Katniss Everdeen is an alpha female, Jennifer Hudson not so much

Rating: 2/10 (24 November 2014)

I was so disappointed with Jennifer Hudson's portrayal of Katniss Everdeen. In the book "Mockingjay" Katniss is a complete badass. Vulnerable at first she gradually becomes self-assured, confident, decisive, rebellious, unyielding--the commander of an army and the de facto leader of the rebellion. She barks out orders and they are obeyed. She is at times violent, tough, fearless, and commanding. Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games" book series reminds me of the daughters and nieces of Ghenghis Khan--some were such skilled warriors on the battlefield that they remained undefeated by any man or woman to their dying day. I had questioned whether the much more conventionally feminine and milder Jennifer Hudson would be able to depict Katniss as she really is in Suzanne Collin's book, and I was right--she could not capture the leadership qualities and self-confidence of Katniss Everdeen. Katniss is an alpha female, Hudson not so much.
Hudson's Katniss is unsure of herself and full of self-doubt. She spends half of the movie crying (or clinging to men while crying). While the movie accurately highlights Katniss's deep concern for the people she loves, it doesn't allow Katniss to be the commanding leader of a rebellion as she is meant to be.
Is it because Hollywood is uncomfortable with strong female leads? Or is it that they just want to "soften up" Katniss to be more palatable to mainstream audience members? I don't know, but Jennifer Hudson's Katniss is a flimsy shadow of the real one.
I was so disappointed with this weak, non-threatening, offensively submissive version of Katniss that I am voting with my money and will not be going to see "Mockingjay - Part 2". The Hunger Games books, if you haven't read them, is young adult fiction intended for a mostly young female audience. The books do a great job in inspiring girls to be bold, strong, take risks, and be in charge. These are the kind of books that I want my own daughter to read. This movie stripped the heroine of all her strength. Hollywood executives once again prove themselves to be increasingly out of touch with public attitudes and cling to old, outdated ideas about gender roles.