Where did Katniss go? And why I bother...

Rating: 6/10 (1 February 2016)

First, let me start with saying that I do like a lot of books that has been made into movies. I'm a big fan of the Harry Potter movies/books and loved "The Golden Compass" and was so sad that the sequels of "His dark materials" where cancelled. So I do understand and generally don't mind that a movie can never capture a book completely, and that sometimes it's necessary to change or remove some scenes. My problem with The Hunger Games movies – and this one especially – is that it's not the scenes that's been altered but the personalities of the characters. When doing so, it becomes a completely different movie. Think of it, what if you put Winne the Pooh and his gang into the Avengers movies or vice versa? Yes, maybe it would have been really interesting movies, but you would never dare to claim that it is a remake of the book.
Katniss, but also Johanna, Haymitch, Gale, and several more characters have become something a lot more mainstream. And I'm usually not a feminist, but I can't help but getting really annoyed that Katniss is so weak, bleak and boring in the movie. In the books she has all of these strengths and weaknesses and not to mention free thinking of her own – while in the movie(s) she's just showed around like a pawn and not bothered about it at all. Given that this is a movie with a younger audience I think it's so sad to withhold them a picture of a strong female role model, a young woman who both bleeds and fights. In the books people are afraid of her, admire her, trusts her, loves her. But in this movie she just becomes this boring girl who rarely speaks up and even more rarely are being listened to. Why are we still so afraid to make a movie with a strong, female role model? If you are watching this with your teen daughter, or if you are reading this knowing that she has or will see this movie, give her the books. Show her who Katniss really are.
If I try to put this aside, as hard as it is, you end up with a good movie. It's not amazing, but it is your time worth. You have some really strong actors who are really giving their everything to the script. Kudos to both Harrelson (Haymitch) and Hutcherson (Peeta) for trustworthy playing their roles as two of the most important characters next to Katniss. The scenes are most of the times breathtakingly beautiful and Suzanne Collins world of tomorrow has really come alive. One thing I can't help thinking though is; if you haven't read the book to you really get what the fight is about? I'm afraid without more of the questions raised in the background, this just becomes another "fight the bad guy just because we said he was a bad guy" movie. And what message does that send to the audience? And as a viewer, if this movie just blends into any other teen action movie, then what's it really worth?
Teachers – read the books with your students and especially teachers in higher grades working with media related subjects, bring these thoughts into your classroom. And if you aren't a teacher or a concerned parent, watch this and sit through two hours of good enough action.