Am I Right Ladies? I’m Not Excited for The Hunger Games Movie

Believe me, it’s not for lack of trying. The Hunger Games Trilogy (the books) are worth the hype. I can confidently say they were some of the best books I’ve ever read in my life. In my life. And I don’t throw that superlative around lightly.

I will always prefer the experience of reading a book to watching a movie. Books are always better than their film adaptations, with the rare exception (i.e., Fight Club). However, you’d think I’d get even a little bit excited when watching the trailer or seeing pictures from the set of The Hunger Games, given the amazing emotional and intellectual experience I had reading them. Nope! In fact, I want to make it go away.

Everyone is missing the point!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. The film will be “too aware” that it’s an adaptation. It’s not as if this story inspired a filmmaker to take this story and put it into a film medium. A studio bought the rights because it saw a money-making opportunity and hired a director, etc.

This no longer makes it a work of art in its own right. This means it will be an exercise of simply putting the story to the screen, simply for the sake of filming, not art.

“U Mad?” – Gary Ross, director

Take the Harry Potter films, for example. I can’t imagine anyone just enjoying the films in a vacuum. Firstly, they are confusing. Secondly, they are made FOR the fans of the book, filmed in such a way that fans will be satisfied that they can see how their favorite scenes play out. I fear this is how THG movie will be presented.

If this were a true adaptation of the book, several things about the story may be changed, simply because some things work well in a book and not a movie, and vice versa. But, since this is a movie based on supply and demand, everything possible will be done to preserve the original story. That can make for some bad pacing for the film.

On the other hand, let’s say that for the sake of the film, things are changed and/or scenes are cut. Can you imagine the outrage? It’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation.

2. I already know too much. Anytime there is the smallest tidbit of info, or a picture of the actors on set, it is leaked all over the Internet and scrutinized. It’s like seeing the strings of the puppets. I want to leave some things to surprise me when I see it. Many could argue that I could simply ignore all the information on the Internet, but that is actually unreasonable. I am a pop culture writer and fanatic, the Internet is my oxygen.

Omg, they are drinking blue cocktails! The book said LIGHT BLUE! OUTRAGE!

3. The fans drive me crazy. True, I could just ignore all the tumblrs, tweets, and posts about the movie, but see above as to why that is not reasonable. I feel what the fans are focusing on are diluting the main essence of the story.

Shut up. 

When Josh Hutcherson was cast, there was outrage that he was not a natural blond like the character he would be portraying. Really? Does it matter? He is playing a character who is sent into an arena to be brutally murdered for the entertainment of the country. But some bleach in his hair and be done with it!

Liam Hemsworth portrays Gale, Katniss’ best friend and a hero in the revolution. Hemsworth is dating Miley Cyrus in real life, so that also created outrage. Who gives a shit? Is Miley in the movie? No. Let’s move on.

4. Effie Trinket, portrayed by the Elizabeth “I’ll do any role I’m offered” Banks, is a minor character in the novel. She hails from the fictional capital city of the country of Panem, where residents are wealthy and into body modification and fashion. In the book, the idea is that the capital city oppresses the other districts by withholding wealth, creating a sociological struggle beneath the games. It makes for a rich background and underlying environment for the setting of the novel. Her materialistic tendencies are a constant reminder of this oppression in the book.

For the movie, Effie’s clothes and makeup are used as a marketing scheme. We are supposed to covet her look.

Oppress the masses, everyone! You’ll look so chic! The whole idea of the book, and the appeal for me, is that the books take place in a world where all our bullshit materialism, focus on materialism and stupid gadgets, social media and standards of attractiveness and success are completely out of the picture. It’s about the core of the character’s relationships and ultimate wants.

The characters, in fact, are not what we would call conventionally attractive. If you haven’t gotten it from the title, they are starving. And Katniss, the main character, has grown up malnourished for most her life, and the village is usually covered in coal dust from all the coal mining they do. Sure, I can understand that the actors need to be somewhat attractive, but this is just ridiculous.

4. Hunger Games- themed nail polish colors.

No explanation needed.

Having a film adaptation of a popular book is a Catch 22 situation. The only reason a film version is being made is BECAUSE of the mass popularity of the books. So, there is no way a smaller, more thoughtful film could be made on books that don’t have that much hype.

Sure, I’ll most likely see the movie. Sure, I’ll probably see it at a midnight screening. But I won’t be happy about it! And it will never recreate the three days I spent sequestered in my house reading the trilogy and feeling so lucky that Suzanne Collins (the author) created such a rich, interesting world that I could take part in. It won’t replace the intense conversations with friends who also read the books about what it means to be privileged, what we take for granted, what is worth sacrificing, and what we do for survival.

-Robin Hardwick