Authored by Matthew Marshall
I want to start out this critique by stating that I am a huge fan of the Hunger Games books. Having read them I am very partial to the book as opposed to the movie. That being said I like the movie, just not as much as the book.
The first thing I would like to talk about is the cast and their acting. When the original cast was announced I did not see Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. I was surprised that they picked her to be an ordinary girl who could shoot a bow. However she did a fantastic job of bringing the character to life. Haymitch Abernathy being played by Woody Harrelson was, I feel, the best choice for that character. Haymitch was shown to be an old drunken man who really wasn’t that old. Woody Harrelson embodies this perfectly. He appears old but, as shown in the train scene, still has his agility about him. This gives an air of youth throughout the movie. When we see Haymitch speaking with Seneca Crane we have all the puzzle pieces for how Haymitch won the games. He was smart and quick.
Speaking of Seneca, Wes Bentley was an interesting choice. Seneca wasn’t actively discussed in the book, he was mentioned but not talked about in length. Seneca was shown to be charismatic and good at getting his way with anybody. Wes Bentley was also Ricky Fitts in American Beauty. The characters that he plays in both are very similar but very different. Ricky is a character who often gets what he wants, but goes about it in a morally wrong way. Seneca charmed his way into winning. Both characters get what they want by any means. Seneca’s means are just nicer than Ricky’s.
One of the biggest flaws that is seen is the rebellion in District 11. In the books this doesn’t happen until the second book and isn’t shown but is talked about. This makes production for the second movie easier which is a bad reason to do that. Another flaw is Peeta after the games. He is supposed to lose a leg as result of the leg injury. This does not happen in any way in the movie. He limps but is ultimately fine.The final change that changed the movie entirely was the “mutts.” The big dogs in the arena were supposed to be werewolves that have the eyes of the fallen tributes. These are the big changes that really bother me in the movie. Other than those big things, and various other small ones, the movie stayed true to the book.
Alone the movie wasn’t bad. To somebody who hadn’t read the book the movie was probably fantastic. But to a book lover the move was nowhere as good as the book.
I want to start out this critique by stating that I am a huge fan of the Hunger Games books. Having read them I am very partial to the book as opposed to the movie. That being said I like the movie, just not as much as the book.
The first thing I would like to talk about is the cast and their acting. When the original cast was announced I did not see Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. I was surprised that they picked her to be an ordinary girl who could shoot a bow. However she did a fantastic job of bringing the character to life. Haymitch Abernathy being played by Woody Harrelson was, I feel, the best choice for that character. Haymitch was shown to be an old drunken man who really wasn’t that old. Woody Harrelson embodies this perfectly. He appears old but, as shown in the train scene, still has his agility about him. This gives an air of youth throughout the movie. When we see Haymitch speaking with Seneca Crane we have all the puzzle pieces for how Haymitch won the games. He was smart and quick.
Speaking of Seneca, Wes Bentley was an interesting choice. Seneca wasn’t actively discussed in the book, he was mentioned but not talked about in length. Seneca was shown to be charismatic and good at getting his way with anybody. Wes Bentley was also Ricky Fitts in American Beauty. The characters that he plays in both are very similar but very different. Ricky is a character who often gets what he wants, but goes about it in a morally wrong way. Seneca charmed his way into winning. Both characters get what they want by any means. Seneca’s means are just nicer than Ricky’s.
One of the biggest flaws that is seen is the rebellion in District 11. In the books this doesn’t happen until the second book and isn’t shown but is talked about. This makes production for the second movie easier which is a bad reason to do that. Another flaw is Peeta after the games. He is supposed to lose a leg as result of the leg injury. This does not happen in any way in the movie. He limps but is ultimately fine.The final change that changed the movie entirely was the “mutts.” The big dogs in the arena were supposed to be werewolves that have the eyes of the fallen tributes. These are the big changes that really bother me in the movie. Other than those big things, and various other small ones, the movie stayed true to the book.
Alone the movie wasn’t bad. To somebody who hadn’t read the book the movie was probably fantastic. But to a book lover the move was nowhere as good as the book.
Authored by Viet Le
Inside the action packed movie of the Hunger Games we see that there is one overarching theme, power. The theme of power is manifested by the use of story development but also by the work of camera angles, another way that power is portrayed in this movie is the costumes or the general mise-en-scene in this film. While power is the prevalent theme, sometimes it is demonstrated by a combination of elements and sometimes dominated by just one
One of the main elements that is used to show power inside the film is the use of camera angles and camera shots. The camera shots accentuate the person in power by angling the camera upwards so that we are looking up to the person while they are looking down on us. During the beginning part of the film there is a camera shot of President Snow overlooking a crowd. In the movie we are constantly reminded that there is a higher power. There are several parts of the film where we are shown that people are being restrained by a higher power. We see that Seneca Crane, the game maker, is constantly controlling by introducing several different obstacles to the arena. We are constantly being shown scenes that show him standing over other people and supervising them. Although we do see that there are camera shots that show power we lose some of that. Several times during the film there are points where the camera is shaking constantly and most of the time the camera is shaking too much. Because of this, the “powershot” is losing it importance.
One of the main ways how power is portrayed is through story development. One scene where we see this is in the beginning of the film, when we see the host of a talk show asking Seneca Crane what his signature for being a game master is. Right off the bat we are shown that someone has a big title. He has the title of game master and that sounds pretty powerful. Another time is when Seneca addresses President Snow you recognize right there that he is the one of the most powerful figures we will see.
In the movie when we are in the capital we are constantly shown ridiculous outfits that no longer stand out due what everyone wears. Something in the mise-en-scene that does show power is the outfit of President Snow. His outfit, which is a simple black and white suit, makes him stand out more than anyone else. The simplicity of it shows that he is in power because of his uniqueness and how he is the only one not wearing anything that specially designed. There is no need for him to be special. He shows off his power by being simple. They will know who is in charge when they see him.
Throughout the film we are reminded that power is a theme. It’s mentioned inside the film, it’s mentioned by the use of storytelling, camera shots and also mise-en-scene.
Inside the action packed movie of the Hunger Games we see that there is one overarching theme, power. The theme of power is manifested by the use of story development but also by the work of camera angles, another way that power is portrayed in this movie is the costumes or the general mise-en-scene in this film. While power is the prevalent theme, sometimes it is demonstrated by a combination of elements and sometimes dominated by just one
One of the main elements that is used to show power inside the film is the use of camera angles and camera shots. The camera shots accentuate the person in power by angling the camera upwards so that we are looking up to the person while they are looking down on us. During the beginning part of the film there is a camera shot of President Snow overlooking a crowd. In the movie we are constantly reminded that there is a higher power. There are several parts of the film where we are shown that people are being restrained by a higher power. We see that Seneca Crane, the game maker, is constantly controlling by introducing several different obstacles to the arena. We are constantly being shown scenes that show him standing over other people and supervising them. Although we do see that there are camera shots that show power we lose some of that. Several times during the film there are points where the camera is shaking constantly and most of the time the camera is shaking too much. Because of this, the “powershot” is losing it importance.
One of the main ways how power is portrayed is through story development. One scene where we see this is in the beginning of the film, when we see the host of a talk show asking Seneca Crane what his signature for being a game master is. Right off the bat we are shown that someone has a big title. He has the title of game master and that sounds pretty powerful. Another time is when Seneca addresses President Snow you recognize right there that he is the one of the most powerful figures we will see.
In the movie when we are in the capital we are constantly shown ridiculous outfits that no longer stand out due what everyone wears. Something in the mise-en-scene that does show power is the outfit of President Snow. His outfit, which is a simple black and white suit, makes him stand out more than anyone else. The simplicity of it shows that he is in power because of his uniqueness and how he is the only one not wearing anything that specially designed. There is no need for him to be special. He shows off his power by being simple. They will know who is in charge when they see him.
Throughout the film we are reminded that power is a theme. It’s mentioned inside the film, it’s mentioned by the use of storytelling, camera shots and also mise-en-scene.
Authored by Jermel Langley
The Hunger Games sold over 26 million copies of its trilogy. It has a dramatic/tragic, but very captivating story. Lionsgate decided to showcase this book in a film on March 23, 2012. Two hours and sixteen minutes of full perfection. It’s a challenge to find all the parts worth being in the film and presenting them well; Gary Ross and Suzanne Collins were on the nail with them.
The movie felt solely based around love through tragedy. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) was the main character. She is the caretaker and sister of Primrose Everdeen(Willow Shield), when the days of selection to join a annually fight between districts Primrose gets called up to the challenge. Immediately, Katniss volunteers herself to protect her sister, leaving behind her boyfriend Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) and her family. Joining her in this fight as a male tribute will be Peeta Mellark(Josh Hutcherson).They were headed to this new world, they’re the full attention and they will have to fight for they’re lives to survive and make it back home. Help along the way are Haymitch Abernathy(Woody Harrelson) as a former tribute of the games who survived and win the game and Effie Trinket(Elizabeth Banks) as the escorts.
When Primrose was having a nightmare at the beginning of the film katniss was there to comfort her. They showed a high angle shot on Katniss and a low angle shot on primrose representing Katniss being a higher figure to her little sister. As one would say “She looks up to her”. She even presents this when they both gets dress up to go to the selection and primrose says “I wish I looked like you”. Katniss has a very strong connection with her little sister. She feels as if she has to take care of her and help her accept this world that they live in, even though katniss hasn’t even fully accepted it herself. Also throughout the course of the film you hear the humming of the song Katniss was singing to her sister when she was trying to get her to go to sleep.
Romance also played a part in Katniss being a tribute with Peeta. They were told that the best way to survive the game and win wasn’t to be the best killer or the most skilled but to get the most sponsors. Peeta got the idea that if they played a couple then people would feel more attached and what isn’t more real than a love couple knowing that there will only be one survivor. During the interview of each player, peeta decided to reveal the “secret” to the world. “There is this one girl I had a crush on forever, but I don’t thing she recognized me until the reaping.......I don’t think winning is going to help at all because she came here with me.” The sound went completely silent and the camera were straight in front of his face. This built some suspense and emotional capture in the story, this forced people to care about them.
Now the final scene completed the story. The two tributes from District 12 both survived, they “love each other” and there is only one winner. If you notice they keep the camera’s straight at each other when they are switching back and forth, showing equality. They argue, then decide they are both going to die so that there is no winner at all. This flipping the whole system of the game out of order and forced the game maker to let both of them win.
Everyone that played a part in this film did outstanding. As was stated at the beginning it was pure perfection. Not one moment was dragged out or even rushed. The movie did wonderful on reflecting the book and itself.
The Hunger Games sold over 26 million copies of its trilogy. It has a dramatic/tragic, but very captivating story. Lionsgate decided to showcase this book in a film on March 23, 2012. Two hours and sixteen minutes of full perfection. It’s a challenge to find all the parts worth being in the film and presenting them well; Gary Ross and Suzanne Collins were on the nail with them.
The movie felt solely based around love through tragedy. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) was the main character. She is the caretaker and sister of Primrose Everdeen(Willow Shield), when the days of selection to join a annually fight between districts Primrose gets called up to the challenge. Immediately, Katniss volunteers herself to protect her sister, leaving behind her boyfriend Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) and her family. Joining her in this fight as a male tribute will be Peeta Mellark(Josh Hutcherson).They were headed to this new world, they’re the full attention and they will have to fight for they’re lives to survive and make it back home. Help along the way are Haymitch Abernathy(Woody Harrelson) as a former tribute of the games who survived and win the game and Effie Trinket(Elizabeth Banks) as the escorts.
When Primrose was having a nightmare at the beginning of the film katniss was there to comfort her. They showed a high angle shot on Katniss and a low angle shot on primrose representing Katniss being a higher figure to her little sister. As one would say “She looks up to her”. She even presents this when they both gets dress up to go to the selection and primrose says “I wish I looked like you”. Katniss has a very strong connection with her little sister. She feels as if she has to take care of her and help her accept this world that they live in, even though katniss hasn’t even fully accepted it herself. Also throughout the course of the film you hear the humming of the song Katniss was singing to her sister when she was trying to get her to go to sleep.
Romance also played a part in Katniss being a tribute with Peeta. They were told that the best way to survive the game and win wasn’t to be the best killer or the most skilled but to get the most sponsors. Peeta got the idea that if they played a couple then people would feel more attached and what isn’t more real than a love couple knowing that there will only be one survivor. During the interview of each player, peeta decided to reveal the “secret” to the world. “There is this one girl I had a crush on forever, but I don’t thing she recognized me until the reaping.......I don’t think winning is going to help at all because she came here with me.” The sound went completely silent and the camera were straight in front of his face. This built some suspense and emotional capture in the story, this forced people to care about them.
Now the final scene completed the story. The two tributes from District 12 both survived, they “love each other” and there is only one winner. If you notice they keep the camera’s straight at each other when they are switching back and forth, showing equality. They argue, then decide they are both going to die so that there is no winner at all. This flipping the whole system of the game out of order and forced the game maker to let both of them win.
Everyone that played a part in this film did outstanding. As was stated at the beginning it was pure perfection. Not one moment was dragged out or even rushed. The movie did wonderful on reflecting the book and itself.