I Read That Movie: The Hunger Games

I  read that movie is a feature where we compare movies or TV series, and the books they're based on.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publishing Date: September 14th, 2008

Pages: 374

Length of Audio: 11 Hours and 14 Minutes

Genre: YA Dystopian

Series:  The Hunger Games

Source: Audio

  

Winning will make you famous.

Losing means certain death.

The nation of Panem, formed from a post-apocalyptic North America, is a country that consists of a wealthy Capitol region surrounded by 12 poorer districts. Early in its history, a rebellion led by a 13th district against the Capitol resulted in its destruction and the creation of an annual televised event known as the Hunger Games. In punishment, and as a reminder of the power and grace of the Capitol, each district must yield one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 through a lottery system to participate in the games. The 'tributes' are chosen during the annual Reaping and are forced to fight to the death, leaving only one survivor to claim victory.

When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives. , she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.

Mini review:

What made me read this book: 

I had first read this book for book club when it came out years ago. This time I read it as a task for the reading challenge, but also because I wanted to reread the series.

What did I like the most: 

I do love this book. I love the story, it's a terrifying thing. The idea of the hunger games. There is a lot of different type of dystopian books out there, and now there is a lot like this story. However, when it came out there wasn't many like it. It had a very unique story.

The characters are some of the best out of any series I've read. Katniss is a strong and brave and smart heroine, and she doesn't need a man to save her. And that's what we all need. 

It is really well written, it's a constant going. It's not slow at any point and has a great pace. 

What didn't I like: 

Reading this for the second time, I think Katniss is a bit annoying at times. I understand she's had a hard life, and she's scared. But at the same time sometimes her lack of trust, and her assumptions of people just drive me crazy.

However, this does not make me love the book any less.

Release Date: March 23rd, 2012

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson
Length: 2 Hours and 22 Minutes

Series: The Hunger Games 

Katniss Everdeen voluntarily takes her younger sister's place in the Hunger Games: a televised competition in which two teenagers from each of the twelve Districts of Panem are chosen at random to fight to the death.

Mini Review:
An absolutely amazing movie. Great acting, great effects. Great everything.

Let's compare:

Did I see the movie or read the book first?
I read the book first. 

Like the movie or the book better?
I can't really say I liked one above the other. They are both so great.

How does it compare?
This is honestly one of the best book adaptations I have ever seen. 

Do the actors match the characters in the book?
Very much so. Jennifer Lawrence is one of my favorite actresses, and she is perfect to play Katniss. Gale and Peeta are perfect as well.

Major differences?
The biggest difference that makes me mad no matter how many times I see the movie is how Katniss got the Mockingjay pin. In the book Madge, the mayor's daughter, gives the pin to Katniss. In the movie she finds it at the Hob, gives it to her sister, Primrose, and Prim ends up giving it back to Katniss.

I feel like it's a big deal in the book, especially further into the series because of the defiance of it. In the movie it's just NBD. 

Another big thing that bothers me, is at the end. In the book the Mutts are the dead tributes. They have their eyes, body type, and coloring.
In the movie they're just monstrous disgusting looking dogs. Which is terrifying, but by using the tributes it brings so much more emotions. It hurts Peeta and Katniss more.

There are other big differences, like the people in the Capital are not nearly as flamboyant and scary looking. They're not as crazy and colorful. And I would have loved seeing that in the movie. 

Effie, Snow, Cesar. In the book they're crazy looking. They're borderline normal in the movie.  

Fun Facts?
Although it is mentioned briefly that Gale has had his name put into the drawing multiple times, it is not fully explained in the movie why someone might want to do this other than when Katniss tells Prim when she comes to say goodbye not to put her name in more because it's not worth getting enough food. Each additional time a name is entered raises the possibility that the person will be selected to compete, and probably die, in the games. In the source novel, it is explained that putting your name in an additional time garners your family an additional portion of grain and oil, so families experiencing especially terrible privation may put their children's names into the drawing more than once in exchange for that small amount of extra food.