Went out on a foul day, weather wise for a Christmas Eve treat at the movies. The Hunger Games Part 3, Mockingjay 1. Susan was expecting the place to be packed-it being Christmas Eve. There were 5 spectators, me and Susan at what appeared to be a Mother and three Daughters.
There are three books in the Hunger Games series and while book one was excellent, quite a few folks I know think alike with me that books 2 and 3 were a bit less spectacular.
Film 1, The Hunger Games was terrific and some of the scenes took my breath away. They seemed a perfect exposition of the books major scenes. When the director and co-screenwriter was replaced for Film 2, “Catching Fire,” everyone thought that things would go downhill.
To everyone’s surprise, including my own, “Catching Fire,” was a better film than, “The Hunger Games.” It did re-use some of the same devices from THG, but I suppose that is what the peanut gallery and the financiers require.
Film 3 diverted, as does the books to a differing theme, where Katniss is under great pressure to become a heroine for the resistance against the capital of Panem. Susan mentioned that Jennifer Lawrence didn’t look so good in the role, and I noted that her outfits, including the boiler suit, and some of the scenes were not filmed to make her look as sexy and alluring as she had during the previous two movies.
I think that was a courageous and proper decision by the director and no doubt in part by Lawrence herself. (Actors can be very fussy about looking their best and can be right cranky when it doesn’t go according to their wants.)
The character was meant to be in doubt about her role and Lawrence shows that doubt very well indeed. Surely this is not pandering to the audience, but respecting its intelligence and giving them something to chew on? I’d much prefer to be challenged in this way than be beaten across the head with explosions and men in spandex hurling magic hammers.
Josh Hutcherson lost a lot of weight for this segment and his transformation into the tortured Peeta was remarkable, both in make-up and acting. Liam Hemsworth excellent in a small part-he still jumps off the screen. Jennifer Lawrence, what can you say? At times, her acting appears to be quiet, in that she doesn’t rip up the furniture like some, but she’s still an actor capable of wide ranging expression of emotion.
I enjoyed Mockingjay Pt 1, I recommend you watch it with sub titles enabled. There is a lot of dialogue that needs to be appreciated, and there’s a lot of noise which gets in the way of hearing that dialogue.
brendan
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