[flippyshark]

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:

Spoiler:

The Mockingjays - Were these genetically engineered creatures? (I haven't read the book.) Rue merely hummed a very soft melody, and suddenly, the forest was alive with these birds singing it back and forth. I though, gosh, those birds should be mocking the cadence of every sentence these characters say if they're that sensitive!

And this:

Spoiler:

The ability of the game programmers to digitally dial up flesh and blood killer dogs just didn't work for me. If they have this technology, there should certainly be no hunger in the land, nor any material lack for anyone. Unless these were tactile holograms? (Same for the dial-up forest fire)

And, I wished for a slightly different ending:

Spoiler:

The two of them should have ignored the last-second reprieve and eaten the berries anyway. This could have triggered more riots and rebellion in the districts, which would have pleased me silly. I wouldn't even have minded if the two were somehow rescued and resuscitated, I just wanted them to make that uncompromising choice even after they didn't have to.

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.