Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I approach any film billed as the next Twilight with a certain amount of reluctance (it was Mrs Flashan's choice). I was however pleasantly surprised by this franchise opener. Whilst obviously aimed at the teenage girl market (there were plenty in the audience and consequently plenty of "Ooooooooo" noises whenever the two leads pecked each other on the cheek), it is at least a film aimed at teenage girls where teenage girls try to kill each other in gladiatorial combat.

Unlike Twilight, which has been like watching paint dry, this has been directed with a bit of style and there are some genuinely tense moments. Waiting in her chamber for the games to start, Katnis looks genuinely terrified as the clock begins to counts down. The film benefits strongly here from it's central performer. Indeed, Jennifer Lawrence has buckets more charisma than Kirsten Stewart and as anyone who has seen Winter's Bone will testify, she knows how to act too. In fact, she produces a similar performance to Winter's Bone and gets quite a bit of depth into what could have been simplistic character. It's a shame her two male co-stars are nothing special and are mainly there to look pretty for the film's principal demographic. Of the film's veteran performers, Donald Sutherland does a bit more than phone in his performance, Woody Harrelson is quite fun and Elizabeth Banks is suitably grotesque.

Where the film kind of disappoints is the games themselves which could have done with a few more exciting action scenes. It was also confusing working out who was still alive and whether you were supposed to care or not. Very few of the co-competitors were established as characters, unlike say Battle Royale which had a dozen recognisible protagonists. I've not read the book, but I'm guessing certain sections were rushed, particularly the ending where there was no hint as to where the story is going next. Lastly, For UK viewers at least, the final cut isn't quite violent enough for the context of the film.

Final Verdict - Better than Twilight, with a central character you can root for. However, this is still a largely a film for teenage girls, albeit quite an entertaining one.

Read the books (Hunger Games is first of three) and loved them. If anything things get muddier in the later ones.

The romance was played up a bit more in the movie than the books (which is why I won't argue that the main audicence isn't teenage girls), and some damn good subplots where done away with, but I still enjoyed it.

I got the impression from watching the trailer that it was a cross between Twilight and films like the running man, rollerball and deathrace. Would you concur?

warpcrafter wrote:I got the impression from watching the trailer that it was a cross between Twilight and films like the running man, rollerball and deathrace. Would you concur?

With a fair helping of Battle Royal and based on the short story "The lottery"

Ma55ter_fett wrote:

warpcrafter wrote:I got the impression from watching the trailer that it was a cross between Twilight and films like the running man, rollerball and deathrace. Would you concur?

With a fair helping of Battle Royal and based on the short story "The lottery"

it's probably going to be lame, since hottopic is selling thier merch for it.

It's a very popular series of books for young adults. It's a natural fit for movies.

The difference between the Hunger Games and Twilight is that the person who wrote the Hunger Games doesn't suck at writing (and doesn't use the word cringed every page which is an instant plus right there).

Spent the whole day reading it, and I am quite suprised at how good it is. It has a cool premise, and the characters are interesting enough.
Definitely gonna go watch the film, see if it's any good.

Aquaterry

warpcrafter wrote:I got the impression from watching the trailer that it was a cross between Twilight and films like the running man, rollerball and deathrace. Would you concur?

About the only similarity to Twilight is the potential love triangle. As noted by another poster, Battle Royale is the most obvious inspiration for the plot, with some elements of The Running Man in terms the games being entertainment for the downtrodden masses.

I hope they didn't girly it up to much, I want to keep my dignity when I go watch it.

Ledabot wrote:I hope they didn't girly it up to much, I want to keep my dignity when I go watch it.

Indeed.

I was curious and read into the book. Apparently the author got her idea from 'channel hopping' and not from all the similar material out there. *sceptical face*

Star crossed lovers, marketed for teenage girls... I think I'll give this one a miss.

I'm going to see this with some friends tomorrow, I haven't read the books, but my friends and sister have bugged me to read them, and they sound fairly good.

I will post up some thoughts when I get back from it.

My sister recommend this so I was instantly leery of it.

However, she lent me the book, and I wound up reading it. It only took about 2 hours. It was way, way better then I expected and I am excited about seeing the movie.

I'm sorry. This movie was just bad.

I've been holding off reading the book so I'm not one of "those" guys. I came into the theater with no expectations and I still stepped out disappointed

1. Camerawork/Cinematography was shoddy. Jitter cam all the way making it hard to follow the action sequences. Heck the big battle was one jitter cam mess!

2. Bad CGI. From the city to the CGI whatsits at the end ...its Mummy Returns level of bad

3. Heck even the blocking is bad. youll notice it at the climactic battle. if you can figure out who's who then you've got eagle eyes.

And this is not even mentioning the writing and the story itself

I came out of Green Lantern in a better mood. It was that bad for me

Ah well...this guarantees that the book will be a better experience at least

Looks fething awful.

Simply put, the premise (futuristic games like The Running Man" or Battle Royale) has already been done to the death.

But this is a version aimed at teenagers?!

Do me a favour!

Flashman wrote:

warpcrafter wrote:I got the impression from watching the trailer that it was a cross between Twilight and films like the running man, rollerball and deathrace. Would you concur?

About the only similarity to Twilight is the potential love triangle. As noted by another poster, Battle Royale is the most obvious inspiration for the plot, with some elements of The Running Man in terms the games being entertainment for the downtrodden masses.

Yet reading the paper today the author (also heavily involved in the film) still claims she has never seem Battle Royale

The Evening Standard suggested this is a film about violence for teenage girls (with fairly vapid characters?) where as Battle Royale was a violent film about teenagers for adults. I have BR I wont be bothering with this in the same way as I didn't bother with Twilight. Luckily my Mrs hates the cinema!

Heading to see this with Mrs. Lint this afternoon. I do not have high expectations for this. I'm glad I haven't read the book because the movie looks like crap.

I just finished the 2nd book at lunch and am excited to start the 3rd.

The story is definitely aimed at teenagers, and it's not exactly unique. But, I don't think it's aimed at girls more than it is boys. It has a female protagonist, but that doesn't make it only a girls story.

My mum asked me if I want to go with her tyo see it. I said yes before I saw this thread. Now I feel terrorfied. I need manly men to watch this with.

Just give your honest opinion when you come back. I hate it when someone says "THIS SUCKS!!!!" and others follow suit just so they arnt the odd man out.



I love the movie WaterWorld. Like LOVE IT! I proudly admit it, and anyone that doesnt like it, can commit suicide. Ok now that thats out of the way, behonest ya?

Going to see girls movies with your mum indicates one possible connotation, looking for manly men confirms it!

I just got back from seeing it with the wife and her cousin. I liked it. The only thing I didn't care for was one of the male leads (the one in the games) since I felt like there was zero chemistry between them. Otherwise it was totally worth a watch. IMO obviously

notprop wrote:Going to see girls movies with your mum indicates one possible connotation, looking for manly men confirms it!

Oh you!!!

Jokes aside, the only way I got threw twilight was with my mate and his dad present, We supported each other threw that sky movie session.

Just got back from watching it. The shaky camera scened killed it for me. The opening bloodbath and the ending where impossible to follow along with, and considering said bloodbath was probably the most fethed part of the movie, this really hurt my view of things.

However, it was refreshing for once to see the lead female not be the super emotional one. If anything she doesn't really care much about being with anyone, it's the guy who fawns over her the whole time.

It was solid. Nothing earth shattering, but nothing truly bad.

Does Katniss atleast have more than one facial expression?

Yes, the female lead in this series can actually act as opposed to the series that shall not be named.

The series was great, gets even more interesting and darker in the later books. I honestly couldn't put them down. What I didn't like was



These are questions for people who have seen the movie, put in a spoiler because, well it might be a spoiler for people reading the books.



And for those thinking about reading the series, if your a science fiction fan I think you'll quite like the 2nd and 3rd books. Especially the 75th hunger games in the 2nd book, and the Muttations

If it is battle royal with a bigger budget it might be interesting, and shaky camera work often looks worse on the big screen (especially if you are close to the screen), so I may "wait" for this to "be released" on "DVD" before watching it

DarkCorsair wrote:The series was great, gets even more interesting and darker in the later books. I honestly couldn't put them down. What I didn't like was

Spoiler:

The ending of the 3rd book where Katniss shoots Coin...I just didn't really like that. Not sure why. Then again, I read the books a year ago so my memory might be fuddled.