Two posts in one day! Yes, I’m as surprised as you are. Sometimes I have a hard time posting twice in a week. I guess The Hunger Games has inspired me.
In my last post I think it’s pretty clear that I haven’t reread The Hunger Games lately. I actually haven’t read it since July, 2010. I read all three books in the summer of 2010. I read each of them in a day (though not consecutively). And I haven’t reread any of them since.*
I have watched no trailers for the film. I’ve read no articles about the film. Basically, I don’t remember the books too well and I know next to nothing about the film. I did check out the cast as it was announced and was surprised by almost all the casting choices (I have since gotten over the shock). I don’t think I was purposefully trying to avoid exposure to information about the film. I’m just not that excited about it. Despite seeing everyone else’s reactions and really liking the books and thinking they’ll make great movies, I mostly feel meh. But I have hopes that feeling of meh will disappear after I see the film.
I am really interested in a couple aspects of the adaptation. If I recall correctly, The Hunger Games is told entirely from Katniss’s point of view and a lot of the book was internal, especially when she’s alone preparing for the games and during the actual Hunger Games. So I’m wondering, how are the filmmakers going convey Katniss’s thoughts? The only time when it seems like it would be difficult is when she’s in alone the arena. Are they going to use voice overs? Is Katniss going to talk to herself? Will an announcer analyze her actions and try to explain her thoughts to the audience? My hope is that the filmmakers explain Katniss as a character and her strategy for the Hunger Games well enough before she gets into the arena that the audience won’t need any of those explanations. We’ll just be able to watch the action and understand what’s happening.
I also think if the film does not utilize the reality TV aspects of the Hunger Games, it would be a shame. They have the ability to show all the tributes in the arena and to treat the audience of the film like the members of the districts watching the Hunger Games. I’m really interested to see whether they stay true to the book and only show Katniss’s perspective or if (and how) they deviate.
What are your feelings about the film? What are you hoping to see? Please keep your comments spoiler free!
*I will be rereading them fairly quickly after seeing the movie though. Alison D and I will be reviewing the whole trilogy in April.
