Hunger Games/Mockingjay (SPOILERS)

[pinkroses]

In reply to this from Rock-n-Voll from the randoms:

pinkroses, curious what you thought about the last book and how the series ended. I've mentioned it before, but the last 10-15 pages ruined the whole thing for me, it was so bad (IMO).

I thought the books got progressively worse as they went on. I really loved the first book, then the second book was interesting but kind of confusing, and the third book was a huge mess. I don't enjoy reading war stories so anything having to do with the war I kind of zoned out on. Also, so much of the action took place away from Katniss or while she was depressed or drugged out or whatever that it was hard to follow.

I pretty much sped through the last 1/3 of Mockingjay because I wanted to see how it ended, so I had to re-read it later. I forget what exactly is in the last 15 pages - I am assuming you mean Katniss and Peeta getting together back in district 12? After sitting with it for awhile (I think I finished the book at the end of June) I am satisfied with the ending, although I think it was poorly written and rushed. I get not wanting the book to be too long, but maybe just split it into two or something. I can elaborate, but I don't want to go off on tangents so I'll wait to see what you were talking about exactly.

It seemed like the author was trying to shoehorn in another "Hunger Games" situation with all the booby traps in the Capitol and people dying and whatever, and it just didn't feel natural. That was really distracting for me.

[pinkroses]

YES, I agree on the matter-of-fact writing. And truly, it didn't seem like Katniss made the decision herself. Gale and her mom both ditched her, and Peeta was the only one there. Kind of lame.

I was not spoiled at all for Catching Fire and I legit thought it would be about Katniss mentoring the next tribute, seeing the Hunger Games and Capitol from the point of view of a mentor, Katniss dealing with her new fame and wealth in District 12, etc. I was surprised by the turn it took.

[5kcandlesinthewind]

Butting in: I don't think there WAS a truly happy ending to be had. After all the shit they'd been through, there was really no getting over it. I think it would have been a cop-out. (Sorry!) I actually liked the ending (the actual ending - I thought most of Mockingjay was a mess), because I thought being with Peeta gave her the best chance to heal. I don't think she ever could have forgiven Gale for killing Prim. And there's no way anyone who hadn't been through what they'd been through could ever relate or give her the space to grieve the way she needed to.

But otherwise, yes. Mockingjay was a serious disappointment. It seemed so rushed, like she was just meeting a deadline and they didn't bother to actually edit it. The fact that so much of the interesting stuff happened "off-screen" didn't help, and I really hope it's something they can fix with the movie, since it won't be limited to Katniss's point of view.

[pinkroses]

Aug 21, 2012 14:36:27 GMT -5 5kcandlesinthewind said:

But otherwise, yes. Mockingjay was a serious disappointment. It seemed so rushed, like she was just meeting a deadline and they didn't bother to actually edit it. The fact that so much of the interesting stuff happened "off-screen" didn't help, and I really hope it's something they can fix with the movie, since it won't be limited to Katniss's point of view.

Yes! I think Mockingjay will work much better as a movie than as a book. That said, I don't think I will love the movie(s) because I am not that into action movies. Oh well.

[ladyextravaganza]

"Oh, while I was passed out, I missed all this, which is more what than happened the entire book so far." Umm... ok.

I think the movies will be much better than the books. I think the plotline of the 3rd book (and certainly the ending!) will translate wonderfully to film even though it was sh!tty to read.

It just should've been 4 books. The last couple chapters could have been their own book.

[ladyextravaganza]

Rock, the movies were actually extraordinarily well done IMO.

[ladyextravaganza]

Correction: Movie. Obv I haven't seen the second one haha

[5kcandlesinthewind]

They're making 4 movies for some reason, which I think is a HUGE mistake.
And I really liked the movie, too. I thought they did an amazing job. There's always going to be stuff that you wish they'd done a better job with/spent more time on, but overall, it was one of my favorite book-to-movie adaptations in recent history.

[pinkroses]

Redbox it, Rock. It's only $1.28 or whatever. It is 2 hours and 22 mins of your life, though. But think of it as an investment, because after you watch it you can discuss it with us

I think making Mockingjay into two movies will be good. There is so much going on in that book and if it was just one movie it would be horribly rushed. I read an article on EW discussing where to cut it (popwatch.ew.com/2012/07/10/mockingjay-split-in-two/#more-207882) and I think of those I like option 2 the best:

SPLIT POINT #2: Peeta is rescued
With Katniss nervously waiting back in District 13, Gale leads a small force inside the Capitol to rescue Peeta, and a few other prisoners.
The climax: Collins lets Gale’s rescue mission to save Peeta unfold offscreen, as it were, but Mockingjay Part 1 could depict the rescue with a major action sequence — possibly involving Katniss herself, though some fans would find that sacrilege.
The cliffhanger: Peeta is saved, and Katniss races to his hospital bed for their long awaited reunion. As Katniss puts it in the book, “My lips are just forming [Peeta's] name when his fingers lock around my throat.” OMG! Peeta’s been brainwashed into a sleeper assassin!

This would let them play out a lot of the action that was missed in the book, and still save the whole assault on the Capitol for the fourth movie.