FILM COMPARISON

Like any other book that is made into a movie, there are dozens of scenes that are added and some just go unused to make a movie pleasing to an audience.  The Hunger Games is no different.  But I feel that some audience members wouldn't quite enjoy the movie just because it leaves out and changes so much.  Don't get me wrong here - I really love the book and the movie, as well - but there are examples that they change that I don't see going very well in the long run.

For example, in the first book we meet the mayor of district 12's daughter, Madge Undersee.  This girl is a major part of the whole series - she is Katniss's girl best friend.  She actually gives her the Mockingjay Pin, and this has very significant role within the story as showing friendship.  She, in fact, kisses Katniss on the cheek which also signifies friendship, and that is where Katniss finally understands that she does have a girl friend.  It seemed that throughout the story Katniss is a tomboy except for this one part and by taking it out of the movie, I feel it ruins the emotional thought.  By Katniss just choosing it out of a bin at Greasy Sae's in the Hob, it really doesn't show much of an emotional significance whatsoever.  Later in the series, Madge plays a role in lending a hand to the weak and defeated as Katniss helps the town stay alive, but after the reaping and the Quarter Quell, Katniss is devastated to find that Madge did not survive the District 12 fire.  It seems to affect Katniss a bit since soon after she wants to fuel the whole "Operation Takedown the Capitol!"  Since I haven't seen the second or third movie, I'm not sure why they made this change and I don't know how this will be portrayed or how not having Madge in the movie will come out. I feel it will dampen the whole tone of the movie, like I said.  I think that the movie will be more about "Happily Ever After" rather than fighting or friendship at all.

Another huge difference between the two is the dog mutants.  I actually had nightmares because of the way that the mutants were described in the book.  In the book, different parts of the tributes were used in making the mutants, and this is a very deep part of the book since I believe Rue's eyes were used in one.  This is also used to set tone, showing the Capitol as being cruel with using the deceased body parts in creating monsters.  It could also be said that they made the tributes out to be the ruthless creatures themselves, but I'm indifferent to this since they were forced against their will to be used.  In the movie, the mutants are not so, they are actually just regular dog beasts.  I would think that it is unfair to use the name "dog mutants" since they did not go through with using the body parts of the deceased.  I'm guessing the film creators didn't use this part because of the PG-13 rating, because that would be a disgusting and mind-warping part to watch.  I think this also ruins the book-movie relationship since this, to me, is one of the most horrific parts in the whole Hunger Games Trilogy.

One important similarity from the book to the movie is the sort of awkward-standoffish attitude that Katniss has about her.  While reading the book, I looked at Katniss as being a girl that has "steeled herself", (something most of us know from previous books!) and is one that tries to act mature.  She acts defensively, motherly, and warriorlike.  She feeds her family, takes care of others, and makes sure to put everyone before herself.  An example of this is when Gale says that they could leave, just her and him, and never come back.  But she decides against it; she can't leave without Prim or even her mother.  And this is carried over into the movie, she is a young adult with a hard outer shell.  Throughout the reaping ceremony, you can tell that she seems defensive and hopeless, but acts like a mother protecting her child - she screams as though the name of the female tribute sliced her ears right open - and runs to take the place of her sister.  She pushes this further during the movie when in the arena, again watching facial expressions.  In the cave with Peeta, she acts desperate to take care of him, and even looks to be enjoying herself when laying with him; something I thought I could tell while reading.  Overall, the actress seemed to fulfill my assumptions of Katniss in the book, and she brought it out on screen.

Another big similarity between the book and the movie is the way in which the creators invoke the audience.  I believe this is in two ways - in raw emotion and in the main character's choice.  In the way of raw emotion, the book captures its audience by telling a woefully amazing tale set in a dystopian empire.  The district is starving and the Capitol kills.  On top of all this, they set us up for a romance plot between either Gale or Peeta, which creates a team type fight, (think Jacob vs. Edward).  The same goes for the movie, it has its beautiful parts, for example, like I've mentioned above, Katniss shrieking to volunteer in place of her sister, (this part made me cry right off the bat!).  Another is the goodbyes to family and friends, in which the guards have to pry Prim from Katniss before she leaves.  Lastly, the point that Katniss acknowledges the audience, sticking three fingers up in the air, which is a salute to Rue's district after she dies and Katniss is given her rations as a form of thank you, (cried here as well).  The second way the creators invoke the audience is with the main character's choice, and I mean the girl power!  In the book, Katniss fights, protects, and feeds her family on her own.  She then goes and saves Peeta in the Hunger Games.  She makes her own choices, and chooses to not fight, (most of the Hunger Games).  This is followed throughout the book as well as the movie and I think it is rather refreshing.  So many tales are on how the man saves the princess up in the tower and they live happily ever after, and it is just so awesome to finally have a heroine.  I think that this is the reason that people, especially women, find the Hunger Games Trilogy so interesting, I mean, that's why I read it!