) and given a human avatar body when she is brought to Earth. The idea being that the human corporations that want to mine Pandora will try and domesticate some Na'vi in the ways of Earth, then send them back to take over and help sway the native Na'vi to cooperate.
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Unlike Harry, I understood that Katniss never fell for Peeta and was just trying to comfort him by giving him a mercy kiss. She liked him, but I think it was clear enough who had her heart (Gale).
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This is getting way too high marks. I haven't read the book but I'm definitely intrigued cause it felt like the detail of this world was missing. I'm sure the future films will address some of that but I can't say I'm all that excited to see this series play out.
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And I do emphasize "once".
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hm maybe all the reviews are right john carter 4ever
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March 24, 2012, 1:26 a.m. CST
Saw it and it was entertaining but not as good as I hoped
by The Founder
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I don't want to, but seeing as I really enjoyed the 1st two I realize that it's not just me. It's a shame really b/c the story deserved a better end. Guess it's not too late to start some Hunger Games fan fiction. Note to self: Kill yourself.
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Shaky cam is no substitute for good fight choreography.
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March 24, 2012, 2:01 a.m. CST
I enjoyed this movie but have a semispoilerish question
by Adelai Niska
So was that like a giant holodeck? Can they actually create living animals just by tapping on a computer? So why do they need an entire district to grow livestock if they can make giant animals at will? How can poverty exist at all in this world? There is no reason to have any war whatsoever if this tech exists, and it would certainly proliferate if it existed.
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...I've read all three books and don't think they create animals by tapping a button, the capitol just has an overabundance of everything.
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March 24, 2012, 2:53 a.m. CST
Also, "It wasn't just the memory of Peeta giving her the bread in the rain, it was how she said it."
by Jayemel
It wasn't just the memory of Peeta giving her the bread in the rain, it was how she said it.
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than the book. Sorry, but it had a cool premise, with an intriguing idea, but ultimately it felt flat. Entertaining enough, sure, but overall... mediocre.
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the movie felt a bit too...soft. now the game scenes were brutal for being pg-13, but it feels like they shouldve went all out for an r rated flick. the beginning of the movie is solid, but it feels a bit underdeveloped and quick. the reaping doesnt have the carry dread that it should have, and why the upper class rich people look like clowns shouldve been explained. on top of that, the stuff with the interviews and whatnot has some really attack of the clones bad cg sets, and the part were the contestants were on fire was very cheesy. the training stuff was good, the games were mostly good, and i actually felt bad watching the young kids murdered so quickly. but like i said, not brutal enough at certain points, and after the games, the movie felt like it just raced to the finish with a unsatisfying ending. still, far better than twilight. jennifer lawerence is quite good, and harrelson makes the most of his role, and the little girl in the woods with katniss was great and probably the most well done scenes in the movie.
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This guy is worse than Pattinson and Lautner in the Twilight films. There is zero chemistry between her and Jennifer Lawrence, and that will matter more in the next two films.
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Many a moment I have spent contimplating this question. The only possible answer is she is a faithfull follower of the joys of the anus. Look at her with the bad girl attitude. Only a girl who has experienced rectum unlimitless can cast off her good girl image so effortlessly and act like a hoe. I marvelled at those lovely family pics of her with her granma back home which she posted on Twitter. Knowing all to well when granma was safely tucked up in bed, RiRi was face down eating sand while a group of Bajans queued to be the next to plow her back field.
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March 24, 2012, 9:14 a.m. CST
darthscotsman ..."face down eating sand while a group of Bajans queued..."
by conspiracy
Poetry good Sir...such a wordsmith would make any Scotsman proud.
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March 24, 2012, 9:35 a.m. CST
So, I could go see a disappointing adaptation of an okay book that is a BLATANT RIP OFF of a VASTLY SUPERIOR book and film?
by NeonFrisbee
Nah. Think I'll just stay home and watch my sweet, deluxe blu-ray of BATTLE ROYALE again! You know, the REAL fucking deal.
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Agreed on The Running Man and The Long Walk. I've read both of those a couple times and they age well and are VERY relevant today. I'm hoping The Running Man gets a proper treatment eventually. Wasn't Darabont working on The Long Walk?
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that the majority of reviews are saying is pretty good. The Muppets anyone? Hmmmm...What were the majority of reviews for the new Ghost Rider movie like? Pretty bad right? But Harry loved it! I guess The Hunger Games didn't take him back to a memory of his childhood, or he didn't find anything to jerk off to in the movie. I don't care that he "kind of fell in love" (Note here Harry. Speech doesn't translate into the written word well most of the time. Note two. Just say you fell in love with the book, for God's sake!! Do you think we will question your manliness if you say you love a book that is mainly aimed at teens or something. Here! I'll go first. I'm 40 and I loved the Harry Potter books! There now. That wasn't so hard.) The problem is that when Harry posts all of these reviews for movies that are generally reviewed well and he gives them tepid to bad reviews, he becomes the contrarian just for the sake of being one. Then he gushes over pure shit, just to look like the hipster. It's embarrassing Harry. Just stop it. Oh, and tip three. Next time you feel like sitting down with a good book, try The Elements of Style. Look into it.
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March 24, 2012, 10:03 a.m. CST
I went back and read a few more comments on here after I posted.
by maxjohnson1971
Harry, are you reading these things. Seems a lot of people are agreeing about you ruining your cred with these contrarian reviews all the time. You can possibly get together with Armond White now and you can both be relegated to reviewers that nobody takes seriously anymore!
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March 24, 2012, 11:23 a.m. CST
Just seems like another lame tween "phenomenon" like Twilight
by Jarrete Barnett
no matter what you compare it to.
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March 24, 2012, noon CST
@lisab this is your fourth John Carter related post on this talkback
by Franck
Don't you see that no one is catching your bait, that no one is interested in responding to your posts? Are you feeling lonely and in need of attention again until Prometheus is closer to the opening date so you can start again?
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I've only read book one, and though I enjoyed it, it certainly wasn't for its literary merit - the book is definitely written in a way that makes it easy for tweens to relate with and digest. But that doesn't make it a bad book, in fact, it kind of sits in a "goldilocks" zone of story telling - not too much and not too little... just enough to satisfy and move along. Now, about the movie - I was kinda bored with it, and surprisingly felt the book had more energy and depth, at least in story telling. I really, really enjoyed the characters, thanks to excellent casting and acting - Haymitch was a pleasant surprise, as I hadn't envisioned him quite like Harrelson played it, and I enjoyed the character more as a result. Kravits played Cinna well, and I'd like to see more from him. Anyway, the pacing of the movie felt erratic, especially after Katniss is surrounded and stuck i n a tree. Oh, and the developments with Katniss and Peeta felt really forced... it was the least believable aspect of the story, and maybe that was intentional. No matter though, the movie was still very entertaining, and surprisingly graphic - they did a great job with making that "just right" for the intended audience. Oh, and Stanley Tucci was perfect for his role, and seemed to really enjoy playing it. Out.
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She really went for it towards the end, it wasn't a "safe" conclusion like, say, Harry Potter or pretty much anything else. Not sure how they can film it without an R rating though.
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March 24, 2012, 1:46 p.m. CST
LisaB follows up intelligent comment with his typical nonsense
by Mattman
Budget and box office success/failure have nothing to do with whether or not a film is valuable. Thanks for playing.
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" Mar 23, 2012 11:33:28 PM CDT JOHN CARTER NEWS! " by lisab So now we get to the real reason this person ( male/female? ) was dissing John Carter so bad. How pathetic.
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We wouldn't want to bring up John Carter off topic again would we? John Carter was a good film period. Now you notice I'm not dissing this film. I do get the feeling it's meant for a younger crowd however. But it might be a good movie also.
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March 24, 2012, 3:21 p.m. CST
Yeah, I'd say STERILE is the best way to describe this film...
by REMcycle
Read the books, thought they were "okay"...saw the film, thought it dropped the ball in many areas but was nonetheless pretty solid. One thing though...that cinematographer must've slept through that day in film school when they told them "shaky cam is OVER"...and those two editors deserve to have any ACE statuses revoked, as they're 100% responsible for any of the "twilight-ness" of the film. It wasn't in the script, Lawrence played Katniss with no real love interest in either character, Ross certainly didn't shoot for it...those shit-eating editors cut it up in such a way that you get more than an eyeful of the Team Peeta vs Team Gale bullshit. Sad too, because Mirrione has some really great films under his belt...
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Been reading your tales for many months on FPF. You have lit a light of creativity in me. Loved you stories of Bay and Megan Foxes' rise to the top.
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March 24, 2012, 3:54 p.m. CST
The only good I can foresee coming from the success of HUNGER GAMES...
by Soundblaster
...is the potential to inspire Toei Studios to make a BATTLE ROYALE 3.
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March 24, 2012, 3:58 p.m. CST
@LisaB I will not draw negative conclusions before seeing this, but
by Franck
But from watching the trailer it looks like a mash-up of Logan's Run, Running Man & Equilibrium with a Twilight target coating. I really hope to be wrong, because your praise for this movie would worsen your case of delusional argumentation in case I was right, or maybe better understand your logic although quite opposite from mine.
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Seeing it tomorrow night, I'll check it against your points and revert honestly thereafter.
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I went into this film clean, with no knowledge of the book (as anyone should), and found the experience to be dull and bland. There was nothing here to make me want more or to explore the novels. It was very vanilla; no real hook or anything special. I'm sure fans of the books are eating it up...but for the movie-persons it's paint-by-numbers.
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There I said it.
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March 24, 2012, 6:04 p.m. CST
This site always hates the good movies and loves the bad ones.
by knowthyself
Typical and predictable that Harry would not like Hunger Games but fall head over shit for john piece of shit carter.
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" The trailers are misleading. It bears no resemblance to RUNNING MAN, EQUILIBRIUM or even LOGAN'S RUN. " Oh my God! The trailers are misleading and doesn't really give you the whole story? LOL! I've never seen that happen to a movie before! Payback's a bitch isn't it? " The thing the movie gets right, the most, is the tone of this future world, the hopelessness " Gee I went to the future the other day and it didn't seem like that. LOL! " And the thing to consider is how many critics here have fallen over themselves to praise JOHN CARTER, which gets every one of those emotional beats wrong - it's ingenuine, insincere, cynical, calculated and phony, with a charmless lead who makes not a single acting decision the entire film, choosing only the choice of just reacting to everything going on, never taking the initiative in any scene - not in terms of plot, but just in terms of performance. " Now you're kind of backwards apologizing for the film by comparing it to something you don't like. LOL! And why the hell are you comparing this film to John Carter anyway? It's a totally different kind of film. So you're all hyped up about this film because the only thing you see in the future is " Hopelessness ". Wow! Is that pathetic. It's pretty bad when you have to try to tear down a film that some people enjoy just because of what? Did you think your movie would do bad? That was never in the cards. It's Hollywood built in win! This movie seems popular in the same vein as Twilight. How could it not be popular with kids?
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March 24, 2012, 6:15 p.m. CST
You Know I Haven't Seen This Film However Mattman's Review.....
by Real Deal
Sound's more promising than anything. I respect his judgement. However it does bother me that some critics compare it to Twilight. That's not a good sign. I don't really mind dreary future SF it's just that I'm not convinced things have to be that way like obviously lisab is. I wouldn't want a steady diet of it though.
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They had the eyes of the fallen. Did you even pay attention Harry?
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What a fucking ridiculous statement. I love Sci Fi, and I thought THE HUNGER GAMES was a very good movie, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Generalizations like that are just idiotic.
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Wow the utter stupidity of that statement is staggering. You could not turn on the TV without seeing a commercial for it. It's been all over the place the last few weeks leading up to its release. What planet do you live on?
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i agree.the ad campaign of the Hunger Gamers was staggering. i know non-geek people who were talking about this movie but they knew absolutely nothing about the books.
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Liked Phantom Menace, thought The Muppets was the 5th best Muppet movie (what was 1, Muppets in Space?), didn't like Inception, loved John Carter... hmmmm. Maybe we should all reevaluate our opinion of Batman and Robin.
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Sorry that you actually paid to see John Carter.
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I know why... i saw John Carter.
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i liked it. I want to know what happens next.
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Just got back from seeing it. A friend with a spare ticket twisted my arm to come along and actually i'm glad I did. I was pleasantly impressed, this is a very well made movie and grounded by an OUTSTANDING performance by Jennifer Lawrence. I've never seen her before in anything else but truly she makes the movie. My main problem was that it's not a lot of fun. There's no comedy or lightness. It's heavy stuff from start to finish and because of this it's not a film I feel i'll ever bother to rewatch. But the quality of the direction, pacing, story and script is first class. In fact BATTLE ROYALE feels like a bit of a silly cartoon flick in comparison to it. HUNGER GAMES has more of a raw and real feeling and even though it has sci fi elements it only once falls into the trap of obvious CGI (the dog beasts). I was suprised by the subtle quality of the film and its originality and def think its worth seeing once. 3 stars out of 5 from the Dojo!
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deaftOne, no fuck you - I gave my opinion and it carries a lot more weight that yours little boy. I didn't say HUNGER GAMES was better than BATTLE ROYALE - I said it made BR seem like more of a cartoon flick by way of comparison. BR is far more of a silly action movie than the serious minded HG. Which is the reason I actually prefer BATTLE ROYALE. Now fuck off and sneak into another film without paying you deadbeat dickhead.
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Congrats on getting cast, deaft0ne!
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deadbeat0ne, no fuck you... again. Skank. Go drink another pint of bourbon. But keep the noise down. Bubba and his nine kids in the next trailer are trying to get some sleep.
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But by all means, continue.
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*then regifts the watch*
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March 24, 2012, 9:06 p.m. CST
$68.2m Friday opening; 5th best-ever. $140m weekend? My review...
by Paul Hanlin Jr
I believe, after seeing the movie (yesterday), that we have our first 2012 Oscar-in-an-ideal-world contender, with everything on the table; Picture, Actor (was not prepared for how much I rooted for Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta; he was a revelation here), Actress (Lawrence was spectacular), Supporting Actor (any one of Tucci, Harrelson, Kravitz or Sutherland), Supporting Actress (Banks), Director, Adapted Screenplay, Music, Sound, Song (even though both were in the end credits; Taylor Swift’s Safe and Sound plus Arcade Fire’s Abraham’s Daughter) and pretty much every other tech category. Now in the Oscar-in-the-real-world, it *might* get a tech nomination or two, but at the end of the day this will be overlooked as easily and without a nano-second’s thought as one stepping over a crack in the sidewalk. I was hugely entertained today and didn’t give two shitfucks about Battle Royale comparisons or anything else. The movie did its job and more, and I can’t wait until next November for Catching Fire. Another encouraging sign at my screening; families, mostly, guys, girls (teenage, too) who were engrossed in the film that it wasn’t a Twilight-esque throng that screamed every five minutes or so. But laughs galore at the scene where the second parachute aid package came to Katniss and Peeta with the message, “You call that a kiss? H” Something else I felt as the lights went down and the movie started; from the moment the opening credits rolled, I thought, we can finally put the stench of 2011, one of the worst years for movies in some time, to permanent rest. It was a pretty good feeling to put the past behind. Can this challenge any of the top 10 moneymaking films of all time, is a better question than can it pound Twilight?
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March 24, 2012, 9:46 p.m. CST
The mutts didn't have the dead players' faces, Harry, they had their eyes and hair color
by Cash907
Do you not pay attention when you read books, or what? What did you think Collins was describing, some bastardized half and half like Sarah Jessica Parker's head on a chihuahua's body or something?
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Hutcherson is just such a bland, dorky looking actor that he paled next to Jennifer Lawrence.
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And I think the bluray will be rated R. It needs to be a bit longer too. It felt a bit short and I never read the book. As hokey as I thought the premise was going in I felt the whole exercise made the damn thing believable. Not sure if thats due to the great cast or the direction. Probably both. Id like to know more about this universe...
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But that's plant as I am. Maybe I have a hardon for Jennifer since Winter's Bone. I dunno. But the movie actually worked for me.
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March 25, 2012, 12:29 a.m. CST
it SUCKED. Just another sappy teen melodrama. Go seek out Battle Royale or rewatch First Blood.
by DrPain
What a disappointment.
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March 25, 2012, 12:35 a.m. CST
maybe Jennifer Lawrence can't act in Love? 'Cus I sure wasn't getting that she was into any of those dudes.
by DrPain
Maybe it's her achillies heel.
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March 25, 2012, 12:36 a.m. CST
And no character was really HUNGRY in the whole damn movie.
by DrPain
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March 25, 2012, 12:38 a.m. CST
I wish they would start making movies for damn ADULTS again. Remember those?
by DrPain
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March 25, 2012, 2:19 a.m. CST
It is LITERALLY amazing how many commenters have clearly not even read this review in its entirety.
by Aidan
This really is becoming a world of "TLDR" consumers.
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March 25, 2012, 6:26 a.m. CST
Harry now has a problem of a movie for not being more faithful to the novel?
by AsimovLives
Funny, he had no such qualms in regard to JOHN CARTER.
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March 25, 2012, 7:28 a.m. CST
how in the fuck any of you have come up with the granddaddy of all this subgenre, THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME? Some geeks you are!
by AsimovLives
I' ashamed of you, the lot of you.
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March 25, 2012, 7:35 a.m. CST
i think BATTLE ROYALE is a pretty thoughful movie that took itself far more seriously then the premise would give any indication.
by AsimovLives
Even the fans in here made BATTLE ROYALE look like it was some cartoon that happened to be shot live with actors . But the movie itself takes it's own premise quite seriously. Things are either played for drama or for the darkest of humour. Whatever goofy shit is in the film, is more oa case of the movie mocking the goofines that it brough to the story by it's portayal of the media craziness that exists in regard to the BR games in-universe. I was suprised by how dramatic and serious BR really is.
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March 25, 2012, 8:07 a.m. CST
The "love triangle" becomes more prevalent in Catching Fire
by mypalfish
But the lack of chemistry between Hutcherson and Lawrence will really hurt that story, and that story kind of stunk in the books anyhow. As bad as the Twilight films can be, Stewart, Lautner and Pattinson have better chemistry than Lawrence, Hutcherson and Miley Cyrus's boyfriend.
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" Funny, he had no such qualms in regard to JOHN CARTER. " Apparently there's a lot you just don't get. Or don't want to. There's stuff that is not intergral to the storyline that can be changed ( because after all it's a different medium ) and there's stuff that affects the whole that you shouldn't change. I'm guessing that's what Harry's talking about here. I haven't seen this movie or read the book. Have you?
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what you do not get is the changes made to JOHN CARTER made it worst. and they wrre huge differences. But now Harry is upset that minor changes made by the HUNGER GAME movie are such a big deal for him. When in the case of JOHN CARTER, the changes made for a completly different story althogether. what is it you do not understand?
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" So Logan, why John Carter$ <<<<<Hunger Games $ " To assume that because a movie makes a lot of money it's good is just beyond stupid. As I've pointed out previously some of the most revered movies were box office failures. Blade Runner, The Wizard of OZ, It's a Wonderful Life just to name drop a few.
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March 25, 2012, 9:11 a.m. CST
isn't it funn that whenever an action/adventure movie has a female protagonist, the male love interests always sucks?
by AsimovLives
they are all this bland anoying himbos who are always outmatched by the female protagonist and with zero screen chemistry. why always like that?
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THE HUNGER GAMES made more money on friday than JOHN CARTER will in it's entire theatrical run. I really liked JOHN CARTER. Especially Lynn Collins as Dejah Thoris. The way she says "Barsoom" at the end of the movie sent chills down my spine. I wish it had done better at the box office, but I definitely understand why it didn't.
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March 25, 2012, 10:51 a.m. CST
I knew there would be a troll in here insulting everyone who liked THE HUNGER GAMES
by rogueleader66
If you didn't like it fine, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but insulting those who did like it? Immature trollish behavior....mommy is calling, go do your homework, I know the 5th grade is tough.
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harry_cox, thank you for your commendation! Any kin of the mighty Cox is a friend of mine. rogueleader66, good to see you posting rogue! And yes there was a deadbeat troll that needed slaying - or perhaps he just needed to sober up?
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March 25, 2012, 12:43 p.m. CST
HEY! A movie Harry doesn't like has a HUGE opening weekend; I'd rather see Jennifer Lawrence tolled up witha bow and arrow than hawkeye.....
by cameron
...I hope Harry turns on his 'Geek Love' for the avengers now that john carter is circling the bowl.... i would piss my fuckin' pants if he jizzed over another big budget movie and it failed!! The Indepedent in uk is saying that The Hunger Games has had the biggest opening w/end since HP pt 2, we must make this movie a monster hit so it beats the avengers, a bunch of super men beaten by a girl.....'tis the stuff of magic!
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March 25, 2012, 12:45 p.m. CST
Tooled up is what i meant; this fucking IPad is fucking CLOWN SHOES!!! FUCK YOU APPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you make me a 'tard with this predictive text shit!!!!
by cameron
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Saw the movie, haven't read the book. Somewhat of a re-telling of the original Rollerball. I disliked a lot of the camera work, too many close ups on faces and seemed to cut out action and a broader view of scenes. My wife thought it was an incredible movie, I thought it was good, my son liked it least in the family.
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by the waym, THE AVENGERS has a girl, Scarlett Jonahsson is in it. Hummmm... i realy would love to see Scarlett and Jennifer Lawrence in a movie together where the two had a serious and very long fist fight against one another. and it all ended with an also very long lesbian sex scene in the rain.
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I came out of this thinking I saw a masterpiece of satire. This is movie is a satire on today's society. Look at how we (Americans) are absolutely obsessed with reality shows. We are driven by them. Also, our love of increasing violence in sports, ( i.e. NFL, MMA, UFC) is clearly portrayed in the movie. Look at Lawrence's (who is excellent in this movie) frightened looks along with the jump cuts. The movie is really well edited. Also, and more importantly, the haves and have nots. I am not making a "occupy" statement here, but you can clearly see that there was a income disparity between district 12 and the Capitol. The movie is a social satire of the United States. It is right up there with "A Clockwork Orange," "Running Man" and "The Truman Show."
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ceegnWSENQ
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i'm supposed to think it's some good movie just because of geek nostalgia?
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155 million opening weekend! Holy bejesus.
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March 25, 2012, 2:06 p.m. CST
On a side note, god bless the youth for at least subconciously acknowledging how jacked up our country is.
by DanielnocharismaCraig
Give these 18 year olds credit for actually reading and getting into the general theme of The Hunger Games. I've written off so many generations of Americans it's not even funny anymore. Baby Boomer, Generation X, my own Generation y, the Millenials. I'd completely given any hope. These kids deserve a standing ovation.
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Jennifer Lawrence could beat the shit out of you, you're a measly little prick.
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EAT ME
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that's what happens when you bet on the wrong horse. and the thing is, everybody could had said that to him that he was doing just that. so, not only he bet on the wrong horse, he bet on the horse that stole his holywood experience, since for a long time he was associated with a John Carter Of Mars movie project. to swallow his pride and then to have that movie fail... must be terrible!
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picture perfect adorability.
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I don't feel like I should be checking reviews for "can the film makers hold a camera?" before deciding whether to bother reading any further.
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March 25, 2012, 3:34 p.m. CST
So will the third movie be "The Hunger Games, Part III, Part 1?"
by IndyCollector
Bank on it. Three books. Four films. Gay.
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When Kato was basically breaking down and showing he was nothing but a puppet for this slaughter show. He is then killed by those dog monsters. The teens in theater... Cheered. Like applauded and cheered. It was like art. These morons simply like the story for the Peeta and Katniss story line. Everything else obviously went over their heads. Applauding the death scenes? Don't you understand the villains are doing the same thing? Fucking retards. Humans are fucked up and never learn.
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I have not read the book, but right off the start I wish I had, for the premises lacked all the required depth to make this movie good science-fiction (LisaB I'm looking at you) We are thrown from a scene to another with a quick brief about why these Games have been created, but no interesting detail, no depth, no sub-plot that was or will be, no characters study at all except for the hero, she's well represented but, as in all characters of the movie, so first degree, without depth nor chemistry with her on-screen partner. The entire movie seems so simplified to the extreme, as if it had to lower itself to the hordes of Twilight fans that probably are the main target audience and can't be expected to think to much, which is disappointing because that would have brought it a few notches up and taught the audience to think a bit beyond the obvious upcoming love triangle (Twilight: Check) The entire first half should have been the most interesting, the city, the training, the other side of this civilization, but nothing. Just dull dialogues, caricatures of crowds reminiscent of Rollerball (Taff I agree with you), Gladiator and Logan's Run for the soldiers, quick sequences that , if taken a bit deeper, would have given this movie another dimension. The first massacre, which should have provided the dramatical contrast between pre and during games is obviously quickly cut not to shock the 12 years olds in the audience, but it's too soon, not enough, blurry kills that feel like bad soft core porn. From then on, I honestly did not see any connxion with any character, whether in love or hate, or whatever the movie intended to make me feel. Katniss has absolutely no chemistry, wanted or faked, with her partner, the others are bland and uninteresting, the fight scenes too rare and the Survivor runs never ending. Don't get me wrong, I quite went along with it, it was distracting. At one point during the District 11 rebellion I felt a glimpse of a new dimension to the movie but it fell back down quickly. I ended up not caring for anyone, not getting the point nor the message, nor got excited about what could happen next because it ends on an absolute uninteresting shot. As for the Science-Fiction genre, what I've always absolutely loved about SF Books or Movies is their ability to make sense within this new or future world by providing just the right amount of details, depth, characters to make me believe, involved. It wasn't the case tonight, I have this hunger for more, different Hunger Games story. Also the monster wolves/dogs (Twilight: Check) are such a mistake (unless the book provides an explanation): A civilization can't seem to have another option but to use lower class personal for mining and without modern extraction tools, but they have the technology to insert in the real world real eating monster wolves. It just doesn't make sense. Anyway, maybe I'll read the books, but I will have forgotten the movie by morning.
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so the neanderthals will forget everything
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Winter's Bone AKA District 12: The Movie. Very bleak.
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March 25, 2012, 5:27 p.m. CST
myphdisdoom ...I bet they were texting thier friends a few rows back too...
by conspiracy
Look...nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the Average American...especially the American Teen.
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...Wonders if "NEW" AICN will have an edit function...
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she definitely doesn't LOVE Gale in the book. She's so confused about what she feels for Gale AND Peeta and makes a point of mentioning it at least 30 times.
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Except that he's a crazy arrogant brat who is having fun actively trying to torture and kill Katniss...so maybe they got caught up in THAT. Or maybe they cheered because that means Katniss and Peeta win. Or maybe that "speech" is stupid and I'm ever so thankful it wasn't in the book. Making him all politically aware was a retarded storytelling choice.
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He only likes shitty movies.
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JC sucked, but with overseas box office, its taken in $234M so far. Maybe not an unmitigated disaster for Disney after all.
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March 25, 2012, 11:45 p.m. CST
John Carter... $235 million worldwide. Disney still claiming it's the biggest bomb ever to get that tax writeoff?
by Mattman
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March 25, 2012, 11:51 p.m. CST
Harry no one understands your Thern reference. JC is the biggest bomb in history, remember?
by happybunni
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This film wasn't even on my radar until I saw a trailer for it with John Carter a few weeks back......and that was pretty much all the promotion I saw....but then again, I don't watch MTV and shit like Idol where I'm guessing ads ran for it nonstop. Still, extremely surprised at how much it raked in over the weekend.
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until Battleship comes out. Hope McDonalds is still hiring, Taylor Kitsch may have to ring them up after this year.
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Much better than I thought it would be. A pretty solid and fun film. There are some buts, of course -- when will filmmakers tire of confuse-o-vision? It's annoying and doesn't work like they seem to think it does. WE NEED TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. Action scenes aren't enjoyable unless you can see them. See James Cameron, early Spielberg and Lucas. Also it felt like there were pieces missing, and I hope there's an expanded edition on Blu. Why did that one guy save Katniss because of Rue? Because they were both black? I assume they were from the same district, but that was not clearly stated. Etc. Plus, like Harry said, we never really got to know and love Katness. She always seemed to be at a remove somehow, and her facial expression rarely changed (also the case in WINTER'S BONE -- hope the actress has more up her sleeve than that expression -- get in a comedy quick!). But overall it was well-crafted and fun, a teeny Hollywood Battle Royale with the nice twist about the sponsors.
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March 26, 2012, 7:59 a.m. CST
Completely unoriginal derivative meh; Message to Hollywood: Don't do anything original!
by Joe Plumber
Sorry, to be negative so early on a Monday morning, but this is depressing. The Hunger Games follows Twilight in the current trend of derivative tripe ripped off from much better source material. Women have no taste in film. Period!
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March 26, 2012, 8:08 a.m. CST
=but then again, I don't watch MTV and shit like Idol where I'm guessing ads ran for it nonstop.=
by rogueleader66
I don't watch MTV. I don't watch American Idol. In fact I hardly watch much TV at all, and I knew about the movie.
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If you want to make the weak comparison of budget to box office, even that is untrue. $234 million world wide, and after DVD & Blu Ray sales/rentals, it will make back the $250 mil it cost and maybe a tiny profit.. A huge hit? Not by any stretch. But biggest bomb in history? Hardly. But i'm sure I will be told how wrong I am, so what was even the point of what I just said? This place is just filled with people who apparently know everything.
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Not liking THG is one thing, but seriously, saying it follows Twilight in "ripping off better source material"? Not having read the Twilight books, I can say this....from all I have heard, they are horribly written, in fact I have heard people compare Meyer to kids who write stories in High School...that's not better source material, it's bad movies made from bad books. I have not read THG either, but I have heard the book is quite good, so you really cannot compare the two. Twilight, in all its forms is garbage. Having seen THG this weekend, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't find myself wondering if something was explained better in the book. Movies and books are two different mediums, as you are well aware. There are bound to be changes in translation from book to screen, it's unavoidable. Saying women have no taste in film is kind of sexist, don't you think? There were as many guys seeing this film as women from what the statistics say....Twilight's audience is 90% women....hence its limited appeal, hence the reason out of what, 4 movies, only one broke $300 million, and it limped to that. THG will most likely easily break $300 million. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying THG is the greatest movie ever, I actually wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did in fact. But it's not Twilight, not in any way, shape or form. The only thing it has in common with Twilight is that the main characters are young. That's where the similarities end.
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I guess I would have more respect for Suzanne Collins if she would just admit that she read or at the very least was aware of Battle Royale and used it as inspiration for her novel. Because, there is NO WAY that she did not since the similarities are overwhelming. That makes her a liar and a person who does not give credit where credit is due. George Lucas always openly admitted his inspirational sources. I'm guessing that the reason she wouldn't would be because it would not be legally smart to do so. Which if that is the case, it is an acknowledgement of how closely she copied Battle Royale.
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I realize that the majority of the book is Kat's internal monologue and that doesn't translate especially well into film; but I think the film missed the mark slightly by truncating the personal suffering that Katniss goes through: dehydration, multiple wounds, etc. She brushed off her wounds fairly quickly in the film... I realize that a lot of the violence had to be cut for ratings so I think more focus on her personal struggle might have returned some grittiness to the story. Also, is it possible to get 1 review where Harry doesn't mention his rehab and how its somehow relevant to the topic at hand?
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I totally understand your point, and although I have not seen BR, THG is clearly inspired by it. Say what you will about GL, but yea, he always openly admitted what inspired him. That being said, you must admit that THG is nothing at all like Twilight, in any way other than what I mentioned. Speaking of Twilight, they showed a teaser for The Host before THG....as soon as I saw it was based on a Stephanie Meyer novel, I said "PASS". Snow White & The Huntsmen looks marginally interesting, were it not for Bland Stewart being in the lead. My next must see is actually The Raven, looks to be quite creepy....and John Cusack for me is pretty much a good reason to see a movie....with the exception of 2012, which I saw at home only because he was in it, and he's the only reason I made it thru that mess of a movie.
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It seems Harry uses reviews as a chance to tell his own personal stories with his life, and then "oh yea so the movie...." If he wants to tell people about stuff in his life, that's fine, it's his site. But I really wish he would stop writing these long ass "reviews" which contain hardly any actual reviews, where they feel like an afterthought. Just be a professional. Nobody reviews a movie by telling a long drawn out story about their personal life or personal connection to a movie, and then squeezing in the review at the end. We just wanna know, was it good or not? I don't think that's too much to ask.
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March 26, 2012, 9:38 a.m. CST
I wish they would start making movies for damn ADULTS again. Remember those?
by duke of url
Why yes! Yes i do http://youtu.be/1SBAkmnZVgU
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both suck the balls!
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fucking beggars!
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Afraid not.
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now that's a hunger game
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I think the books get progressively more challenging with the problems Katniss has to face and the subsequent decisions she's forced to make or not make. The first book clearly establishes the "good guys" from the "bad guys" and as the series moves forward those lines blur intentionally. I actually enjoyed that aspect of the books although I think the end result is lacking in quality relative to the ambition of the direction the author chose to move in. I think the negative response to the 3rd book in particular is a result of people not adapting to the more challenging themes that are addressed. The hero doesn't necessarily "save the day", characters (in particular Gale) are seen in a very different perspective, and overall the world remains a messy place.
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March 26, 2012, 12:48 p.m. CST
People still buying into the "JC is the biggest bomb" thing, even with the $250 million worldwide so far?
by Mattman
That's not even the end of its run AND it has blu-ray sales down the line, movie channel deals, etc. It will end up making a profit someday, and Disney will have written it off. So, in the end, massive win for Disney.
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Running Man is a fun movie, but it is not a "good" one. It's all one-liners, gaudy sets, and cartoony action scenes. Hunger Games was a real movie, with pacing, acting, and actual directing.
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Per Blu-ray.com "Ross only permits a few select sequences of stillness, while the rest of the picture is engulfed in spastic handheld camerawork, much of it employed to obscure the violence to preserve the feature’s PG-13 rating. It’s visual overkill, aching to generate excitement to latter scenes of forest endurance that carry no tension at all. May the Dramamine be ever in your favor. " shaky cam can fuck off!
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zod, aside from our resident Headgeek I think most of THE HUNGER GAMES reviews have been pretty positive. Got 4 stars out of 5 from EMPIRE magazine.. *As thrilling and smart as it is terrifying. There have been a number of big-gun literary series brought to screen over the past decade. This slays them all.*
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there were rules you didn't break, but now, I'm reluctant to go to the movies, especially action films, as the shakey cam style has infested everything. To prove my point that shaky cam sucks and needs to be stopped. I'm going to edit action scenes from the Jason Bourne movies, clips from THG, Armageddon, Transformers 3 and maybe the Expendables into a montage and let's see if anyone makes any coherent sense of it. My guess is nope, not a bit.
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The shaky cam, which I hate in most action movies such as QUANTUM OF SOLACE actually didnt bother me at all in HUNGER GAMES. Because in most action movies you're meant to enjoy the action. Cheer along with Bond or Bruce Willis as they kill bad guys. But in HUNGER GAMES you're not meant to enjoy seeing the kids get killed, of course not. So having the worst excesses of violence blurred by a bit of shaky cam seems to be a sparing act for the audience.
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March 26, 2012, 1:52 p.m. CST
If your complaining that the shaky cam is one of the reasons The Hunger Games isnt good....
by rogueleader66
You are reaching, it worked fine in this movie, I had no trouble following the action at all. I really think people are looking for big faults in this movie and can't really find a lot, so they are concentrating on smaller, almost insignificant things. Not trying to say it's perfect, but it's not as flawed as some would have you believe.
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Is that what you are going by? Did you even see the movie? Until you actually SEE the movie, please don't make judgements until you do. Going by what others say or think is sheep mentality. Please don't be part of the herd. If you saw it, ok you have a valid opinion....not so much if you didn't see it.
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In fact, that review is so wildly off base, I'm not sure the critic is reviewing the same movie.
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March 26, 2012, 2:59 p.m. CST
Re: Rogue DVD sales aren't going to save a movie no one wants to see.
by happybunni
The budget is 350M with Marketing. Let's say JC ends up at is 250M WorldWide, but they barely get any of the international box office. Their real take is around 150M of that 250M Leaving them with a 200M write off DVD sales are not going to help John Carter. No one is even interested in seeing it for free!
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March 26, 2012, 3 p.m. CST
Hunger Games shaky cam did suck in two scenes. The cornucopia and the last fight
by happybunni
The cornucopia wasn't too terrible, but the last fight was shaky all over the place. Way too shaky. People were asking what happened during that fight because it was hard to keep track of
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Cause it's a way better movie than people think. Box office doesn't equate to quality as we all know. It's just a shame it wasn't more successful.
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The amount of money it did or did not make doesn't change that for me. Although, the "bomb" thing is hugely overplayed.
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Read the books after a friend recommended them to me. Loved the first one which, in turn, led to my wife reading them as well. So we were pretty excited to see just how well they translated to film under Ross's direction. Overall, I was pretty happy. I understand that some areas were going to need removed to shorten things up to even fill up a 2+ hour window, but I thought they hit all the key areas. My only issue with the film is the manner in which they changed how Katniss obtained the Mockinjay pin. I felt it pretty much deflated the reasons it was given to her in the book (symbol of the rebellion and all). Lawrence pulled her role off in spades. Kravitz was OK as Cinna, but was disappointed with how Ross handled the scene where he and Katniss first meet. It was lame and felt more like a doctor checking on a patient than what it should have been: an artist looking over a basic clay shape determining what beautiful work of art he could make it into. But those are just small nitpicking points. Overall the film was great and am glad it kicked the shit out of Twilight. **Speaking of Twilight, I saw the trailer for Snow White and the Huntsman. In what world is Kristen Stewart hotter than Charlize Theron???
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I gave John Carter a 2/10 on IMBD, I'll give Hunger Games a 6/10. They did fan service for the book, but I never felt like I was really watching/experiencing the book. Jennier was great, though. They had to remove a lot of stuff, so it felt pretty Cliff-Note-ish. Funny, after the worst performance by a female actor by Lynn Collins in John Carter, it was quite the contrast to see a real character, talk like a real actor would portray one...
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March 27, 2012, 9:27 a.m. CST
Shaky-Cam will keep films that use it from becoming timeless classics because audiences in the future will see it for the trendy cheap gimmick it is
by Joe Plumber
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The, "herd" is going out to see The Hunger Games in droves.
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Infowars= Lame conspiracy theories
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Im going to watch Battle Royale......again
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March 27, 2012, 11:52 a.m. CST
darth_meh... AICN is just a smaller herd... but it's still a herd
by Mattman
No matter your opinion, you're part of a herd, big or small... so you might as well make up your mind for yourself. Avoiding a movie just because the bigger herd likes it doesn't make you better than anyone else.
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I'll run with the wild buffalos.
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March 27, 2012, 1:27 p.m. CST
RE: Avoiding a movie just because the bigger herd likes it doesn't make you better than anyone else.
by Joe Plumber
Not better, just different.
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Ice Cream The Beatles Boobs Beer Jeans (not skinny) texting HDTV porn Star Wars
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You can run with the herd, I'll walk with the pack and fuck them all!
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Remember, no fat chicks!
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I aint no herd member, just a guy who took his daughter to see THG and wound up really enjoying it. I am hardly one to conform, anyone I know can confirm that.
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Best over the top villian of his day.
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For some reason, young adult fiction has switched recently from fantasy to dystopia, and it is mostly thanks to The Hunger Games which I must admit I have not read. I was really into dystopia novels back in the 90's, but I transitioned over to fantasy in the last decade, although right now I am reading a dystopia novel called "Ready Player One" which all of you geeks would really enjoy. The point is I know good dystopia and good dystopia has the following qualities: 1) It is written to make a philosophical point about society and the human condition, and 2) It is either written to be very dark, or very satirical. After watching the movie, I can tell that the book is probably a very good dystopian novel, but the movie itself fails. In order to get a PG-13 rating, it never gets very dark, and in order to not offend it never gets very satirical. The greater philosophical point about what humans are capable of for the sake of entertainment is therefore completely lost.
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I have to say I was disappointed in the second book. I felt this slope to continue into the third book. But the end of the third book was redemption. I hate it when I read a great book and the end is just shit. Well this had a different turn where I felt underwhelmed by the second and their book until the end. I felt the series of even Katniss is the focal point of the end redeems the mess that the second and third books are. I have to agree with Harry that they missed a bit on how Katniss was playing Peeta's feeling the entire time and played the love game the entire time for the camera while she had confused feeling to being with in regards to Gale. Plus Peeta needed to show off his missing leg while being interview with Cesaer during the last interview while Katniss being surprised they couldn't save it.
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Although I liked The Hunger Games (and I didn't read the book), I felt they did not portray the media side of it enough when they started playing the games. They did with the parade of the tributes, the interviews, Stanley Tucci, the sponsors and Lenny Kravitz, and I liked all of that. But once the games started, they mostly stayed in the jungle with the kids, and I felt the TV show aspect was pushed into the background. This is where I felt The Running Man succeeded. They played it to the hilt, with the commercials, the celebrity status of the stalkers, the studio audience, the people taking bets in the streets, viewing parties of people watching, and of course Richard Dawson as the host. You got a constant sense that it was a TV show, and there was a lot of social satire that came out of this. Maybe there was more of this in the Hunger Games book, or maybe it was never there to begin with. Still, I did enjoy the movie, especially Jennifer Lawrence's performance.
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Cause you took your daughter to see this and that's cool. That said, I hope you are instilling in your daughter a love of better films and literature than just Harry Potter and THG.
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Jennifer Lawrence is a fine actress. If you know a young girl who likes the Hunger Games you should introduce her to Winter's Bone as well. Katniss seems like a much better role model for young women than the pathetic Bella. Lawrence's character in Winter's Bone is also a true hero and great role model for girls.
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I don't care how much money it made either, but I put $20 in for John Carter for 2 to an empty theater, and after watching the movie I figured why the movie is STILL not making money. Maybe 20 years from now, the movie may be heralded as an underrated classic, but...no it probably won't. It's this generation's Krull.
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You know the Hunger Games will be remembered for? It didn't have it's cameras stuck in one place.... during an action scene... like the Star Wars prequels. Plus you can take a chick to this one.
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did George Lucas give his inspirational source for "NOOOOOOOOOOO!!"? Or for the rocks blocking R2-D2? Or the "i'm so in love with you!" Atheists who protest Christians need to buy up some of the Star Wars booths at sci-fi conventions and protest another false deity. Jesus.
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for a movie in which little kids slay each other? It's not supposed to be a John Woo flick.
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Most of you, including writer of article, are IDIOTS!!!
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what better films should rogueleader be instilling in his daughter? They don't happen to made by someone named George are they? I'm sure rogueleader appreciates.... appreciates!!... your pass. Fucking moron.
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March 30, 2012, 4:28 a.m. CST
duke_of_url that was an impressive posting of stark raving mad lunacy... keep up the good work.
by uberfreak
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March 30, 2012, 4:52 a.m. CST
I dont know if conspiracy, chopper, and the gang are still here but CHEERS for the great FPF.
by uberfreak
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uber thank you
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g_JbXQqlLI
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motherfucker
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what a year The Godfather The Poseidon Adventure Behind the Green Door Deliverance Jeremiah Johnson The Getaway Fritz the Cat The Valachi Papers Deep Throat The Hot Rock The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean Pink Flamingos Prime Cut Super Fly etc. etc. etc. HOLY FUCK!!!
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fucked in the ass by 1972
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Well that's your opinion. Not shared by many who saw it.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/john-carter-china-box-office_n_1387993.html "John Carter" may have bombed at the U.S. box office and in some foreign markets, but not in China. According to Filmbiz.asia, Disney's sci-fi Mars extravaganza has scored $29.8 million dollar total in 10 days in China. " And : " With a current domestic box office total of $63 million, $172 million internationally (not including China or Japan), and China's 10 day total of $29.8 million, "John Carter" is currently sitting at around $264 million in total box-office earnings, with openings still set for Japan on April 13. Not everybody has disliked "John Carter"; critics' scores on Rotten Tomatoes clock in at 51 percent positive, while users have been a bit more forgiving. Fans have given the film a 70-percent Fresh rating. " As for the haters I'm sorry the reality didn't reflect your ideas about JC. LOL!
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Saw it and thought it was ok..but far from great..ran a little too long as well. Not saying it was bad but the reviews given to this movie seem much too kind IMO. but just my opinion. not that anyone asked...
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April 1, 2012, 12:26 p.m. CST
The attitudes adopted toward films that are widely liked are hilariously predictable
by wcolbert
You can "hate" it (not that I think most of the clowns ripping on it have seen anything beyond the trailer) all you like...won't change the fact that the vast majority loved it. When did it become the "cool thing to do" to shit all over any film that's been widely well recieved and is financially successful? Why do you petulant retards incessantly gripe about movies like this when there are oh-so-many unfathomably abhorrent re-boots and unneccessary sequels at which to direct your impotent little fists of nerdy fury? If you don't like it...it's precisely as simple as not watching it, shutting the fuck up, and moving on to something you did like. You'll not sway the millions who already enjoyed the movie with all of your limp-wristed flailing about. It's not as if it's something like Michael Bay taking a gargantuan shit all over your precious childhood, now is it? Don't worry. Plenty of room for your vitriol when the next Transformers, Spiderman, "Ninja Turtles", Robocop, etc, etc, etc ad infinitum comes out. I know you have to pass your time somehow...but at least try to focus your angry masturbatory tirades on more deserving abominations. All of that pent-up nerd rage can't be good for you, though. Leads to rapid aging, cancer, and early death, you know. And it's the internet - so it's not as if your little diatribes are published, respected, or even cared about. Ask yourself what the point is.
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April 1, 2012, 12:47 p.m. CST
Here's the movies HUNGER GAMES rips off and STILL SUX
by GhostofLesterBangs
Running Man, Death Race 2000, design work from Fifth Element, and cops in white design from Soylent Green. I hated every minute of this movie and was resisting walking out every single second I was watching it. Terrible, terrible movie.
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" When did it become the "cool thing to do" to shit all over any film that's been widely well recieved and is financially successful? " The answer you're seeking is that it's really more about looking cute or clever online than it is about the film. These people really don't care about the film. They care about the fact that there is other people who do care about the film and they want to get a rise out of them. These types are called " Trolls ".
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Sorry that I'm late to the party... I read all three Hunger Games novels last week after several other 40-something guys recommended the books to me. I was skeptical for the longest time, because I've always been a fan of the novel and the film for Battle Royale, but the Hunger Games books are solid. Specifically, I loved the first novel, I really liked Catching Fire, and I just wanted to finish Mockingjay, but the trilogy as a whole sold me. The movie adaptation of The Hunger Games had a rough-around-the-edges feel to it that reminded me of second-tier 1970s dystopia flicks, such as Soylent Green or Logan's Run. The Hunger Games plays as though it would have fit in alongside Logan's Run, The Omega Man, Soylent Green, and such on old Sunday afternoon cable television just before Kung Fu Theater and Elvira's Movie Macabre. I guess that's why I warmed up to it so much, because it's not Academy Award material, but it is very much the type of second-tier science fiction that I would sit down in front of the television for on a Sunday afternoon even if I have already seen the movie many times. It's not "gritty" by any stretch, but it's just...rough-around-the-edges in the same way that those old 1970s flicks were. A lesser director would have depicted many of the arena scenes as though we were the audience watching the events from the Capitol and the Districts, but the older, more experienced director played it straight. There's not a single moment in the movie when we do not realize that everything is being seen by an audience, but the movie does not run this into the ground. The major nuances of the novel are acknowledged in a way that never seems heavy-handed. Even if I had never read the novel, I would have still picked up on the Katniss/Gale/Peeta dynamics just from the "We could run away from all this..." conversation between Gale and Katniss in the woods at the beginning and from Gale's brief visit with Katniss after she volunteers. We know from the get-go that Katniss is resourceful and that she picks up on playing it for the audience with Peeta, but also eventually has true feelings for him. The initial Cornucopia bloodbath is handled so brilliantly. In a matter of seconds, we fully absorb the brutality of several kids being slaughtered, but we also grasp the tragedy of each individual loss. In a way, the PG-13 dynamics work so much better than those in an R-rated movie would have. Very well done. While I still think that Battle Royale is a better novel than The Hunger Games, I believe that movie adaptation of The Hunger Games is better than the movie adaptation of Battle Royale. I'd even give The Hunger Games adaptation a slight edge of the the source material just for its ode to good old-school science fiction cinema and for its lack of heavy-handedness. Yes, I liked the movie better. I could nitpick, of course. I run 50-mile trail races for fun, and I would have made the actors look more exhausted and gritty after a few days in the arena. In the final scenes, though, the characters have all been treated by Capitol doctors and such, though, just as they were in the novel. It's also worth noting that Katniss was able to almost-effortlessly feed herself in the arena with her hunting skills. It was a good solid flick. This is how decent science fiction movies should be done.
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" Please just shut up about John Carter. " You first. You didn't like the movie. We get that! And as you can see I'm not the only one so if you don't like hearing about it don't bother holding your breath waiting for this movie to die a quiet death. Unless you're fond of the color blue that is! I guess you guys shouldn't have picked on this movie so much when it really didn't deserve so much negative attention.
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How can you call a movie who already made $264,000,000 world wide a mega flop? So by what standard are you measuring this as a " mega flop "?
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April 3, 2012, 7:35 a.m. CST
One NEEDS to read the book before seeing the movie! Harry please read...
by Joe
While I commend you for reading the books before the film, i decided not to. I was actually dissapointed in the film becuase I was left confused and having a million questions afterwards. When you compare this film to "Harry Potter" the translation from book to film did lose some things but nothing so important that i wasn't necessarily lost. In "Hunger" I didn't understand a few things: - What was the 3-finger salute about? - Why did District 11 revolt after the salute was given? - Is District 13 the Capital or a seperate District that wasn't represented in the games? - What was the purpose of the lady who was pulling names for "The Reaping"? I feel these details would've been crucial to the film. and were obviously left out. I hope they decide to explain more if/when they do the sequel. But my point is this, when I saw "John Carter" I thought it was a great adventure film and complimented the people who put it together based on a very old story "Queen of Mars" that, when written, the author had no future vision of movies able to caputre imagination the way it does through CG and more. So while the movie was flat for most critics I loved the effort put into it. This is not the case for "Hunger Games". It's a newer novel, therefore the screenplay people, director, producers, have NO excuse for a poor book to film translation. I don't want to have to buy the book simply to 'understand' a film. I want to buy and read the book to enjoy the film further. Anyhoo, my two Republic Credits. -.02 -Rex
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" Real deal, my final word on this " For real? Your arguments about me would have some weight behind them except for one thing. If you look through these talkbacks ( every single one of them ) I'm not the only one who feels this way by a long shot! I just decided I'd had enough of silly trolls trying to put down this or that property just to see if they looked cute or could affect it in some way. And yes I do think someone is biased here. It's you.
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Saw the movie Read the book Saw the movie I like both Thought the adaptation was better from book to movie than was done with the Harry Potter books.
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was fucking awful.. thank the maker i got in for free..
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I also saw the movie before reading the books. I agree about some points of confusion that you have but I also think that some were effectively communicated in the movie. I agree that the three-finger salute could have used more explaining. It's a District 12 salute that they use to express respect. In the book District 11 didn't even rebel in the first book. I thought that it was obvious that in the movie District 11 rebelled because Rue was so beloved. Seeing someone from another district grieving over her death in that fashion pushed them over the edge into fury. In the books she saluted Rue and covered her in flowers but that didn't prompt an immediate rebellion. Instead she sparked a riot during the "Victory Tour" when she gave a speech about how much Rue meant to her and how sorry she was for her family's loss. I don't even remember District 13 being mentioned much in the movie. In the book it's a District that the Capitol claims was wiped out completely as a warning to the other districts. I thought that it was obvious that Effie served as a liaison between the Capitol and District 12. Her job is to select District 12's tributes, bring them to the Capitol, and prepare them for the Hunger Games. I thought the movie did an adequate job of demonstrating that.
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The book is so much better but the movie was very good. I enjoyed it and saw the diffferences in the book and the movie.
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I thought having anthropomorphic canine-psedo-clones of the fallen tributes would've been way scarier. The Mutts in the movie just looked like massive, poorly done CGI dogs. Reminded me all to much of the god-awful werewolves in the Twilight films.
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