The Hunger Games Trilogy - Movies/books thread.

Post by **GORDON** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 2:45 pm

Malcolm wrote:
Government oppresses the population through a sadistic, brutal game show: Stephen Kings, "The Long Walk"
In the second, all they had to do was walk. That's a lot more believable than the teenage version of Running Man HG presents.
I don't remember the fine details of this story... do they Walk by lottery? Volunteer?

But they don't "just walk." I remember they have to walk a minimum of 3 miles per hour... which is what we did on "humps" in the Marines (I would think a lot about this story while on long forced marches) And that is a brisk fucking pace, I can tell you. And if you fall below 3mph, you get a warning. A minute later, another warning. A minute after that, they (the government) shoot you in the head. After an hour a warning drops off. Three warning within an hour, dead. Last boy Walking gets to live and has fabulous prizes and finally gets enough food to eat. Lots of similarities. I just don't remember at all how one gets into the game.

So, it was combat by other means.

I just totally fucked up your post by accident. I thought I hit QUOTE but must have accidentally hit EDIT. Sorry bout that. Repost, if you are so inclined.

Post by **GORDON** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 2:53 pm

Leisher wrote:The best example I can give you from my memory of the film (and please be aware I watched it months ago and didn't find it to be memorable) are the sponsors. The explanation of the sponsors in the film was piss poor. Basically a game changing moment in the story, and as a viewer you know basically nothing about them. Sure, you understood the concept, but I understand the concept of Godzilla movies without seeing a second of actual footage. The devil is in the details, and The Hunger Games gave us none. Yes, they referenced the sponsors, but they never actually explain the point or why someone would want to be one or the rules behind being one or why nobody else got one, etc.

Ok... did I hit quote instead of edit this time?

I hear what you are saying. I don't entirely disagree.... this was one of a couple small things that I didn't see spelled out. But I let it slide, because as soon as I heard "Sponsors" and Haymitch describe the concept to the movie audience, err, ah, I mean Katniss and Peeta, I knew it must be peeps who are paying money to get their name in the Super Bowl of the future that the entire country is sure to watch. "And that burn cream was sponsored by North Central Holographic Maps!"

But I got the concept, so I didn't need to see it beyond Haymitch describing it, and then Haymitch actually selling Katniss/Peeta the Starcrossed Lovers it to the sponsors without even needing to hear what he was saying. I thought Woody Harrelson owned that role.

Also, in the book it was mentioned that a lot of betting happens on the games, but in the movie that only hint of that was when katniss's stylist tells her, "I am not allowed to bet on the games, but my money would be on you." That was enough to give me the idea of the thing.

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 2:54 pm

...women drove this movie.

I think that's the bit that pisses me off the most, her entire plot not to get killed at the end.

But they don't "just walk." I remember they have to walk a minimum of 3 miles per hour... which is what we did on "humps" in the Marines (I would think a lot about this story while on long forced marches) And that is a brisk fucking pace, I can tell you. And if you fall below 3mph, you get a warning. A minute later, another warning. A minute after that, they (the government) shoot you in the head. After an hour a warning drops off. Three warning within an hour, dead. Last boy Walking gets to live and has fabulous prizes and finally gets enough food to eat. Lots of similarities. I just don't remember at all how one gets into the game.

3 mph is a bit of a pace, I'll admit (actually pace in story is 4mph). I'll take it over "battle to the death," though, where warnings generally aren't given.

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Post by **GORDON** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 3:02 pm

Malcolm wrote:3 mph is a bit of a pace, I'll admit (actually pace in story is 4mph). I'll take it over "battle to the death," though, where warnings generally aren't given.

I dunno. I once broke my foot on mile 13 of a 25 mile hike, and still finished it, and I think I was having pain hallucinations by the end.

That day I probably would have chosen gladiatorial combat to the death instead of finishing that hike.

I don't recall how far the winner went in The Long Walk... more than 100 miles?

SOudns like a job for google.

Wikipedia says it was actually 4mph pace (goddam), and "hundreds of miles."

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 3:07 pm

That day I probably would have chosen gladiatorial combat to the death instead of finishing that hike.

Hell, yes. Only thing worse than receiving your ultimate judgement is fucking waiting for it.

Post by **TPRJones** » Tue Mar 05, 2013 11:47 am

TheCatt wrote:I read the first book, but everyone I talked to said it goes downhill from there.

I'd have to say the first book was probably the weakest by a wide margin. It was a bit of a mess. The plot is weak and barely present and the pacing is all over the map. The actual detail of the writing itself is well done, with good descriptions and snappy language, but it reads like a book that badly needed a story editor to get their hands on it for a few rewrites.

The second and third are more coherent. Although the story they tell isn't anywhere close to the greatest story ever told, it's probably worth a read. Especially if you've already slogged through the first one. A word of warning, though: by the third book the main characters become less and less relatable.

As to the movie, this is one of those rare cases where the story in the book is in fact not more rich and detailed than the story of the movie. Which honestly says more about the first book than it does the movie.

All in all an entertaining series, although it could have been a lot better.

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Post by **GORDON** » Wed Apr 17, 2013 4:37 pm

Part 2 trailer.

Spoiler for movie 1 enclosed.

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Post by **GORDON** » Sat Nov 23, 2013 10:35 pm

Saw the movie, and it was possibly the most faithful book-to-movie adaption I've ever seen. It's almost like the book was written intending to be made into a movie....

Anyway, they hit the notes they had to hit, so if you liked the franchise thus far, you will like this movie.

+++++

I have a thought: I think this series might possibly be about red states vs. blue states, with liberals as the bad guys.

The "victim" districts seem to be mainly rural blue collar types. Yes, D1 and D2 are described as being tech Districts, but the story spends no time in them, and anyway, they are closely aligned with Capitol. Capitol, being the bad guy, of course, is a big city of soft, pretty city folk with no clue how the world works, and their boots planted firmly on the neck of the blue collar peeps.

If that isn't a metaphor for evil liberals who love control vs. red staters who just want freedom, I don't know what is.

Post by **GORDON** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 5:12 pm

Was in Walmart today. The 2nd movie is coming out on bluray on Friday, we are going to get it and watch it over the weekend on the big screen. As I was walking past the media area I saw a big display for it already set up. Looked like they already had product on the shelves... awesome! Two days early! By accident, who cares, I'm gonna get it! And I kept looking at it. New packaging... not like the first movie...

And I am looking at it...

Walmart repackaged the first movie with new images so it wasn't recognizable at first. It took me about 6 seconds to figure out it wasn't the 2nd movie. I imagine they are tricking a lot of people.

Post by **Vince** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:07 pm

GORDON wrote:I have a thought: I think this series might possibly be about red states vs. blue states, with liberals as the bad guys.

The "victim" districts seem to be mainly rural blue collar types. Yes, D1 and D2 are described as being tech Districts, but the story spends no time in them, and anyway, they are closely aligned with Capitol. Capitol, being the bad guy, of course, is a big city of soft, pretty city folk with no clue how the world works, and their boots planted firmly on the neck of the blue collar peeps.

If that isn't a metaphor for evil liberals who love control vs. red staters who just want freedom, I don't know what is.

The lady that wrote the series was very anti-Bush. Which isn't to say you can't be conservative AND anti-Bush (Lord knows I'm falling more and more in that camp). Be from all I've read, she thinks the problem is conservative authoritarian government rather than just an authoritarian government.

Post by **GORDON** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:09 pm

In no way did Capitol seem conservative, to me, in either books or movies. Does she equate evil leader = conservative?

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Post by **Vince** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 9:37 pm

I'm guessing the usual Republican = fascist tripe.

Post by **TPRJones** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 9:39 pm

Does she equate evil leader = conservative?

Probably. As enjoyable as the books are, they certainly aren't the product of a deep and thoughtful intellect.

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 12:59 am

She allegedly got the idea for everything from channel surfing and seeing a reality show after some battle coverage on CNN or some shit, then wondering, "Hmm, what if I combined the young adult exploitation of Twilight with a fourth-rate rehash of The Running Man?"

... ok, the bit in quotes was me. But everything else is really her.

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Post by **TheCatt** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 6:55 am

It was better than Twilight. I assume, I never read that crap. And I never read past the first book since I kept hearing how bad the next two were (and apparently how much better the 2nd one is as a movie)

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 7:59 am

Keep in mind that you associate with a lot of hippies, and they probably have bad taste in everything.

The books are fine, if you are looking for light reading. Better than most because they aren't filled with teen love/angst.

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Post by **Vince** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 9:32 am

I agree Gordo. The setup to the second book was a little contrived to get everyone back in the arena, but once you get past that the structure wasn't too bad. Chicks crybaby shit got on my nerves at times. Mostly because she was whining about normal teenager stuff. If being in the games didn't give her any perspective, then just shoot her.

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Post by **Leisher** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 5:49 pm

Got the second one for the wife's birthday and watched it with her.

I was not impressed. The plot is TERRIBLE. Know what's a great idea? Take that thing that you use to keep everyone in line, and completely undermine it! Brilliant!

I did enjoy how the writer included a new "feature" in the arena, which was another blatantly stolen idea from Battle Royale.

Fuck her.

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Post by **GORDON** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 7:54 pm

1. I liked it. You are wrong for not liking it.

2. Regarding Jennifer Lawrence: So far I have only seen her in the Hunger Games movies, and that XMan movie where she is mostly naked playing a young Mystique. I always thought she was "cute..." but always seemed a little young and babyfaced. More than what I like, that is. In this second Hunger Games movie, though, damn. She is getting mature, and a couple scenes when she was done up just so, she is starting to verge on hot. I think she is on my List, now.

Post by **Leisher** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 12:05 am