I Thought it Was Great

Rating: 8/10 (24 March 2012)

OK, it's not going to win any Oscars, and there were some things in it that I would have liked, but I thought they did a really good job and gave me what I was picturing it was like. First of all, Jennifer Lawerence was amazing and did a great job. Elizabeth Banks was also really great as Effie, and those two stood out the most for me. One thing that I would have liked is if the movie was a bit more graphic, and violent, like the book, which would have added more emotional impact, in certain areas. Like, I wanted her to say she was going to "Cut up Katniss' pretty little face," or whatever the line, because it made me hate her, and then there was more impact when Trash killed the girl. Stuff like that. It's not that I am looking for violence or gore, actually, I'm not into that stuff, but that is what me feels so desperate to know what happens to Katniss, and hate the Capital, etc. But, someone made the point that they needed to tame it down to keep it PG-13, and since my friend took four 11-year-old boys to see it, I can understand the ratings concern. Even though they were also a little bummed it wasn't as graphic as the book.
I did think the way they portrayed District 12 was really good and that did set up some emotional aspect, but I did think it could have used a little more, so you would get more of a sense of what you felt in the book. Though, I did still cry when Rue died, but not quite as much as when I read the book.
Also, I pictured Cinna a bit more feminine and less macho. It almost made it seem like there was some sort of romantic link, which you did not get in the book. I also wanted to see her other groomers. I thought it would have added something to show how ridiculous the Capitol was, but also give some sympathy to show how oblivious they are in the Capitol. Some guy saying they need to hose her down twice, in the movie, didn't really work for me. Just did not have the same impact.