From book to movie to Maggie's current obsession.
A few weeks ago I reviewed the book in anticipation for the movie. Shortly after reading the book, I re-watched all the Hunger Games movies and remembered pretty quickly how much I absolutely love them.
At the time of writing this I saw the movie less than 12 hours ago (November 16) and I have honestly not been able to stop thinking about it.
Like most books to movies there were changes, but unlike most adaptations, I didn't mind them. A lot of the 'fluff' from the beginning and middle of the story was taken out, with most of the important information being built into what was said between the characters. There were also some changes that seemingly just made sense, especially when you only have some much time to tell a story.
First of all, Tom Blyth was an amazing Snow, which had to be terrifying since those are massive shoes to try to fill after the original series. Similarly to what I loved about the book, I liked the moments in the movie that show a more vulnerable Snow, and how he is trying to keep up the façade that they are fine. Tigris and Grandma'am are still portrayed as the most important people in his life (beside himself) and his transition from Capital Golden Boy to peacekeeper and back are all really well done. Hunter Schafer does a great job as Tigris, and honestly I feel like a lot of her dialogue really helps show the transition of the student to 'President' Snow by the end of the movie. Plus, having only seen Hunter in Euphoria I liked the difference in the characters and the expanding of her acting skills.
Rachel Zegler was everything I wanted in Lucy Gray. For one, she is an amazing singer which brings the songs to life perfectly. She has the charm of Lucy Gray, while also having that sternness that we see throughout the book to want to survive. It is a shame that a lot of the scenes with the Covey in 12 were not in the movie, at least not as intensely as they are brought up in the book, but I think that helped make it show how easily Snow fell in love than changed. The way time passes in the movie doesn't seem as long, but there are ways to tell it has happened, usually by Snow's hair.
The absolute star of the movie and the character who stood out the most to be was Doctor Gaul, who is played by Viola Davis. Knowing Davis is playing her is one thing, but seeing it is another. Gaul is the mastermind behind a lot of the crazy and to put it bluntly f*cked up things we see in this movie that impact how the games are in the future. She is off-putting and unsettling and her little rhythms have a whole new feeling when you see them on the big screen. Gaul is definitely the villain on this particular story, but she is also the one who shapes Snow into the person we know later, and I find her absolutely fascinating throughout the movie.
Now, the movie as a whole was amazing. The cinematography was beautiful, the way the Capital is shown and the arena with its 'enjoy the show' turnstiles. There are parts of the movie that are beautiful as much as they are terrifying. To see the differences between the Capital in this story, and how it looks later plus District 12 is also a really fun comparison. You almost see how things have improved places while also remaining very similar. The movie definitely sucks you in and the story goes at a pace that makes it so you don't really realize how long you've been in the theater. Like many movies now, there were some dialogue I found hard to hear and the booms are always louder.
Knowing the story from the book, there were not many scenes that surprised me too much. That being said, seeing things acted out is sometimes better than in your own head. Watching Lucy Gray win over the people on TV with her song is moving. To see all the tributes and their suffering causes feelings I don't think the book ever really gets to. A lot of the actors who plays tributes were cast a bit differently, but in the best way. Wovey for example was played by an actress with Down Syndrome and when I tell you her death HURT me. I still haven't fully forgiven the movie for that.
Overall, this movie, and the series as a whole, stands as one of the best book to movie adaptations I've seen. I'm excited to venture out and see it again soon.
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