Saw "The Hunger Games" Midnight Showing

[Adam West]

I'm going to be away with my daughter this weekend for a soccer tournament and she has been begging me to see this movie so we did the midnight screening last night (or this morning).

I thought the movie was excellent and the Director did a really good job of toning down the graphic violence to stay within a PG-13 rating without taking any major essence from the story. My daughter said she felt like a lot of the book was cut out, but what book to movie doesn't? It runs over 2 hours and I didn't think there were any lulls in the movie at all.

I also had a chance to see about half a dozen trailers for upcoming movies including "Spider-Man" and "The Avengers" (they are probably both online but hadn't seen them). As much as I love "Spider-Man"; I do not think this movie is going to do well. I don't see anything new or novel about it that makes me want to see it. As much as everyone rags on "Spider-Man 3"; I have a bad feeling that this is going to be much worse. I'm hoping I'm wrong. "The Avengers" looks like it is going to be awesome and better than I even expected.

[toys2cool]

going to see it on monday

[samurainoir]

Glad to hear and looking forward to seeing it.

The one part I do have reservations about is the scene where they are trotted out in public for the first time. Given how it's described in the book, and you imagine it, not sure how they will handle it as CGI... you know how contemporary FX tends to overdo it, and I just imagine pageant/dancing with the stars gaudiness rather than the almost magical effect they describe in the written word.

How was woody Harrelson?

[boynightwing]

I worked the midnight show last night. We played in Imax and regular. I popped in twice. It's the first time I really was able to compare Imax to regular as far as how it looks. It was really noticeable.

Anyway, the night was crazyness with people lining up at 8am. Everyone was pretty well behaved though. There was a very positive vibe unlike the Twilight line ups where people are constantly bickering in line and getting in to honest to god fights over places in line (I had to call the cops over a fight in line for New Moon).

I'm seeing the movie Tuesday afternoon with a friend. I'm looking forward to it.

[Adam West]

Glad to hear and looking forward to seeing it.

The one part I do have reservations about is the scene where they are trotted out in public for the first time. Given how it's described in the book, and you imagine it, not sure how they will handle it as CGI... you know how contemporary FX tends to overdo it, and I just imagine pageant/dancing with the stars gaudiness rather than the almost magical effect they describe in the written word.

How was woody Harrelson?

I think you will be pleasantly surprised with this scene...really well done without overdoing it. I also thought Woody Harrelson was really good (maybe because I had very low expectations). They changed Haymitch a little from the book....not quite as dark and added a little comic relief without going over the top corny.

Like I said, this was a first midnight show for me and also the first time in IMAX. It was loud....I can handle noise but it was so loud the seats were shaking at times (just in case anyone plans on seeing it in IMAX). Most of the crowd were made up of High School students/young adults and everyone seemed to enjoy the movie with appropriate emotions at different points in the movie.

Again, I thought the director did a really good job of keeping as true to the story as much as possible within a 2 hour time frame and PG-13 rating. Probably one of the better "teenage/young adult" genre films in recent memory like "Twilight". I have no doubt it's going to break all kinds of box office records.

[Earth 2 Chris]

How do you think it plays for a 10-year old? My son has watched The Dark Knight with me at home, so he has been exposed to some darker themes, but always with parental supervision. Him and my wife are going to see it tonight.

Chris

[Fuzzysnail]

If he watched the Daerk knight he should be able to handle this movie. If he has read the book, he can see the movie. My son and I watched the midnight showing....its been a while since I have been to a movie where the crowd was so into it. THey cheered characters, and booed the previews because they wanted to see the movie. Haymitch is great (woody Harrelson) Katniss rocks, Peeta is fun to watch. The costumes and imagery, and FX REALLY ADD TO THE FILM, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO TAKE IT OVER. This series will be well received by the folks who read the books. I'm really curious to see how people who haven't read the books like the movie.
I'll see it again, and own the DVD when it comes out.

[The Toyroom]

Never read the books, went to see it with my wife, we both loved it. Gret movie, really held our interest!

[madmarva]

I enjoyed the movie. Gary Ross did a very nice adaption of the novel. However, I did miss Katniss' internal monologue and the struggle with her feelings for Peeta and Gale. Ross did as good a job as can be expected of capturing it, without resorting to soap opera voice over, and if you've read the book, you could see it, but for those who haven't read the book, I'm wondering if it got across.

Was Peeta-Katniss a showmance or were there real feelings and was she betraying Gale? It's left up in the air in the first novel...

But it was a really fine adaption and just a good solid movie in general. Lawrence has a great way of being natural and sinking into a role. She was Katniss, just like in the excellent "Winter's Bone," which is a great film. Harrelson, Sutherland, Tucci and Bentley all added appropriate flavor in supporting roles and Lenny Kravitz really pulled off Cinna perfectly.

Chris, as for taking your son to see it, I'm guessing he's seen worse, even on TV. There is violence, but it's not overly graphic and not gratuitous within the context of the film.