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The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

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The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

Old 03-18-12, 11:59 AM
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The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

I thought with the other being derailed a bit and reviews starting to come in, why not start the season off proper...

Please continue pre-release discussion here.

Movie:
"The Hunger Games" (Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson)

Release Date:
3/23/2012

Rating:
PG-13 (for intense violent thematic material and disturbing images - all involving teens, constantly picturing Jennifer Lawrence as ‘Mystique’, and unfair comparisons to ‘Battle Royale’ throughout)

Running Time:
142min. (2h. 22m.)

Budget:
$100 million (estimated)

IMDb Synopsis:
Spoiler:
In a not-too-distant future, North America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcast throughout Panem. The 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss' young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives.
Written by Suzanne Collins


IMDb Info and Rating:
8.1 (13,331 votes as of 3/25/12)

Rotten Tomatoes:
Fresh:183 Rotten:31 (86% as of 3/25/12)

Metacritic:
68 metascore ('Generally favorable reviews' as of 3/25/12)

Trailer:
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Poster Art:
Old 03-18-12, 02:09 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

Wow, reviews looking good so far. Have to admit I'm looking forward to this.
Old 03-18-12, 02:51 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

I was going to make a similar reviews thread, except I wanted to put a "I'll just stay home and look up steamy pictures of Jennifer Lawrence on internet."
Old 03-18-12, 03:12 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

Finally! A Reviews Thread for a good movie.
Old 03-18-12, 03:17 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

I'm glad this is getting good reviews. I'll probably wait for the Blu-Ray, though.
Old 03-18-12, 03:58 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

I think we will have to wait until at least Thursday to see if the good reviews stick. Only two major critics have signed off as liking it, and the rest have blurbs that make them seem like they're plants or desperate critics trying to get noticed, possibly both.
Old 03-21-12, 04:47 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

It's now down to 90%, but there's quite a few reviews in and several positive ones from major critics . Looks like it will end up "fresh" but with a lot of "three star" ratings saying its merely a solid movie. One consensus that is running is that Jennifer Lawrence deserves to be a star.
Old 03-21-12, 05:00 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

She certainly does with dat body
Old 03-21-12, 08:22 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

Hanging in there at 91%. Not bad.
Old 03-21-12, 08:34 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

Originally Posted by anomynous
She certainly does with dat body
This body?

Old 03-21-12, 08:58 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

I will likely see The Hunger Games but would love to see her in The Naked City.
Old 03-21-12, 09:16 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

She's got a firm behind too, hope this boyfriend taps it often.
Old 03-21-12, 09:21 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

I personally don't see what the obsession is. She's got a typical body for a white girl who isn't fat (Which I guess is an accomplishment in this day and age). Nothing really stands out, and I mean that both figuratively and literally.

Which is surprising...I recalled her being bustier in First Class.
Old 03-21-12, 09:43 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

Originally Posted by Dragon Tattoo
I personally don't see what the obsession is. She's got a typical body for a white girl who isn't fat (Which I guess is an accomplishment in this day and age). Nothing really stands out, and I mean that both figuratively and literally.

Which is surprising...I recalled her being bustier in First Class.

Any way to make this guy vanish?

In terms of bust, ever heard of a wonder bra?
Old 03-21-12, 10:05 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

Originally Posted by Dr. DVD
Any way to make this guy vanish?
Just press the ignore button and stop wasting your precious time replying to me then. You can go back to oogling average Hollywood actresses.

And, Wow no, Doctor of Digital Video Discs, I've never heard of a Wonder Bra.

Fucking ridiculous.
Old 03-21-12, 11:26 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

I'm starting to like this guy.
Old 03-22-12, 12:37 AM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

Originally Posted by Dr. DVD
She's got a firm behind too, hope this boyfriend taps it often.

Is that the guy from "About a Boy"?
Old 03-22-12, 03:01 AM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

Roger Ebert gave it 3 out of 4 stars. Ebert's Review
Old 03-22-12, 09:08 AM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

Originally Posted by Giantrobo
Is that the guy from "About a Boy"?
kind of looks different but he was Beast in First Class. And is in that new Singer film, Jack the Giant Killer.
Old 03-23-12, 08:10 AM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

Seems to be sitting steady at 87% . I guess also of note is that it's maintaining its fresh rating by having a lot of three out of four star reviews. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_...pe=top_critics

Going this afternoon, hope my audience isn't hyper.
Old 03-23-12, 11:14 AM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

I think the film started off great, however, once you get to the actual Hunger Games... well... the film nose dives instantaneously.

Pros:
  • The film has a great "retro" '70s science-fiction look to it a la films like Logan's Run, Westworld, etc.
  • Any scene with the adult actors (Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Wes Bentley, Donald Sutherland, etc) come off as rock solid. The scenes showing the behind-the-scenes mechanics of the games are the best the film has to offer.

Cons:
  • The film is geared too much to those who have read the books. It plays more as a companion piece to the novel rather than a stand-alone film.
  • The film gives no emotional weight or face time to its characters that are not named Katniss and Peeta (and even they're not given much depth). I could've given two shits on who lived and died.

Spoiler:
A great example of this would be the character of Rue. We see her on screen for less than five minutes before her eventual death. I know she's one of the youngest people in the game and likes to climb trees. How the fuck am I supposed to feel bad when someone chucks a spear through her stomach based off that knowledge? Gary Ross would like me to feel bad, but he doesn't know how to hit those right emotional points. My wife, who has read the books, said that could've been changed if Katniss would've told Rue how much she reminded her of her sister back home. Well, shit. You McFucked up there Gary Ross.

  • If any film needed an R-rating, this is it. A film about kids killing each other? SIGN ME UP. However, there's very little killing and most kills are off-screen other than a sweet neck breaking.
  • Most anti-climatic climax I've seen coming from a motion picture event in ages.
  • Worst IMAX DMR conversion I've ever seen. Wow. The amount of DNR applied to any scene involving CGI was frightening. Imagine the Predator Blu-ray blown up to be shown on a seven-story screen.

This is what I don't grasp. How can Kenji and Kenta Fukasaku take Battle Royale, a 700-page book with over 45 unique characters, and cram all of that information into a 114 minute film? A 114 minute film that's regarded as one of the best cinema has provided us within the past decade. Looking at Wikipedia, The Hunger Games is only 374 pages, with less than half of those unique characters, and fails at making a worthwhile 142 minute film?

Battle Royale hits on every single point it needs to as its firing on all cylinders. The Hunger Games becomes two films rolled into one. A great film with adults and the politics of the future alongside a shitty film with kids trying to kill each other and survive. For every inch of potential the film has, Ross manages to go two steps backwards with it.
Old 03-23-12, 11:25 AM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

Nice review, Matthew. I never read the books so now I'm wondering if I should bother, especially being a big fan of BR.
Old 03-23-12, 11:34 AM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

Good review, Matthew.

Spoiler:
The lack of Rue/Katniss build-up struck me as well. This was one of the strong points of the novel I wish they focused on a little more.
Old 03-23-12, 12:02 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

Just for the record, Anne Thompson says the budget was $80 million:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsono...mmakers-did-it
Old 03-23-12, 01:32 PM
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Re: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012) — The Reviews Thread

Originally Posted by Ash Ketchum
Just for the record, Anne Thompson says the budget was $80 million:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsono...mmakers-did-it
... and I can see Lionsgate doubling that for Ross with the sequels.

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