Continuing with our tradition of texting after watching a movie together, today we embark on a (somewhat) serious discussion on CATCHING FIRE.
ALLY: First up in the list of important things to discuss about this movie: Liam Hemsworth. You know I don’t usually like him. He kinda looks like Tigger from Winnie-the-Pooh to me.
But, hot damn! He is growing up nicely!!! Don’t know if it was watching the movie in IMAX that made me able to actually see his eyes beneath those heavy Tigger eyebrows, but if Chris wasn’t available, I would totally play with Liam for a while. I was never Team Peeta or Team Gale, but I’d like to start playing for Team Liam!!!
GWEN: I am totally surprised by Liam in this one!! You are right, he’s growing up very nicely!! What impressed me was how much he looks like his brother. I didn’t use to think so, I find him very Tigger-y, too. But I could totally see the resemblance in the way he talks and moves in this one. It’s like a “mini-Chris”! I wouldn’t mind seeing a whole 2 hour movie with him as the male lead.
Now, you know I have this thing for Josh Hutcherson, since before the first Hunger Games movie. I know, I know, he’s way tooooooo young, but I just love seeing him act. And I gotta say, while he looked a bit “stiff” in the first one as Peeta, he’s much better in this one. And the hair color is better, too. He has a lot more to work with as far as character development, and I loved what he did with Peeta. I love the character in the books, and I’m excited to see what he’ll do in the next one.
ALLY: Ok, I wouldn’t call Liam a “mini-Chris” or “mini” nothing, for that matter. Have you seen the size of that guy??? Jeez! Him and Chris are huge! What did their mother eat during pregnancy? Poor 3rd bother. He didn’t get the good genes. Oh! And is it bad that during the Gale whipping scene I automatically defaulted to Jamie being flogged?
I know you have a thing for Josh Hutcherson and I find it so sweet. Gotta admit he is kinda cute, in a young, square-ish, puppy way. I liked his character in the books and I loved him as Peeta since the first movie came out. He nailed the character. It’s gonna be interesting to see his character go through the heavy stuff of book 3.
One thing I’m not sure about is the fact that they didn’t include Peeta’s missing leg (ok, it’s a change from the first movie, but whatever). In the books, the prosthetic leg works to show the inner and outer scars that the victors carry around their whole life. And it works. But in the movies, it would have made Peeta look even more useless. The fact that he has his 2 legs (and that he can swim), makes him look a bit more capable in the games. Like he could stand on his own.
GWEN: I thought of Jamie too!!! OMG. We were thinking of the same, we just didn’t say it out loud! My thought was if they were going to show it, and how painful it’s going to be to watch Jamie get flogged like that. =(
I had forgotten about Peeta and his leg!! I should re read the books, lol. But you’re right, I think it was a good idea to cut that out of the movie. It would have added a whole bag of issues that would have lengthen (is that even a word??) the movie. This way you get the feeling that Katniss wants to stay with him at all times because of him and the feelings she’s starting to develop for him, instead of just assisting him because he can’t do it himself.
I had forgotten the night they had spent together while on tour. When Peeta would just sneak into her room and hold her just so she could sleep. It’s so sweet. That, among other things, is why I’m Team Peeta all the way!!!!
One thing I still can’t buy into is Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. I never liked her, I think she does nothing with the character, and her facial expression annoys me. She’s got a whole “KStew” thing going on there, where she just has ONE face. Fear, anger, love, uncertainty, they all look the same. In the first one it’s more noticeable. She improved a tiny little bit, but still a long way to go, in my opinion. One thing she does well is wail away whenever she needs to cry. And don’t even get me started on her Oscar win, because I just don’t-get-it.
ALLY: Yeah, the flogging scene will be hard to watch. I’m already mentally preparing for it. Why doesn’t it surprise me that we talk about Jamie Fraser even while discussing Catching Fire?
Besides the leg, there were some others changes made to the adaptation but I think they all worked. It’s one of the best book-to-movie adaptations I’ve seen. IMHO. The thing I don’t like about the movies, is that they made do without the political satire, social criticism, and the whole rebellion, uprising and revolution. The books have so much content and symbolism. I was surprised while reading them. Before reading them, I thought they were going to be as shallow as Twilight, but they are amazing. And I’m sad they aren’t including that in the films.
Btw, Finnick is hot! LOL!
GWEN: You’re right. I think they tried to make it as light as possible. Light, and still faithful to the books. And a bit PC, too. Like, they tried not to commit to any point of view, and leave it up to the public. They did show riots and how the districts kept getting more and mote agitated during the tour, but stayed on the side lines with that. Maybe, in the next one, they’ll be forced to get more into it, since the third book is all about rebellion and politics.
I think this adaptation was very good, too. At first I wasn’t sure how it was going to work out, since the whole book is from Katniss’ point of view and there’s a lot of inner dialogue in it. But I think they did a great job, and even if you didn’t read the books before seeing the movie, (which is insane, what are you thinking??), you didn’t miss much and you’ll be able to understand and enjoy the movies fully.
Finnick’s mouth and dimples totally distracted me in his first scene!! Not my cup of tea, but I have to admit, he’s easy on the eyes. Maybe it was the IMAX screen, but I couldn’t stop looking at people’s mouths, LOL!!!
ALLY: Guess you are right. They are diving the 3rd movie into 2, in the eternal quest for more money. So they’ll be able to put more context into it. That’ll be good.
I liked Sam Claflin as Finnick. He was likable yet cocky. He’ll be great in the 3rd one. And Jena Malone was amazing as Johanna. I didn’t like it when they announced she was cast to the role. But after seeing the movie, I have to admit that she was the perfect choice.
Going back to something you mentioned, I do like Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. She might have the one expression, but she fits the role. And she ain’t nothing like KStew. Jennifer looks alive!!!
