You do know they say they filmed three resolutions to the movie, right? I don't think there's anything unconscious there.

I was not aware of that. Was the third ending a happy threesome, or did Reese end up going back to sushi for one while the boys rode off into the sunset together?

Aside: I go out by myself to eat all the time, and if anyone gleefully announced something like "SUSHI FOR ONE!!!" to the room they would lose a customer and gain a bunch of negative reviews at Urbanspoon, Yelp, and any other review website I could find.

Sushi.

My fingers are crossed for the DVD, but it does make for a pretty weak structure to the movie.

So, I saw The Hunger Games last night.

I'm embargoed from blogging a review until Friday, but the social media embargo lifted today. And Buffistas can sometimes be social, right?

Anyhow, I'm spoiler fonting most of the rest: I liked it, but didn't love it. It's inevitable, but a lot was left out and I thought there were other places they could have trimmed: hunting in the beginning, the training stuff.

That said, I didn't think the actual changes they made were too egregious and often were very good decisions. The first image was an odd choice; I thought the words alone would have been much more powerful.

A couple of things I really liked were the story of the pin (much better here than in the book) and that the tech is much more prevalent (I have a huge problem with the disconnect b/w the first and third books and thought that will help the movies.)

Aside from Peeta and Gale (both of whom seemed awkward to me), the cast and acting were spot on. Jennifer Lawrence was excellent, but I expected her to be. I liked this Prim way more than the book. Rue was adorable. I particularly liked Stanley Tucci and Woody Harrelson, and I didn't think I would. But if they make the rest, I can't wait to see Haymitch in action. And Cinna, there needs to be more Cinna.

I was with a critic who hadn't read the books so it was interesting to compare our reactions. He felt it dragged in places and that they seemed to be playing to the fans by leaving every plot point and superfluous character in. He would have liked more of the actual games. He thought they didn't really deliver on how much they emphasized the sponsors and I have to agree. You see Katniss get a few things, but they cut the bread, stew, and the sleeping medicine. When I told him some key layers to the story that were left out, for example, that the dog-beasts were "muttations" (!), I may have inspired him to read the books.

your spoilerfont is making me want to see it RIGHT NOW!!! i'm so excited.

So, I saw The Hunger Games last night.

How were the scones?

Anyway, I can't wait! Gotta find some place showing it this weekend that won't be packed.

Yeah, right.

The screening was at ILM, so, fittingly, no food or drink was available.

megan,

spoiler font reaction: um, I have to say that I am incredibly disappointed that the mutt-ations (lack of clarity thereof) is not a highlight of the movie and I am grateful you included that in your summary. I would have been PISSED not knowing that ahead of time. I'm psyched for the movie, but my expectations are properly tempered.

I'm psyched for the movie, but my expectations are properly tempered.

That is a pretty odd thing not to make clear. It's one of the more horrifying aspects of the ending, even though I still wasn't clear on whether we were supposed to believe that they WERE the dead tributes or Katniss just thought so in the moment. That confusion may be why they decided to let it go in the movie, especially if there's no narration.

embargoed from blogging a review until Friday, but the social media embargo lifted today

Interesting. If I had to guess, I'd say they want the fandom building up positive word of mouth before the middling-to-negative reviews roll in.

P-C,

I didn't think there was any confusion because it happened again, in a later book, yes?