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Friday, June 3, 2011

Thoughts on The Hunger Games Cast

Time to comment on The Hunger Games cast, because they’ve chosen enough people for a full post. Of course, the blogger writing this post has read all three books. The other blogger has read the first book. We liked what we read well enough, and we are ready for a movie that doesn't ruin it.

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen- We couldn’t be more thrilled. People are quibbling, but there really wasn’t another contender, in our opinions. We don’t care that she had to dye her hair, and we aren’t too attached to her being thin and hungry looking. That is the only drawback we can think of, and there are enough of those girls in movies anyway. We know that it fits the part for her to be thin, but she did hunt to get food. It would make sense that she would be among the most well-fed in the poor part of her district, right? We saw Winter’s Bone, and the girl in that was pretty much Katniss. There aren’t that many young women her age who can bring strength to the screen. It could have been so much worse. From her quotes about the books, we feel like she has the right idea of who the character is and the right attitude to take it seriously. The author even likes her in the role. Approve.

Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne- The guy from the latest Miley Cyrus movie? Ugh. He’s not dark-looking, he’s not a great actor, and he’s not that hot. With all Gale’s hatred, this could have been an interesting role. Not anymore. He may yet surprise us, but right now, we disapprove.

Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark- We like his excitement to play the character, especially when he changes in the third book. We didn’t see The Kids Are Alright yet, but we are going to. We aren’t thrilled with this choice, because there were a lot of choices for this role (unlike for Katniss), but we’re reserving judgment until we actually see him in something. He doesn’t have to be Brad Pitt if the personality can swing it. So many young women fell in love with this guy, and it’s understandable that everyone had a solid picture of him and wants him to be their type. You really can’t please most people with this character. Romance and dreamboatness aside, we will just wait and see the performance.

Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket- So many people were crying out for Kristen Chenoweth for this role. Not us. We are more excited to see her in Good Christian Belles, because we’ve seen her be an Effie Trinket before. We haven’t really seen Elizabeth Banks in a role like this, and we like her from all the great TV and decent movies she’s done. She’s capable, she’s got the look, and she won’t just be recreating lots of her old roles. Approve.

Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy- One of us hates Woody Harrelson from Cheers and Natural Born Killers. Those are both things we loathe. However, he was funny in Zombieland. But will “funny” cut it for Haymitch? When the casting directors were picking this one, we wonder if they went off a character description that just said, “He’s drunk a lot.” Where’s Robert Downey Jr. when you need him? Disapprove.

Willow Shields as Primrose Everdeen- Who really cares? This character was supremely lame until book three when she started doctoring people. But our requirements for Primrose is that she looks and acts like a sweet, innocent, 12-year-old girl who could never have survived in The Hunger Games. Does she look a little too old to anyone else? Other than that, fine.

Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman- Pretty perfect. We’re excited for this choice.

Lenny Kravitz as Cinna- Not what we envisioned, but ok. We’ll accept it.

Paula Malcomson as Mrs. Everdeen- She looks appropriately tired and old enough to be the mother of a 16-year-old. She’s also attractive, which fits, because she was a heartbreaker when she was younger.

Donald Sutherland as President Snow- Love, love, love this choice. He’s a good actor with a strong resume, and he looks creepy enough.

Amanda Stenberg as Rue- She’s cute, she’s young, she’s black, and she’s an unknown. Approve.

Phillip Troy Linger
as Katniss's Father- We’re just happy we get to see this guy. Flashback alert!

The other tributes/everyone else- Don’t care. Foxface has a foxface. That’s all we really require, haha.

What do you think?

5 comments:

  1. I don't see why everyone is all up in arms about Jennifer Lawrence. I think she seems like a good pick. I don't know enough about the other actors to have an opinion, but I am really stoked about this movie. The books were amazing.

    On a semi-related note, have you guys read The Help? I'm making my husband read that next. It is AMAZING. And I'm looking forward to the movie.

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  2. ....Atticus has time to read? haha, good. LOVE The Help, and Emma Stone. She steals every movie she is in. It's going to be nice to see her do something so good.

    With books, everyone is just so consumed with how a character will look. Jennifer is a pretty, curvy blonde.

    But we're more concerned with their ability to make the character their own. Just look at Alan Rickman as Snape in Harry Potter. Did he have a beard? No. Was he maybe a little old for the part? Yes. Does anyone care now that he was awesome in it? Heck no.

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  3. Oh, and if you don't recognize the other names, here's a decent photo gallery on the cast.

    http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-207_162-10007887.html?tag=page

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  4. Ok I will be totally honest here... I'm so obsessed with these books that the movies are going to give me an anxiety attack. I think it has something to do with HP ending... gives me a new unhealthy nerd obsession. Part of me is SO worried about this because I want to love them so badly... I'm like a judgy teenager full of angst. It's a bit unsettling.

    I'm THRILLED with the choice for Katniss. I have not yet seen Winter's Bone, but Jennifer Lawrence was a nobody who was nominated for her role there as an angry survivor kid, so I'm pumped for her to play Katniss.

    I agree on the boys. I guess we'll see how they play out, but it is not how I pictured either of them (especially Big Buff Baker Boy), but I'm more concerned with their ability to put the depth of character into the guys than their looks.

    I can see Kristen Chenoweth as Effie, but... I'm not heartbroken. I am upset at Cinna's! Lenny Kravitz? Are you KIDDING me? That's just bad.

    I'm thrilled about their Haymitch selection. Yes, I was expecting a bit more beer belly and a little older, but I think they'll change my mind. The reason I love this choice is one simple reason: Woody Harrelson's character on Will & Grace. I am still mourning the end of their relationship and truly believe Grace should've married him, NOT stupid Leo. Woody Harrelson was offensive, hilarious, immature, sweet, and ultimately mature in the right places. He made me believe that he could pull of Haymitch. THRILLED.

    The rest...

    Stanley Tucci is just amazing at anything. Awesome.

    Donald Sutherland? I was picturing someone more like Regis. NOT that I wanted Regis, but that's the picture I had in my head. Someone orange with fake-tanner, small, had a lot of work done to look perfect but looks more like a 70 yr old plastic doll, and still is terrifying. Still, I'm sure it'll be good.

    Didn't picture Rue as black, but I LOVE it. Very excited.

    Did my long rambling analysis convince you of the sheer honesty of my disclaimer? I'm working hard to tell myself "It's another version of the book; it won't be the same and it shouldn't be." But I'm still afraid this is going to be a cheesy romance version of books that are so much more.

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  5. The post writer missed Woody in Will and Grace, only having watched that show sporadically, but your words are consoling us.

    One of us just watched "The Kids are All Right," and future Peeta is in it. He's much cuter in motion than in the pictures that they keep putting up online, and he did a good job at his part. We are more hopeful about him now. We think he will look good as a blonde though. Unfortunately, his character in TKAAR was nothing like Peeta, so we can't judge.

    We thought it was pretty clear in the books that Rue was black, but we could be wrong.

    With books being made into movies, we try to go in with this attitude: It's not going to be the same or as good as the books. It's another take on the story. A completely new version. It's for fans who weren't ready to leave the story yet and who want more, but not the same thing. If the movie makes it a little different, they might make some things better or at least give us something new to look at. We like when they add scenes to the books that really work well live. It's like new stuff to put in the canon. Ultimately, we decide which medium told which scenes better. And it's usually the books.

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