The Hunger Games!

If you know me at all, you know I am obsessed (with a capital O) with the Hunger Games series! I could not wait for the movie to come out, and so I went to my first Midnight showing...kind of worth it, kind of not...we'll see if I do it for the rest or not. Anyways...I went with Janae, Cassy, and Kami, and we celebrated waiting in line with some cookies I made....

...and some bread with goat cheese, basil leaves, and a berry on top, made by my friend Kami. (it's pretty exact to a meal eaten in the beginning of the book) It was delicious by the way!

So I've seen it twice so far (another time later on Friday), and have plans to see it again tomorrow. (I told you, capital O!) I am one of those stickler people who want it to be just like the book. Of course, it can't be, and I can deal with most small changes.

The first time I saw it, I'll admit I was a little letdown. I felt like they could have left in more moments from the book that would have translated fine. (ie, some lines that I love "come to finish me off, sweetheart?"...or more of the cave scenes.) I really wanted more Katniss and Peeta. I know it's not all about the romance, but it is a big part of the next book and the reason why she wants to save him so badly.

I LOVED all the casting. Not one person did I wish was re-cast. Fabulous acting all around. Caesar Flickerman? lol that guy is crazy and creepy....and crazy creepy! Loved Peeta and Katniss both, and even Gale, though I'm not a big fan of him as a character.

I felt like if they'd added like 15 minutes to the whole film than maybe it wouldn't have felt so rushed at the end...after they win the games there are only like 2 more minutes of the movie! It felt weird.

The book is so tense while they're in the arena because they are ALWAYS in danger of being killed. The movie lacked that urgency in some parts. I loved how the Cornucopia looked-I kind of imagined it as a golden round basket-like the ones you put on the table during Thanksgiving, but then I always wondered how they balanced on it during the Katnicss/Peets/Cato standoff. So the way they did it made a lot of sense.

I loved Seneca Crane, but I feel like a few less scenes of the Gamemakers could have made more time in the caves. I loved when Haymitch proposes the "young love" scenario to him, that prompts the rule change. Awesome! Didn't like Pres. Snow very much, yes he was scary, but I pictured someone skinnier, and less Santa Claus-look-alike.

I was confused on why they left Peeta losing his leg out, I suppose they didn't want to mess with having to show a prosthetic in the subsequent movies, maybe? In the end, it seems like they make it out with minimal bumps and bruises, which is not how it goes in the book. Far from it.

The second time around (later that day I might add...lol!) was MUCH better. I was able to let go of the things I knew weren't going to happen, and enjoy it for what it was. And now I want to see it yet again. lol!

I am hoping they have a ton of deleted scenes when they release the DVD. How awesome would that be?