Movie Monday: Mockingjay - Part 2

Mockingjay - Part 2

When opportunity arises, I feature Movie Monday. I recognize few people have the time or desire to read the amount I do, especially when it comes to the 100 Best Novels list. Luckily, Hollywood loves adapting a classic and I love a good story in any form.

Film Title: Mockingjay - Part 2

Book Title: Mockingjay

Release Year: 2015

Summary: The war between Districts and Capitol comes to a dramatic, casualty-ridden conclusion with Katniss Everdeen at its very center.

What I Thought: Kevin was gracious enough to take me to see this in the theatre for date night a few weeks ago. As I had expressed to him, writing your thesis on The Hunger Games means you have to see all the movies on the big screen. Normally, we avoid going to the movies, opting for Netflix or Redbox several months later. It's easier and way cheaper and we do not mind having to wait several months to see movies...with the exception of me during Oscar season; I get a little antsy then.

All that to say, The Hunger Games movies are the only films we have consistently shelled out $20+ to see in theaters over the past four years. It's almost become a little tradition. Now that they are done, it may be a long time before we see another movie in that format (Star Wars is tempting me, but it takes a lot to tempt Kevin enough to spend money at the movies). So, when two rotten little junior high age children were talking and laughing and making jokes in the row in front of us for the first twenty minutes of the movies, you better believe they got a piece of my mind. No one was going to ruin my chance to enjoy this movie fully, especially not after we paid $20 to get in and another $5 on unbuttered popcorn (a detail which leant to some strong feelings about the theatre's management - who doesn't butter popcorn??). Thankfully, they shut right up after one warning and we enjoyed the rest of the movie in relative peace. Yep. We're those people and not ashamed of it, either.

You're probably really ready for me to talk about the actual movie at this point, aren't you?

Take Tuesday: Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay

Some books are just so good, you have to read them again. And some books deserve a second chance. And some books I think about and change my opinion or have more to say. Take Tuesday is a chance to do just that. 

Title: Mockingjay

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publication Date: 8/24/10

Pages: 400

Genre: The Hunger Games / Dystopian / Young Adult / Fiction

Previous Readings: 2010 / 3/29/12

Date Completed This Time: 3/11/15

Summary: After being rescued from the collapsing arena during her second Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen finds herself in the mysterious District 13. Despite suffering from some serious PTSD, Katniss is expected to serve as the face of the revolution against the Capitol.

What I Thought Before: I first reviewed this book for the blog back in 2012, then I gave some revised thoughts in 2014 when I reviewed the film adaptation. First time around, I complained the book was hurried and left important action unexplained. I called it "a rocky conclusion" to the series. Two years later, I was singing a slightly different tune - one I continue to stand by.

What I Think Now: I think I explained my stance pretty well in that 2014 post, so I'll let it speak for itself and then add some additional comments:

Take Tuesday: Catching Fire

Catching Fire

Some books are just so good, you have to read them again. And some books deserve a second chance. And some books I think about and change my opinion or have more to say. Take Tuesday is a chance to do just that. 

Title: Catching Fire

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publication Date: 9/1/09

Pages: 405

Genre: The Hunger Games / Dystopian / Young Adult / Fiction

Previous Readings: 2010 / 3/10/12 

Date Completed This Time: 2/24/15

Summary: After winning the Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta spend the first half of the book on the Victory Tour, realizing the discontent stirring in the districts. The second half of the book sees them back in the arena, fighting other former victors and each trying to save the other. 

What I Thought Before: I whined about Collins's stream of thought writing being too casual. While I still maintain the books aren't the best written I have ever read, I now enjoy the perspective from which she writes. Other than that, I didn't have much to say back in 2012. Foolish me.

Take Tuesday: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games

Some books are just so good, you have to read them again. And some books deserve a second chance. And some books I think about and change my opinion or have more to say. Take Tuesday is a chance to do just that. 

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publication Date: 9/14/08

Pages: 374

Genre: The Hunger Games / Dystopian / Young Adult / Fiction

Previous Readings: 2010 / March 2, 2012

Date Completed This Time: January 1, 2015

Summary: Does anyone actually need a summary of this book by now? Just in case... Katniss Everdeen lives in a post-apocalyptic America, now called Panem. Each year, the Capitol requires the 12 Districts to send two tributes to compete in The Hunger Games. The tributes are put in an arena and fight to the death while the country watches on television. Katniss ends up as a tribute when she volunteers in place of her younger sister. 

What I Thought Before: Here's what I wrote back in March of 2012. Basically, I expressed my love for the series and for Katniss, I avoided spoilers, and griped about Collins's stream of consciousness writing. Please ignore the comments I made claiming Veronica Roth is a better writer than Collins. I was young and foolish. I had no idea the Divergent series was going to end up being such a mess. That one comment is seriously one of my most regretted moments in the three years I have been blogging.

What I Think Now: I am a bigger Hunger Games fan now than ever before. I still recognize that Collins's writing is not perfect. In fact, reading the book again this time around (for my Adolescent Literature course) reminded me of some of those imperfections. However, the more times I read the series, the less worried I am about some of the writing and the more interested I am in the conversation it creates.

Movie Monday: Mockingjay - Part 1

Mockingjay - Part 1

When opportunity arises, I feature Movie Monday. I recognize few people have the time or desire to read the amount I do, especially when it comes to the 100 Best Novels list. Luckily, Hollywood loves adapting a classic and I love a good story in any form.

Like everyone else, I have been anxiously awaiting this movie, well, basically since Catching Fire came out last year at this time. I know that Mockingjay is largely considered to be the weakest novel of the trilogy (more on that in a moment) and I was excited to see how the adaptation was handled.

I was not disappointed. I thought it was a beautiful adaptation of a difficult book.

Now, I know a lot of people out there have said the movie is just average and does not have the same strength as the previous ones. Almost everyone I have talked to about it, including Kevin, complained that it felt drawn out. I have so many thoughts on all this. Bear with me as I flesh them out.

Also, as an aside, I am going to try and stay spoiler-free for those who may have seen this movie, but not read the book. No promises, but I'll do my best!

Before I can get into the movie, I have to revise my public opinion on Mockingjay. I still feel the book is hurried and that Collins skims over details. Peeta's transformation still tears me apart. But, I no longer think it's a rocky conclusion to the story of Panem and Katniss Everdeen. I think it's the appropriate ending, one for which Collins is not given enough credit.

Movie Monday: Catching Fire

Catching Fire

On the second and fourth Monday of every month, I feature Movie Monday. I recognize that few people have the time or desire to read the amount that I do, especially when it comes to the 100 Best Novels list. Luckily, Hollywood loves adapting a classic and I love a good movie almost as much as a good book.

Ok, I think I have given you sufficient time to see this movie. It's been out a few weeks now. If you haven't gotten around to it yet and don't want any spoilers, bookmark this page, run to your nearest theater, see the movie, then come back and read this post.

Another, perhaps less obvious, prerequisite for reading this post is the Movie Monday installation for the end of November. I took the opportunity to write about the first Hunger Games movie. A lot of my thoughts about the Catching Fire adaptation align with my thoughts about the first movie. I highly recommend reading that one before you read the following.

To begin, I really cannot express how much we enjoyed this movie. Kevin and I went to see it with four of our very closest, most Hunger Games-loving friends. Afterward, we went out to dinner and had a great discussion about the film and the books. I cannot take credit for all of the thoughts in this post. Some of them originated in the minds of others and were reaped from that conversation.

Movie Monday: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games

On the second and fourth Monday of every month, I feature Movie Monday. I recognize that few people have the time or desire to read the amount that I do, especially when it comes to the 100 Best Novels list. Luckily, Hollywood loves adapting a classic and I love a good movie almost as much as a good book.

Despite having a full queue of classics ready and waiting for their turn to be featured on Movie Monday, I thought you all might enjoy something a bit more current today. 

Unless you live under a rock, you know that the second Hunger Games movie came out this weekend! We went with some friends on Saturday (to a matinee, even, like the old, cheap people we are). I plan to share my thoughts about it in a few weeks. I need some time to digest and discuss. Plus, I want to give you all a chance to see it!

Don't despair, however; we're still in the Hunger Games spirit around here today!  In anticipation of Saturday, Kevin and I watched the original movie last week. 

I have to admit, I had forgotten just how good it is. I think when it originally came out, I was hyperaware of any differences between it and the book, so I did not fully enjoy it as the great movie it was.  Besides, as far as film adaptations go, it does a pretty kick ass job. 

A few things it does beautifully:

The Girl Who Was on Fire

The Girl Who Was on Fire:

Your Favorite Authors on Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games Trilogy

When I joined Goodreads, I opened myself to a whole new world of potential reading material.  The very first book which sparked my interest through that medium was The Girl Who Was on Fire.  It is a collection of essays about Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games Trilogy written by other young adult authors.  Now, in the time since I read The Hunger Games for the first time in the spring of 2011 and definitely since the realize of the movie last year, there has much discussion about the series.  A big part of what endears me to the books is the stimulating conversation they create.  I have spent many wonderful hours debating the complexities of characters and plot.  This anthology is basically a written version of similar conversations and thoughts.  What more could a seeker of literary depth ask for?

The book was published by Smart Pop Books, a company of which I previously had not heard.  From the looks of their website, they have similar anthologies discussing just about everything: tv, movies, books, and more.  I, for one, cannot wait to get my hands on the book about LOST or the multiple volumes discussing Harry Potter.  For the moment, however, let's talk about Hunger Games.

Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay

The final book of the series.  Reading through this series again, particularly at a time which coincides with the pandemonium the movie is creating, has been truly enjoyable.  That said, I'll put it right out there: the finale of this great series is always sort of a let down to me.

Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire

I know that it has been a little while since I've written. There are 2 good reasons for that. First of all, I hit a point about a week ago where I finished all of the books I was reading and launched into 3 new ones at once. So, you should expect several new posts in the coming week or so. The second reason has nothing at all to do with books. Life has been more than a little crazy. First and foremost, Kevin and I got engaged at the start of the month! Needless to say, having a big shiny rock on my finger has distracted me a bit from the written word. Instead, I've been perusing wedding magazines and worrying about finding a venue. I also started a new job today.  On top of all of that, Kevin moved into what will be our first home together last week. Like I said, things have been crazy.

I realize that none of that had anything to do with Catching Fire. To those of you who don't care at all about my personal life and just want to read about books, I apologize. On to the book... (spoilers ahead)

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games

I'll admit that I feel a bit cliche posting about The Hunger Games in the midst of the pre-movie fury.  Yet, I feel secure in my love for the series because I read them over a year ago, long before the craze began reaching those a decade younger than me.  Of course, one of the great things about this series is that, while it is technically classified as Young Adult literature, it can appeal to those of all ages.  I actually head about the books from my 30-year old co-worker.  I suppose I should thank that guy because I love this serious, and have from the first chapter of the first book.