The Hunger Games: A Movie Review that Doesn’t Say Too Much (No Real Spoilers)

So here’s the thing about the Hunger Games movie: there’s not a lot to say.  They did such a good job converting an already movie-friendly book that it’s hard to find much to complain about.  It’s got incredibly tense action scenes, it pretty much has the same plot, it’s well-acted.  If you liked the books, you’ll probably at least like the movie and there’s a better-than-even chance you’ll love it.  The end.

Okay, if you’re a big fan of the books, you may be asking about Woody Harrelson as Haymitch and Lenny Kravitz as Cinna, two casting choices that raised some fannish eyebrows.  And rightly so.  In my mind’s eye, Haymitch was fatter and more out of sorts, perfect for a Walter Matthau sort, less obviously effective.  And Cinna was a more flamboyant designer type, much crazier.

For me, watching these two roles are like hearing a really good cover of a song you liked.  Were they what I imagined?  No.  But can I buy them?  Sure.  Kravitz’ interpretation of Cinna has a gravitas that really shines in the scene just before a terrified Katniss heads up to fight to her death, and while this Haymitch is far more obviously a good and effective fighter, Woody Harrelson sells the drunken asshole with such charm that sure.  I’ll go with this.

It hasn’t replaced the casting in my head the way Harry Potter movies did, but I’ll go with this.

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, on the other hand, absolutely owns this movie.  Her terror and need to survive comes across in every scene, and it’s a fine acting.  As Gini noted, most people tend to approach this sort of role with either an overstated bravado or a fainting collapse, but Jennifer walks that middle line perfectly.  She’s scared, so we’re scared.  But she’s not going to let that stop her.  (And Rue.  Oh, Rue.)

Stanley Tucci as Caesar, however, is spot-on perfect.  His talk-show host schtick is a pleasure to watch.

Visually, well, the movie’s irritating in the way that it mistakes shakycam for grit.  The entire opening in District 12 is shot by a trembling drunk, the camera jittering like it’s trying to tapdance.  This style settles down, but kicks up again in a couple of the fight scenes to the point where I wanted to say, “Hey, it’s cool to let us know what’s happening.  You don’t have to hide your fight-scene blocking behind a wall of blur.”

That said, the visuals of District 12 were exactly as I envisioned them.  Some wags said that for a movie called the Hunger Games, everyone seemed remarkably well-fed… but aside from the stars, District 12 looks properly miserable and downtrodden. Bart Calendar complained that the audiences back home weren’t being held at obvious gunpoint, but those opening sequences show us that they’re watching to find out what happens to their friends, and not out of genuine enthusiasm.

And I loved the outfits at the capital, because the severe over-the-top nature of everyone’s outfits has looped back around to the sort of garish garb that people in 1970s sci-fi movies thought of as The Future.  The folks in the Capitol could easily walk into Logan’s Run and start partying, which I very much enjoy.

But overall, there’s a couple of carps – I wanted more flame in the flaming coal outfits, Peeta’s camouflage is too movie-perfect, and I missed the note of ambiguity at the end as to Peeta’s true motives – but the Hunger Games’ power is evident more than ever here.  There are scenes we watch as Peeta and Katniss fall in love, and we think this is great fun to watch.  Then we realize that the TV viewers back home are also thinking it’s great fun to watch, and we feel a little voyeuristic and slimy for watching.  Yet we don’t stop, either.

As it should be.  It’s a good film.  If you liked the books, it’s a no-brainer to go see.

Cross-posted from Ferrett's Real Blog.

Attention Writers: Penguicon 2012 Needs Your Help!

So about four weeks ago, I volunteered as the Lit Track head for Michigan’s wondrous con Penguicon, which was in a bit of dishabille.  And unfortunately, it looks like I’m up against crushing deadlines and still have a tragic lack of entertaining panelists at this point.  And I need to have all of my panels done by, oh, next Friday.

I need this year’s Lit Track to be excellent.  It’ll be better next year, when I’ve got more lead time, but I definitely want to make it be notable this year.

So I’m putting out a call to the Internet: Are you a writer who’s going to be at Penguicon? Would you want to be on a panel?  I’d consider it a personal favor if you would help me out here – as usual, there’s no compensation, just a reduced rate of $25 instead of $50 if you do three hours of panels.  But you do get the fun of spouting off before interested crowds, and plugging your work with restrained abandon.

If you’re interested, email me at theferrett@theferrett.com by Monday morning with:

1)  The times you can do panels;
2)  What your areas of strength are (novels, workshops, YA, et cetera);
3)  Any suggested panels.  I’m open to all ideas.

If this works, I’ll have until Friday to get everything scheduled and in the books.  I know it’s a rush.  Yet looking at everything, though we’ve got enough people to make it a good convention literarywise, I’d like it to be approaching the fringes of awesome.

(If you have contacted me, there’s been some issues with my email – please try again, it should be fixed by now.)

Cross-posted from Ferrett's Real Blog.