The Hunger Games - August 18th - Review

[ssjmichael]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

It boggles my mind, that a home video release is determined before a film even gets through with its theatrical run.

That's like being blown away about a movie getting a specific release date before a single shot has been filmed. Every part of the process is planned to the tee, in order for it to be as financially successful as it can be. Just like theatrical release dates, studios try to make sure their home video release isn't competing with another movie for your money

[iceshout]

Watched it yesterday. I really loved it. Day 1 for me.

[jmbenesh]

Originally Posted by veritas

Dark Knight Rises will be having it's second week going into August, and I'm sure many of us will watch it more than once.

Still, good point, as after Dark Knight Rises, I can't even think of something coming out I'm anticipating other than Django Unchained in December, I think it is.

Of course, TDKR's run will extend into August, but I'm speaking more directly towards the stated mid-to-late home video release of The Hunger Games. No doubt TDKR will rack up loads of multiple viewers and enjoy a long theatrical run, but if you look at TDK's theatrical release (which occurred in the same time-frame, date-wise, as TDKR will), TDK pulled in $158M in its opening weekend, $75M in it second weekend, $42M in its third, and $26M in its fourth.

By the time that mid-to-late August rolled around, TDK was pulling in $16M and $10M per weekend. The winner of those two weekends, Tropic Thunder, grabbed $25M and $11M respectively each of the last two weekends in August. This year, that movie may be The Expendables 2, which opens August 17. The only other notable (aka "big") August openings are Totall Recall and The Bourne Legacy on August 3rd.

I dare say that, with a home video release near the end of August, The Hunger Games would have itself a very successful rental and initial purchase period, given the fact that, by then, most fans will have seen TDKR at least once.

As an aside, I went to The Hunger Games last night and was very much impressed with Gary Ross' adaptation. Very true to the novel and overall, a very good film. Feel free to check out my blog here to read my review! (shameless plug, I know )

[TMNTrent]

Originally Posted by ssjmichael

I'm pretty sure it won't come out on August 18th for the simple fact that that's a Saturday

Ha, you know that Lionsgate bought Summit, right? And that Summit's theatrical (ex-Warner people) still run Lionsgate theatrical for the most part now? Twilight being released on Saturdays and now The Hunger Games on a Saturday isn't a mere coincidence. This date is locked.

[ssjmichael]

Originally Posted by TMNTrent

Twilight being released on Saturdays and now The Hunger Games on a Saturday isn't a mere coincidence. This date is locked.

Perhaps, guess we'll see

[bradley4846]

ive heard June or July

[WorkShed]

Fingers crossed for an extended cut.

[yellowcakeuf6]

Originally Posted by veritas

Despite only hitting theaters next week, early information suggests that this title will be released mid-August on the 18th in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. No critic reviews from RT just yet, but will edit with a copy of the Tomatometer once it gets a consenus

Any dates on the BD releases for 2, 3 and 4?

[AlexSing]

Amusing litte joke I heard yesterday:


Q: What do they call Hunger Games in France?

A: Battle Royale with Cheese



Thanks, I'm here all week

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by AlexSing

Amusing litte joke I heard yesterday:


Q: What do they call Hunger Games in France?

A: Battle Royale with Cheese



Thanks, I'm here all week

That's unfortunate...

[Mandalorian]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

That's unfortunate...

[painted_klown]

Originally Posted by AlexSing

Amusing litte joke I heard yesterday:


Q: What do they call Hunger Games in France?

A: Battle Royale with Cheese



Thanks, I'm here all week

I lol'd!

[AlexSing]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

That's unfortunate...

nice sense of humour buddy

[BLeClair12]

As a fan of the book, I thought the movie was absolutely fantastic. I plan to see it again in theaters, though I'll wait for the hype to die down.

Looking forward to the release. Anyone want to take a guess as to how many retailer exclusives there will be? Or should we just assume one for each?

[eshepler]

Originally Posted by BLeClair12

As a fan of the book, I thought the movie was absolutely fantastic. I plan to see it again in theaters, though I'll wait for the hype to die down.

Looking forward to the release. Anyone want to take a guess as to how many retailer exclusives there will be? Or should we just assume one for each?

I've been getting the sense from all the different people I've talked to that those who've read the books looooved the movie...while those who hadnt were left wanting. Which I find odd as I'm usually even more critical of a movie if I've read the book.

Just not enough character development for the other tributes in the movie. And it was hindered by its PG 13 rating

[akn]

Originally Posted by veritas

As the reviewer mentioned, there were annoying shaky camera scenes; understandable, trying to blur the violence to maintain a PG-13 rating, but after that initial spark, it really dragged. I didn't mind it so much because I have patience with a film, which it kept me through and through (save for about 10-15 minutes that could have been cut) because survival is more about the offense, so camping out and being smart and tactical is crucial in this type of game-- I mean, why waste energy and kill when you can camp trees and let them kill each other?

After seeing the movie, it didn't wholly convince me to rush out and buy the books, but that abrupt ending had me guessing and left me intrigued to where it will go. The romance here is much more tolerable than in Twilight, with likable characters and pretty strong performances from Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence.

Overall, I would recommend this one to most viewers, as the costume design was great, and an overall great cast.

Well, obviously book > movie, so if you just liked the movie, then you would definitely really like the books.

I don't really think I'd have enjoyed the movie as much if I hadn't read the books. Apart from lots of details being left out, as is generally necessary, a lot of the movie felt quite rushed. The actual "game" was not as climactic or even violent as it was in the book. That whole sequence just felt like it passed so quickly and without any real consequence for the characters who were being killed one by one. In the book, Katniss has a hell of a time just trying to find water and surviving in the forest, and the situation feels pretty dire most of the time, but in the movie she scarcely has any problems besides being confronted with the other players. (When the first thing she did after leaving the cornucopia at the beginning was stumble upon water, I felt like swearing, haha.)

Another thing that bugged me was the review of the movie on this site. I'm guessing whoever wrote it has not read the book, as they acknowledge that the romance in the movie is not believable and is only there to satisfy teenagers. It's clear in the book that the romance is fabricated, forced, and sufficiently awkward, so we are left not knowing how Katniss really feels about Peeta.

Anyway... just had to get that out of my system. It's too bad that the movie didn't seem quite so appealing to those who haven't read the series.

Regardless of my complaints here, though, this will be a day 1 buy for me.

[Jumpman]

Another thing that bugged me was the review of the movie on this site. I'm guessing whoever wrote it has not read the book, as they acknowledge that the romance in the movie is not believable and is only there to satisfy teenagers. It's clear in the book that the romance is fabricated, forced, and sufficiently awkward, so we are left not knowing how Katniss really feels about Peeta.

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

[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.

[K i r a]

Originally Posted by yellowcakeuf6

Any dates on the BD releases for 2, 3 and 4?

Sure: Sometime after this one.

As stated, my job has a date for this in our system, in which one of our managers works closely with the studios, and when it's specific, it's generally what the studios plan as of the time I post. If you want to dismiss this and play the prediction game, you guys have a go at it; I only do these for fans and newcomers to discuss, and share the information for you all.

But hey, time will tell and when it gets announced officially. By then, either all you skeptics will just accept this information rather than sarcastically scrutinize credibility, or I would have already had an active thread going, and a simple edit will do, if it's wrong-- No biggie.


Back to discussion, I would agree with the site reviewer on many points: Shaky camera got annoying, it felt held back by the PG-13 rating and the romance was a bit more subtle in Katniss' intentions than what was in the book, as I've heard as I haven't read them personally. And frankly, the movie didn't convince me I should have headed to Barnes and Noble that same weekend to pick them all up-- I heard two and three are not near as good as the first, so if it holds true for the movie, they are only going to be more tame and uneventful from here on out. Most of the book focuses on the triangle between Peeta, Katniss and Gale. I'll watch them, but not sure I will add to my collection. Just my two cents.

[K i r a]

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.

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.