... may the odds be ever in your favor.
A couple of years ago I finally got around to reading The Count of Monte Cristo. The 2002 film version of the book, starring Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce is one of my favorite movies and I assumed that the book would just be a better version of the film. Was I ever wrong! There are a few similarities, but not many. It was so disappointing! Even though it's an excellent book, a classic, it's soooo very long and complicated, I could see why they made such a simpler, abbreviated film version.
I decided to try again, this time reading the book The Legend of Bagger Vance. Once again, it's a favorite movie of mine. I grew up in a family where everyone plays golf, except myself and there is something about the movie that really resonates with me. The fact that it's well acted and has some great cinematography, doesn't hurt. But alas... If I hadn't learned my lesson with The Count, (that the book is not always better than the movie) I certainly did with Bagger Vance. It was the strangest book I have EVER read. About half way through I just wanted to quit, because I couldn't take it anymore, but I also had this compulsion to find out how it ends. Because it's nothing like the movie. This one was definitely a case of good movie = not so good book.
Even though I've struck out a few times with the book form of a movie I love, there are a couple of instances where I've not been so disappointed.
Both the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Harry Potter series have stayed as true to the books as they can considering they are massive volumes, with tremendous detail and it would take extra long films to really get it all in there. Both have unfortunate episodes of veering off the "literature course" that upset me, to pick one: the final battle scene between Harry and Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It's a complicated, drawn out scene in the movie, but it's the simplicity of the scene in the book that makes it so powerful.
There is another set of books that are written much better than their movie counterparts: the Twilight series. It's not necessarily a weak script that makes those movies blah, but the terrible acting.
I'm here today however, typing away on this blog when I should be doing laundry, to talk about The Hunger Games.
I've been watching the hype for the movie build over the last few months and got to wondering what it was all about. So I bought the first book and finished it off in a couple of days. I immediately went and bought book #2 and read that in a day, book #3 was purchased a few days later and I once again flew through that one in 24 hours. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the trilogy!
But between #2 and #3 I went and saw The Hunger Games in the theater.
A brief synopsis for the uninitiated:
The trilogy takes place in the future. The USA has been destroyed; in its place is Panem, which consists of thirteen districts and a Capitol city. Before the series begins, the districts revolt against the Capitol and are defeated; the thirteenth is completely obliterated. As retribution for their crimes, each district is now required to send a boy and girl, called tributes, to participate in the annual Hunger Games. The games are centered around survival; there can only be one winner. Each year, the two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal retribution for a past rebellion, the televised games are broadcast throughout Panem. The 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors while the citizens of Panem are required to watch. 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 who have trained for this their whole lives. The characters are very rich and detailed; some of their deaths hit incredibly hard and are forever memorable. In the second book, Catching Fire, there is a lot of unease in the districts, and a lot of anger when the year's Hunger Games take a twisted turn and past winners are forced to battle it out for survival. The final book, Mockingjay, consists of a full out rebellion; the districts are at war with the Capitol and it's do or die in a showdown so explosive, readers never see it coming.
With that in mind...
When the movie was over I had a few thoughts rapidly fire through my brain.
#1- It's over? I don't feel like I just sat through a 2&1/2 hour movie. (And that's a good thing!)
#2- there were way too many drawn out, close up shots of Jennifer Lawrence's face (as Katniss Everdeen.)
#3- there was not nearly enough grit, suspense and violence (in my personal opinion.)
When you read (about anyone or anything) your brain paints a picture of what you think that person looks like, sounds like, acts like. When they laugh, you "hear" it. When they cry, you "feel" it. And when there is violence, you "see" it as your mind creates a picture for you.
Now, for some this is too much and they can't handle it. However, if you're totally desensitized to violence as I (to my horror) apparently am, these books won't be that big of a deal to read.
The series can be found in the "young adult" section of the library or book store and I'm sure that Hollywood is trying to reach a young (-er) audience than the books already did and has tamed the movie down for that reason.
But for some of us and the mental pictures we already created, it wasn't enough.
The third thought has been bothering me since I walked out of the theater. I've always been against violence in real life, teaching my kids that you don't hit to harm others. Self defense in certain circumstances is one thing. I am always saddened when I hear about a school shooting or some other violent act to that degree.
So why do I, in my pretend world, get upset when there is not "enough"?
Am I like the Capitol citizen's of Panem? Do I revel in the violence of the Hunger Games, enjoy watching these young people kill each other off because I know I will personally never know one of those fighting to the death. (There are no children reaped from the Capitol.) Or am I from District 12? Where I live in terror of my child being chosen, being forced to watch them die.
I found that when it comes to swearing, I got to where I hardly noticed it in a movie, but then I realized one day that I was using terrible language! I've been working to remedy that and I'm now back to the point where if there's a character with a real potty mouth it bothers me. Will I get to the point that I start smacking my loved ones around before I realize I've gone off the deep end? I certainly hope not. But I think it's best to remember:
"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6 & 7
Phew! Well I've greatly digressed from where I was originally going with this- what's better, The Hunger Games book or movie? Let's see if I can sum it up. One of my best friends posted this on Facebook the other day, "I just saw Hunger Games. I have to admit it was rather fun. Haven't read the books so that probably made the movie more enjoyable."
Yep, that about sums it up. You can definitely put this movie in the "book is better" category!
