Read. Write. Repeat.

Unless you live under a rock, you know that the second Hunger Games movie came out this weekend! We went with some friends on Saturday (to a matinee, even, like the old, cheap people we are). I plan to share my thoughts about it in a few weeks. I need some time to digest and discuss. Plus, I want to give you all a chance to see it!

Don't despair, however; we're still in the Hunger Games spirit around here today!  In anticipation of Saturday, Kevin and I watched the original movie last week. 

I have to admit, I had forgotten just how good it is. I think when it originally came out, I was hyperaware of any differences between it and the book, so I did not fully enjoy it as the great movie it was.  Besides, as far as film adaptations go, it does a pretty kick ass job. 

A few things it does beautifully:

• Food symbolism. My number one complaint pertains to the symbolism of food. I mean, the books are called The Hunger Games after all. Food plays a big part. I recognize that they needed to take some things out to keep the movie at a semi-manageable length. Still, I wish they hadn't chosen to do away with all of the food symbolism. In the movie, you don't get a good sense of just how desperate things are for people in District 12. They are supposed to be starving. That's why Katniss and Gale have to hunt. Even when Peeta and Katniss get on the train and see the feast the Capitol has laid out, it's just a part of the lavish train, not the focal point. Suzanne Collins has wonderful, descriptive passages about food, particularly that in the Capitol. Katniss never is in awe of the famous lamb stew, Haymitch only sends broth when Peeta is dying, and District 11 never sends bread to Katniss after she memorializes Rue. Speaking of...
• Rue's death. I do not at all like how the film handled Rue's death. The flowers and all that are beautiful, but it's what comes after that that bothers me. The uprising in District 11 happens too soon. They would be too scared to rebel until Katniss has shown them that the Capital can't control everything (at the end of the Games with the berries). The bread they send in the book is a much more appropriate gesture. Back to the food thing. District 11 is showing solidarity in the only way they know how at this point, by giving what little they have. I really don't believe that they are ready to stand up against the Capitol yet here. 
• Peeta's art skills. Peeta's makeup is ridiculous. I mean, seriously. When Katniss finds him by the river he just looks silly. It's a great makeup job, but I can't help but laugh instead of staying with the serious moment. Note from Kevin: Also, there's no way a dying Peeta would have ever been able to pull that off. Agreed. 
• The evil of the Capitol. We really don't see enough of President Snow being evil. We need to see that the Capitol is the bad guy. A lot of people have complained that Hunger Games glorifies the death of children. I think this issue is the real problem behind that one. We need to see better that all of the children are victims, even if they themselves don't understand it.