The Hunger Games: Grade, Review, Discuss, Sequel news **SPOILERS**

[DarthPipes]

The director, Gary Ross, kept saying that the Avox thing was one of the things they had to lose when making the movie. But I couldn't tell whether he just didn't film them or he filmed them and cut it out...not unlike the Avox.

I'd imagine if anything was shot with them, we'll see it on the DVD.

They did have Katniss throw out that one line early on that if she and Gale ran away, they'd probably end up having their tongues ripped out.

 

[superdeluxe]

24 million Friday would be best Friday of all time

Also gunning for best 2nd best weekend.

Even more incredible is that this is not a holiday or summer movie

 

[DigificWriter]

Gary Ross just answered some fan questions with the New York Times, and said that he's not the kind of director who changes his films after-the-fact, and that he wouldn't be putting 'additional' scenes on the DVD or releasing an 'extended cut'. He also unequivocally said that the Avoxes (I dont know what they might be since I haven't read the books) were never filmed even though they're a detail from the novels that he really liked.

Some people might find his stance dissapointing, but it's his prerogative as the film's director to make that kind of decision.

 

[Set Harth]

Or as another director once put it, "Ze director's cut is ze film you saw in ze theater."

 

[Trekker4747]

I saw this movie tonight and quite enjoyed it, I'd probably give it an A-. Thought the lead actress did a great job, Harrellson was great as always and the overall story was interesting. I may give the book(s) a read.

If I have one "complaint" I'd say that the makeup/costume/styling of the rich people/whatever was too "off" and flamboyant. I understand in the books it's suggested they've an odd sense of style but it seems like the movie just took that way too far. They looked and dressed like Sci-Fi movie-of-the-week "aliens."

 

[Unicron]

It's certainly an interesting contrast between the Capitol and places like District 12, and I found it was okay once I got into the movie. But you're right, it can seem a bit jarring.

 

[CaptainCanada]

I thought the point was pretty clear: the pursuit of fashion had made everybody into bizarre-looking freaks. They're supposed to look off-putting.

 

[Star Wolf]

So the first freak we saw, the woman in charge of the lottery. Was she a District 12 VIP or was she from the capitol and District 12 was her assignment?

 

[Trekker4747]

I thought the point was pretty clear: the pursuit of fashion had made everybody into bizarre-looking freaks. They're supposed to look off-putting.

Yeah, I got that. I just think the concept went too far. On one hand you've got this "concept" you want to present to the audience that's in the books.

On the other hand your cast and characters have to be viewable and relatable on some level without looking ridiculous.

 

[DarthPipes]

I saw the film again tonight and I really enjoyed it.

It was definitely the mutts that killed Thresh in the movie. When you first hear them snarling, you can hear Thresh screaming in the background.

 

[Captain Craig]

It's certainly an interesting contrast between the Capitol and places like District 12, and I found it was okay once I got into the movie. But you're right, it can seem a bit jarring.

I took the fashion choices and in the book it mentions surgical changes also, that she was making commentary on all forms of vanity procedures. Just as the games are in part, commentary on reality tv.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

So the first freak we saw, the woman in charge of the lottery. Was she a District 12 VIP or was she from the capitol and District 12 was her assignment?

She's from the Capitol. In the books, it's mentioned that she probably hopes that a successful showing by the D12 tributes will allow her to move on to work with a more prestigious district.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

I thought the point was pretty clear: the pursuit of fashion had made everybody into bizarre-looking freaks. They're supposed to look off-putting.

Yeah, I got that. I just think the concept went too far. On one hand you've got this "concept" you want to present to the audience that's in the books.

On the other hand your cast and characters have to be viewable and relatable on some level without looking ridiculous.

I just felt that they all looked like Lady GaGa. I actually took it as a tongue-in-cheek dig at her, as if to say, "Here is a world where she would be perfectly normal."

 

[Trekker4747]

I thought the point was pretty clear: the pursuit of fashion had made everybody into bizarre-looking freaks. They're supposed to look off-putting.

Yeah, I got that. I just think the concept went too far. On one hand you've got this "concept" you want to present to the audience that's in the books.

On the other hand your cast and characters have to be viewable and relatable on some level without looking ridiculous.

I just felt that they all looked like Lady GaGa. I actually took it as a tongue-in-cheek dig at her, as if to say, "Here is a world where she would be perfectly normal."

Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, rejected Johnny Depp characters from a Tim Burton movie, it was overall and odd costuming/makeup choice. Again, I think the "oddity" of future fashion and the self-indulgence and vanity of the rich could have been better portrayed.

 

[Set Harth]

I thought the point was pretty clear: the pursuit of fashion had made everybody into bizarre-looking freaks. They're supposed to look off-putting.

Yeah, I got that. I just think the concept went too far. On one hand you've got this "concept" you want to present to the audience that's in the books.

On the other hand your cast and characters have to be viewable and relatable on some level without looking ridiculous.

I just felt that they all looked like Lady GaGa.

That seems like a logical progression: in the future everyone will be trying to out-Gaga one another.

 

[Agent Richard07]

I liked the fashion sense. It might look odd today, but it's not today, it's the future. How might fashion look centuries from now? Styles can change drastically and this movie captures that. As for the contrast between the Capitol and District 12, that's to be expected. We've got bigger differences in the present day real world.

 

[Trekker4747]

But, I'd argue that things being viewable without being absurd wins out over "fashion in the future could be odd."

When you're looking at characters and can't take them seriously while they wear ridiculous outfits, have devil beards and look like Lady Gaga rejects it's hard to fully take them "seriously" as credible villains/characters.

 

[Miss Chicken]

Are the fashion any more ridiculous that some of the fashions that have been worn in the past, such as the wigs worn in the 18th century?

 

[Agent Richard07]

But, I'd argue that things being viewable without being absurd wins out over "fashion in the future could be odd."

When you're looking at characters and can't take them seriously while they wear ridiculous outfits, have devil beards and look like Lady Gaga rejects it's hard to fully take them "seriously" as credible villains/characters.

It was acceptable to me because I understood that this is the future and that they're not us. It was like watching a period piece, but in reverse, and was no weirder than watching people wear togas or men wearing white wigs.

Are the fashion any more ridiculous that some of the fashions that have been worn in the past, such as the wigs worn in the 18th century?

Exactly.

 

[DimesDan]

Are the fashion any more ridiculous that some of the fashions that have been worn in the past, such as the wigs worn in the 18th century?

Very very true. I personally loved the design aesthetics of the Capitiol, the architecture reminded me of the Roman Empire and the clothes of the general population reminded me of pre-revolution France, something that Gaga seems to have based her wardrobe on. Given that Panem is short for "Panem et Circenses" or "Bread and Circuses" basing the design's of the Capitol on both of these historic cultures makes perfect sense, having it blended with slightly more advanced tech than we have now was in my opinion very good.

As for the film, I really liked it. I liked that they didn't have any guns, I liked the parody and notching up of reality programming (even though I know this isn't unique) and, it's all a TV programme and what's most important is ratings are king! The two hosts were cool and the parody on sports commentating was rather amusing, especially describing the GM Wasps.

I didn't realise it was Lenny Kravitz until reading this thread, and if I ever wear eyeliner (again), it will be gold! Jennifer Lawrence was wonderful in it and the "romance" wasn't as bad as I thought it could be. Woody Harrelson though was brilliant and I want to see more of his character in the next film. As for the weirdly bearded chap, it was brilliantly ironic how he died.

I went out and brought the Hunger Games book on Thursday after watching it on Wednesday and once I've read what I'm reading now, I may crack it open.