Paris, Texas.

Hunger Games is a very literal translation of the book.

Have you seen Paris, je t'aime?

The Hunger Games was more engaging than I was expecting it to be. Shaky-cam-phobes beware. I moved from mid-theater to the back row thanks to the use of that hated technique here. (I guess it doesn't bother everybody, but is there really anyone who would fail to enjoy a movie if it did not use the damn shaky-cam?)

I haven't read the book, and I'm not especially inspired to do so, but I was surprised at how much this turned out to be a satire, not so much of totalitarian government, but of the present-day "reality TV" elimination genre. Since I've ever-loathed that entire field of programming, I was pleased by this aspect. (Early on, Katniss' studly guy friend says "If everyone would just stop watching," to which Katniss gives a resigned "never gonna happen." I knew just how they felt.)

Perfect casting went a long way toward getting me to willingly suspend a lot of disbelief. A couple of tropes, however, bent me to the breaking point.

This:


And this:


And, I wished for a slightly different ending:


I know how I'd like to see things go, but I'm not sure I care quite enough to read three books or watch two more movies to find out. Still, this is so many leagues better than any sparkly vampire crap.

Question 1: Yes, they were. Explained in the book. Not explained in the movie.
Question 2: Yes, this is a problem in the book as well. Super technology inconsistently present.
Question 3: She couldn't because she had to survive and take care of her sister. Future movies will explore the rebellion issue more.

Personally, I thought the movie was pretty much exactly the same quality as the book. Relatively shallow presentation of complex issues. Not bad, not particularly good. Better than half the Harry Potter movies and better than two out of the three Twilight movies. But still very YA in tone and scripting.

Very good performances, better CGI than I'd been lead to expect (except for the big cheat at the end).

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I went to "Mirror, Mirror" yesterday. From the commercials I had seen out of the corner of my eye, I had initially assumed that the movie cost about five dollars to make. I now realize that this assumption was grounded in Julia Roberts' snarky dialogue. The movie is actually visually stunning in all respects, but with a Nickelodeon-level script, it was pretty tough sledding.

One interesting touch: it had the semi-obligatory musical number over the credits. From his name, the director sounds like an Indian fellow, and the number seemed like something out of a Bollywood movie. (Of course, it could be a number one pop hit, and I wouldn't know it.)

Napoleon vu par Abel Gance, an incredible event, an incredible film, an incredible day. Worth every penny, worth the time ans beyond grateful I had this opportunity.

I meant to go to that, but then forgot about it.

don't let him fool you folks; SL has been DYING to see this movie!

I'm tempted to see Mirror, Mirror simply because it was directed by Indian-name-sounding Tarsam Singh. His movies are always visually splendiforous. And I hear Julia Roberts is in finer form than in a million years.

But I think I'll wait for the DVD. Then I can watch it with the sound turned off, except for the Julia Roberts parts. :p