The Hunger Games: Mockingjay pt 1

[Bananagator]

I'm curious to see what you all thought of this movie, if you've seen it.

Personally, I liked it. I was sort of against splitting the book into two because I really don't think that's ever necessary (No, not even for the Deathly Hallows). I still feel that way, but I enjoyed how they presented the first half of the book.

One of the main problems with it, I think, is that the plot doesn't really advance until the last 20 minutes. Most of the movie is just showing Katniss - quite literally - acting as the Mockingjay. Which I really loved, actually. This is an aspect of the book that I truly found unique; Katniss is not leading this rebellion. She's the poster girl, the pretty face on TV that is meant to inspire others. But she doesn't have much of an active role in the rebellion (not in the first half of the book/movie, anyway). She's really just a kid who's experienced too much; she's forced into it, and she's only doing it on her own terms.

And I think the film handled this much, MUCH better than the book. In the movie, she clearly has some psychological trauma going on. But I'm so so so glad they didn't make it as extreme as it is in the book. I reread some of it the other night and Katniss literally has episodes to the point where they sedate her at least once a chapter. It's ridiculous, and that's a big part of the reason I can't decide if I like the book.

However, the movie does drag on a little bit and I can't see myself re-watching it often when it comes out. This combined with the lack of any character development from anyone who's not Katniss does lower my enjoyment of the movie.

But The Hanging Tree was beautiful, and I loved the rescue mission

So, how'd you like the movie?

 

[RandyWindborne]

The film adaptation included some imaginative storyline alterations: Effie Trinket in 13, the cause & effect transitions from the burn propo to lumberjack ambush and from The Hanging Tree to the dam assault.

But what actually appealed to me about the Mockingjay was the arena. Because as bad as it was for the Katniss character, it's worse for us. At least the district children grew up learning about the reaping, the tributes, the arena and the victors. We wake up as tributes fighting for our lives from day 1 in an arena we can't see for reasons we don't understand against a deadly enemy who masquerades as anyone and everyone.

The arena in the Mockingjay film was like ours - invisible but just as lethal. And like us, Katniss was useless as a poser. But when she was herself, every word she spoke unleased fury on her enemy.