We went last night and I was pleasantly surprised by the movie. As with anything the book was better, but my husband who hadn't read the book enjoyed it. I had no intention of really reading these books until I began to feel like the only person who hadn't done so, so I caved. As I said I read it in one day and finished the second book today (hope to finish the third this weekend). Probably the thing that sealed the deal for finally reading them for me was the fact that District 12 was placed in Appalachia.
I, personally, didn't question the way that District 12 was portrayed until my husband mentioned it on the way home. He was very perplexed as to why there had been such a regression and I couldn't give a great answer to him. I know that part of the struggle was as a result of the uprising. However, if all of the Capitol is depending on District 12's coal, shouldn't they still have the most modern technology to mine it? I suppose because Drew is so familiar with the technology behind modern mines he didn't quite understand that. And I do see his point.
The scenes from District 12, in retrospect, make me wonder if this is how the world still sees our region. Jade had a whole post about this at The Acorn Underfoot which made me think even harder about the portrayal. I can definitely relate to what she says about no one knowing her and her husband were from Appalachia until they opened their mouths, that happens to me all too often. Coal mining has come so far even from when my grandfather was in the mines, but in the scenes from the district it seemed I was watching footage from my grandparents early married years. My papaw going into the mines and my mamaw wearing a dress she had made herself. Perhaps that was just meant to be along the Seam but it seemed a bit extreme to me.
I will admit that I am afraid that we, as readers of the Hunger Games, may be becoming no better than those in the Capitol seeing the games as a sense of entertainment. Yes, these are just books and meant to "entertain" I suppose. But shouldn't there still be a part of them the turns our stomachs? My cousin said that what was so great about the books was that they appealed to such a large audience, which is true. However, it also concerns me. Maybe I'm making too much of it but as much as I have enjoyed the books part of it still worries that we are all making light of it. That might be too harsh but the thoughts crossed my mind.
As for the movie I missed hearing Katniss' thoughts and knowing exactly what she was feeling, I felt like Drew (who hadn't read the book) missed out on a lot because of that. But all in all I felt the movie did as good of a job as it could. I do agree with a fellow blogger who reviewed the movie in feeling like a lot of the gore was missing from the actual games. I know it is portraying children being killed and no one wants to see that in detail but that is the horrific truth of these games. I was also disappointed that they didn't portray Peeta's injury to be as critical as it was in the books. I don't mean to sound morbid but part of the sense of desperation was missing because of that, or at least I felt it was.
On a lighter note, Gale was such a cutie but poor Peeta left a little to be desired (bless his heart). Didn't care for Lenny Kravitz as Ceena but it's good to know he's still alive. On the other hand I did love the casting of Woody Harrelson as Haymitch.
Even with my unsettled stomach I would still recommend the books, they're such quick reads and they definitely give you something to think about. And to lighten the mood once again here's handsome Gale:
I'm excited to finish the third book and see how everything ends up, Suzanne Collins definitely does a great job of keeping me turning the pages.
Fun fact: The place where District 12 was set in the movie (Henry River Mill Village, NC) is for sale for $1.4 million. So if any of you've got that kind of money lying around, go crazy! Basically the place was a mill town until the '70's and after the mill burned down the town was deserted until the movie was made there. Pretty interesting little tid-bit.
Great post, Meg! I too felt that "we, as readers of the Hunger Games, may be becoming no better than those in the Capitol seeing the games as a sense of entertainment." I actually struggled with that quite a bit in reading and watching the book/film. And I've been struck by the way the teenagers have been making it seem more like the Twilight series ('Team Peeta' and 'Team Gale') than a trilogy on oppression and greed. I became especially discouraged when Scott and I saw pics of teens wearing 'Capitol Couture' - I was like, "well they've clearly missed what this movie/the books are about. I guess that's the risk one takes in writing something this serious to a YA audience. (http://capitolcouture.pn/) - ugh : /
ReplyDeletep.s. I thought Gale was cuter (and I liked him better in the first book) but I don't think we're supposed to like in the other ones, which makes me kind of sad - he seems like the good 'ole mountain boy...that's what my husband says anyway (who has cheated and read the synopsis online..haha)
We are on the same page. I had no interest in reading or seeing the movie until I found out that the main character is from an Appalachian-based town. Having not read the book I didn't know what to expect. As soon as the movie was over, I called my mom because I was so upset haha. It didn't (and still doesn't) sit well with me that the Hunger Games phenomenon has, for the most part, began because of crazed tweens. I don't really consider myself old-fashion, but unless the book is read in a controlled environment I can't fathom this being young adult material. It was heavy material for me.
ReplyDeleteI've heard stories of kids cheering in theaters when certain characters were killed, the Capital Couture shirts mentioned above, etc. Such irony. The entire book, for me, was a warning. We live in a media and technology-crazed world where anything and everything considered the latest greatest is widely accepted without question: reality television, porn, social networks, computers in our pockets, etc. None of us have our privacy anymore. Which could lead to an argument about the government and freedom. Which could lead to the argument, how far away is our society, really, from holding our first Hunger Games?
And then I haven't even touched on District 12. For the most part, I loved the way Appalachia was depicted. But I can't get on that..I'm at work haha. I need to join a book club!
Enjoy your posts!