The Hunger Games - August 18th - Review

[Edword]

Originally Posted by veritas

As much as I agree, I would almost believe everything was shot exactly as intended as to hold that PG-13 rating making it more accessible to bank more, which proved right; $155 million opening weekend, enough to take the #3 spot on biggest openings of all time just behind The Dark Knight and Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 2.

That's exactly why they wanted the PG-13 rating, to bring in more money and appeal to more people. I would have loved to see an R rating, but I knew that would never happen. Also I know there most likely will not be an "unrated or director's cut". From the start it was intended to be a PG-13 film. Unless an extended cut would be to make this close to 3 hours to bring in more character development and make things feel not so rushed, but if you're hoping they'll have an extended cut to show more "gore", people better get their hopes up.

[SevenwithaT]

Can't wait to own this on Blu. I'll probably see this again in theaters very soon

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by Edword

That's exactly why they wanted the PG-13 rating, to bring in more money and appeal to more people. I would have loved to see an R rating, but I knew that would never happen. Also I know there most likely will not be an "unrated or director's cut". From the start it was intended to be a PG-13 film. Unless an extended cut would be to make this close to 3 hours to bring in more character development and make things feel not so rushed, but if you're hoping they'll have an extended cut to show more "gore", people better get their hopes up.

While I agree, the film is a pretty hard PG 13...and the reason I say that is the tone of the violence in the film. It's harsh, even if we don't explicitly see everything, which I don't think you needed to.

[BluBrown]

I thought the movie was good but I agree with those who hope for an extended cut on blu. I don't think it needs more violence and gore...but I'd like to see some of the rushed scenes extended a bit.

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by BluBrown

I thought the movie was good but I agree with those who hope for an extended cut on blu. I don't think it needs more violence and gore...but I'd like to see some of the rushed scenes extended a bit.

As much as I want Hunger Games on BD this August, I'm just going to wait until this trilogy is done because we all know Lionsgate will do a boxset for this in the future...and I'm going to seriously want that instead of the individual releases.

I have a feeling this thing, when done, will set beside my Harry Potter, Star Wars, Godfather, and Matrix box sets.

An HD digital copy will do me fine until the trilogy is done.

[Ill_Be_Back]

More gore like the book, it needed an R rating!

[TMNTrent]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

As much as I want Hunger Games on BD this August, I'm just going to wait until this trilogy is done because we all know Lionsgate will do a boxset for this in the future...and I'm going to seriously want that instead of the individual releases.

I have a feeling this thing, when done, will set beside my Harry Potter, Star Wars, Godfather, and Matrix box sets.

An HD digital copy will do me fine until the trilogy is done.

Dang, you're gonna be waiting until like, 2017!

[djgeneral]

Next film comes out Thanksgiving 2013 and the final film Summer 2014 (might be pushed to late 2014 or early 2015).

so a trilogy set should be out Christmas 2014 I would guess

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by djgeneral

Next film comes out Thanksgiving 2013 and the final film Summer 2014 (might be pushed to late 2014 or early 2015).

so a trilogy set should be out Christmas 2014 I would guess

Lionsgate has slated to break the last book into 2 films.

[critterdvd]

Originally Posted by Snicket

Lionsgate has slated to break the last book into 2 films.

Lionsgate has also stated that they want to take their time with the films and not rush them out (a la Summit with 'Twilight') and allow time for the actors to age a little bit inbetween each film. I think Thanksgiving 2013 is the very earliest we will see "Catching Fire" simply because it has yet to be officially greenlite. Which would probably put parts 3 and 4 in 2015 at the earliest.

[Mooch360]

Why does everyone break the last book into two movies in these series lately? It's not any longer than the others.

[Presence]

Originally Posted by Mooch360

Why does everyone break the last book into two movies in these series lately? It's not any longer than the others.

[ObiWanShinobi]

Saw this yesterday with some friends. Its a decent enough movie but I'll probably pass on the Blu. Can't imagine this will be a movie I'd watch over and over because while I love some of the ideas thrown around in this movie there was quite a bit about it that I didn't like.

The names were kinda funny though...Catniss? Peeta?

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by pmontreux

This +1,000

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by critterdvd

Lionsgate has also stated that they want to take their time with the films and not rush them out (a la Summit with 'Twilight') and allow time for the actors to age a little bit in between each film. I think Thanksgiving 2013 is the very earliest we will see "Catching Fire" simply because it has yet to be officially greenlit. Which would probably put parts 3 and 4 in 2015 at the earliest.

Third book is just a continuation of the second, not much time in between. The second book takes place in the year following the Hunger Games. Shooting them all at once wouldn't seem out of place to me. The only character who really has to age is Prim and that is only by a year or more.

I could see them splitting the third book into two movies, but they would have to include most everything from the book in order to make it last over two long films. It's my least favorite book, so condensing it down into one film may actually benefit the story.

[ghostsofjoy]

Originally Posted by critterdvd

Lionsgate has also stated that they want to take their time with the films and not rush them out (a la Summit with 'Twilight') and allow time for the actors to age a little bit inbetween each film. I think Thanksgiving 2013 is the very earliest we will see "Catching Fire" simply because it has yet to be officially greenlite. Which would probably put parts 3 and 4 in 2015 at the earliest.

I don't know why they'd want them to age between Catching Fire and Mockingjay, seeing as there is no real time progression between the two. Hell, there's only a six month lapse between the first and second books.

I'm fine with them taking their time for the sake of quality but I hope they don't push it. Honestly, I'm rather surprised that there hasn't been an announcement that the sequels have officially been greenlit. I figured after the weekend this one had, we'd have had an official statement first thing this morning.

[bradley4846]

May 15-
Big Miracle
The Grey

June 5-
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
Safe House

June 12-
Salmon Fishing In The Yemen

June 19-
Dr. Suess' The Lorax

June 26-
The Hunger Games
Project X
Wanderlust

August 7-
John Carter


http://forum.dvdtalk.com/dvd-talk/59...on-thread.html

and

Actually, They changed the date yesterday Morning, when they found out, that Lions Gate is thinking of releasing Hunger Games on DVD the week of June 24th, not sure if it would get a tuesday or saturday release
http://www.joblo.com/forums/showthre...=99007&page=57

[ghostsofjoy]

Originally Posted by bradley4846

[I]June 26-
The Hunger Games
Project X
Wanderlust

If this date comes through, I will be shocked. I still haven't been able to wrap my head around the shortened turnaround time from theatre to Blu, although three months is becoming quite common.

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by ghostsofjoy

I don't know why they'd want them to age between Catching Fire and Mockingjay, seeing as there is no real time progression between the two. Hell, there's only a six month lapse between the first and second books.

I'm fine with them taking their time for the sake of quality but I hope they don't push it. Honestly, I'm rather surprised that there hasn't been an announcement that the sequels have officially been greenlit. I figured after the weekend this one had, we'd have had an official statement first thing this morning.

I have a feeling Catching Fire is going to get pushed to March of 2014, because of the situation Jennifer Lawrence finds herself in with Fox and X-Men.

Fox wants to shoot the sequel to First Class this fall...the same time as Catching Fire. And apparently, per the contract, Lawrence has to shoot X-Men first.

[akn]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

That was pretty clear in the film as well. It's subtle as hell, but it's completely there.

Pretty clear and subtle at the same time? Anyway, the review just irked me. If it had been that clear in the movie, why ask the questions, "Who does Katniss truly love? Why is she so genuinely devoted to Peeta?" Makes it sound like one of the main aspects of the story was romance, when it should have been a small part. Friendship, sure, but only because it's necessary for survival.

[Show spoiler]What should have been clear was that they were planning to die together in the end not because they love each other (this idea is obviously fabricated in the end as well), but because they want to show the Capital who is really in control.

Also, having random scenes where Gale is "moping," as the reviewer observes, makes me think of a typical, Twilight-esque teenage drama, which (thankfully) wasn't the case in the books.

...Done ranting and raving now, lol.

Originally Posted by Agent Bond

I wasn't too fond of the shaky cam / cutaway tactics to downplay the violence. I'd probably enjoy the movie more if there was an Unrated / Director's Cut of it.

People say this... and yet most people I know who have read the series are tweens and teenagers. It's one thing to imagine what's going on in a book, but having a movie be violent and graphic enough to justify an R rating would just alienate a large part of the readership. It just seems to me like having an unrated cut would do the same, as it sends the message (probably to parents) that the series is actually unsuitable for people under 18 or so. I'd rather have this series be accessible to everyone who has enjoyed the books thus far.

Originally Posted by Jumpman

While I agree, the film is a pretty hard PG 13...and the reason I say that is the tone of the violence in the film. It's harsh, even if we don't explicitly see everything, which I don't think you needed to.

Yep. Definitely heard some moviegoers who hadn't read the books say that it was "brutal." You don't need to explicitly see the violence to know what is happening.

Originally Posted by Jumpman

As much as I want Hunger Games on BD this August, I'm just going to wait until this trilogy is done because we all know Lionsgate will do a boxset for this in the future...and I'm going to seriously want that instead of the individual releases.

I have a feeling this thing, when done, will set beside my Harry Potter, Star Wars, Godfather, and Matrix box sets.

An HD digital copy will do me fine until the trilogy is done.

Whoa... that is a long wait ahead of you. I don't know why, but it still surprises me to hear that people will hold off on buying something until the right "edition" comes out. Not to be mean, just a newbie observation here. Hope the wait is worth it.