Suzanne Collins Review of THE HUNGER GAMES Movie!

Suzanne Collins posted this review of the upcoming HUNGER GAMES movie (based on her bestselling novel of the same title) on her facebook page:

Dear Readers,

I’ve just had the opportunity to see the finished film of The Hunger Games. I’m really happy with how it turned out. I feel like the book and the film are individual yet complementary pieces that enhance one another. The film opens up the world beyond Katniss’ point of view, allowing the audience access to the happenings of places… like the Hunger Games control room and President Snow’s rose garden, thereby adding a new dimension to the story.

Director Gary Ross has created an adaptation that is faithful in both narrative and theme, but he’s also brought a rich and powerful vision of Panem, its brutality and excesses, to the film as well. His world building’s fantastic, whether it be the Seam or the Capitol. It’s amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.

And, my God, the actors. The cast, led by the extraordinary Jennifer Lawrence, is absolutely wonderful across the board. It’s such a pleasure to see how they’ve embodied the characters and brought them to life.

So I’d like to sincerely thank all the many people who devoted their time and talents to the film, especially producers Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik, and the excellent teams at Color Force, Larger Than Life, and Lionsgate.

I hope you enjoy the film!

Suzanne Collins

Response written by Kofi Outlaw:

"Now, first reaction might be to say that Collins would praise the film no matter what, given the stake she has in its success. But really, that’s kind of a cynical (and specious) stance to take. Plenty of authors past and present (and future) have seen their work translated from page to screen, and have been very vocal about the fact that little or much was lost in that translation. Then there are writers on the level of eccentric comic book icon Alan Moore, who has such disdain for movie adaptations that he severs all ties from any film based on his work (Watchmen, V for Vendetta, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), going so far as to prohibit the filmmakers from using his name anywhere in the film credits or promotional materials.

I say all that to say: Collins doesn’t have to play it false. So if she is saying that she liked the film, the cast, and how Gary Ross (an Oscar-nominated director, mind you) and his team have widened the scope of the book (which is told exclusively from Katniss Everdeen’s (Jennifer Lawrence) point of view) and brought the world of Panem to life in gorgeous detail….well, there’s no reason to doubt that she had that genuine reaction to the film.

But again, whether or not those who aren’t already attached to these characters and story will walk away with such shining praise remains to be seen."

I for one think that Collins review of the movie was a genuine one. She doesn't seem at all the type to lie in order to get money off of it. I'm not going this movie expecting it to be horrible. I mean, it's pretty common that movies hardly ever live up to the books that they're adapted from, but I think that this one will come pretty darn close! I like to watch movies adapted from film mostly because I want to get a glimpse of how the setting/world really looks like from a different point of view. Most of the time while I was reading Harry Potter I was imagining the same set and actors from the movie because they happened to look exactly the same way I imagined them in my head (even before I ever saw the movie). It's not the same for the Hunger Games (the characters in my head looked ectremely different from the actors), but I'm still curious to how the capitol and the districts look like on the big screen. And of course, how the arena parts are played off. :)


 

Suzanne Collins Review of THE HUNGER GAMES Movie!