Movie Review/Book Comparison: The Hunger Games

Well, after much deliberation, I took the proverbial plunge and treated myself to what is probably the hottest media franchise so far this year. The much-lauded adaptation of the first novel in Suzanne Collins' trilogy, although less impressive than it would be on the big/IMAX screen (do I regret not seeing it in theaters?), certainly delivered not only an accurate adaption of the original material but more than a healthy dose of action, drama and true human emotion.

As far as accuracy goes, I would give The Hunger Games a solid 85% for staying faithful to the book. All the major players were on the stage and delivered their lines beautifully. The most notable, or rather the most consistent, change was what I would call "trimming". In the book, there are significant stretches where the plot line becomes stilted/monotonous and action is at a minimum. Strictly speaking, however, this is probably a true reflection of how the characters actually felt during the competition; alone in the silent wilderness for hours or days at a time, sleeping with one eye open (cliche, I know, but very apt) while physically and emotionally exhausted, constantly on the watch in every direction with minimal food and water; its enough to make anyone anxious. In the movie, much of that slow-moving narrative, as well as sizable portions of general description and Katniss Everdeen's personal musings (the whole book was told in first person), were eliminated. While not seriously affecting the powerful emotional edge of the story, it did remove a good deal of the back story surrounding various characters, especially the more minor competitors. In this sense, if I had not read the book beforehand, I would have had a much more difficult time following the plot.

Another area of alteration that jumped out at me involved the aesthetics of the film (particularly the food, clothing/physical appearances and various physical settings, which Collins describes in precise detail), but this aspect was a bit more ambiguous than the alterations to the actual storyline. Although various aesthetic elements were altered from the book descriptions, the impact of those elements was still just as impressive (my personal favorite was the parade of the tributes, when Katniss and Peeta came blazing in wearing black leather with blue and orange flames streaming from their backs).

The accompanying music was either dramatic or intimate (sometimes both) when the situation required it, and lent a powerful feeling to the already stunning visuals and emotional plot line.

All in all, I believe that The Hunger Games certainly lives up to its monumental pop culture reputation, but I would recommend reading the original book first, if for no other reason than to fully appreciate Collins' skillful mastery of the hero's journey narrative.

SEE MY REVIEW OF THE ORIGINAL BOOK

Movie Review: Mad Love

Most people have heard of Katherine of Aragon, the first wife of England's infamous King Henry VIII. Fewer people, perhaps, have heard the story of Juana, Katherine's older sister and wife of Duke Philip of Burgundy. The third daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, Juana's erratic behavior and bouts of hysteria earned her the moniker Juana la Loca ("Joan the Mad"). Spain's official entry for the 2002 Academy Awards, Mad Love captures Juana's story in a powerful and dramatic rendition.

I know very little about Juana's life (although I recently purchased a dual biography of her and Katherine that I plan on reading when able [link]), so cannot fully vouch for the historical accuracy of the film. One thing I can vouch for, however, is the power of performance. Juana (played by Pilar López de Ayala), despite her husband's many infidelities and his attempts to usurp her political power, remains fiercely devoted to him and refuses to let anything stand in her way maintaining both her marriage and her rule. Even at her most erratic moments, de Ayala brings nothing less than pure passion to her portrayal of this vastly misunderstood and powerful woman.

In addition to great performances, the film is superbly costumed, photographed and scored. The only drawback is the narration- every time the narrator describes a scene or plot point, it usually is set several years later along the time line of the film than his previous one, which makes the various sections of the film feel slightly disconnected from each other. Nonetheless, the storyline and powerful performances make the film a must-see for anyone interested in Spanish history

War Horse at Lincoln Center

Perhaps more than other major conflicts, World War I holds a unique place in history. It marked the first time heavy machinery had entered the field, and resulted in a greater loss of life than any conflict up to that time. European society was thrown into chaos, and nothing would ever be the same again. One fact about WWI, however, is not as widely known; this was the last time that cavalry was deployed as a major unit in armed combat. Recently adapted by Stephen Spielberg into a feature film, the production of War Horse now playing at Lincoln Center offers a unique and touching glimpse into this little known world of vanishing cavalry.

 

Upon seeing the performance, my feelings and reactions were somewhat mixed (as were those of the rest of my family). The storyline in-and-of-itself was not groundbreaking- the prized horse (and perhaps only friend) of a poor English farm boy is sold into the cavalry by his drunken, gambling father and sent to fight in France. The boy secretly enlists and faces many dangers to find his horse, and the two are reunited in the end. The most unique and memorable aspect of the production, however, was the effects. The horses were constructed essentially like mechanical costumes; an articulated framework covered with strips of cloth and leather and manned by 2 or 3 puppeteers. They were really the stars of the show, even more than the actors. There was also a massive computer screen set above the stage, which featured continuously changing digital images (fashioned to look like black and white drawings) relating to the time and place of the current scene.

There were also short musical pieces spaced throughout the performance, some of which were surprisingly good. While the storyline may not have been remarkable, the characters featured multi-layered personalities and displayed very genuine (if somewhat exaggerated) emotions. Overall, if you looked at the story from the personalities and life situations of the characters, you could easily understand their feelings as well as the reasons for their actions.

Seeing this performance has inspired me to view Spielberg's film to see how it stacks up. In any case, I would recommend anyone who can afford it to visit Lincoln Center and book a seat to this remarkable production.

4/14/12- movie comparison