Ha, seriously. I do think that someone who hasn't read the books will be able to follow and appreciate the movie, though, which I felt wasn't true of some of the later Harry Potter movies (I have no idea how anyone could understand OOTP without having read the book).

I'm assuming that the next film will be much more about how The Capitol will fuck your life up on a personal, vendetta level, rather than an impersonal, systemic level. Which makes sense, that we wouldn't get that until we actually see someone stand up to the extent that they need to be mown down.

Perhaps that will include the Avoces (fuck you, English: I will plural Latin words like Latin)

Suzi, they really are. Those will be the really interesting reactions to hear/read

But, in the book, Katniss doesn't even realize it's a mockingjay until later. So I wouldn't say it's a particularly common symbol before she chooses to wear it. To me, the randomness of her buying it in the Hob just fits more with Katniss becoming an unintended symbol herself.

I do think that someone who hasn't read the books will be able to follow and appreciate the movie.

This is where I disagree. Follow, yes. Appreciate, I don't know. At least based on the critics I saw it with (most of whom hadn't read the books). I don't think it moved much beyond the basic premise for them.

I suppose it's hard to separate my emotional reactions from my knowledge of the books. But I think it sells the basic premise in such a way as to make its point.

I can get that reasoning, megan. I think what still sticks for me is that buying a pin (she didn't know it would be free when she picked it up) seems so frivolous when selling their catch to feed and care for their families. I know I'm crossing up what I know from the books and what we see in the movie.

But her political awareness at the beginning is pretty well nil. Lots of other people (especially the previous generation) do know the symbol. It wouldn't surprise me if the Mayor's daughter were in that group.

It wouldn't surprise me if

Yes, but we never learn that, which is part of my frustration with that character in the book. I just wish something more had been done with her.

I suppose it's hard to separate my emotional reactions from my knowledge of the books.

This is why I think everyone should read the books first. Things like Gale's speech implying everyone chooses to watch the Games totally misdirect the non-reader.

Megan,(book trilogy spoilers in the following spoiler block)

I think that the niece of a fallen tribute giving this to Katniss, marking her with a symbol she doesn't know is important until much later, is a really important thread in the books, one that pays off when you get to District 13 and the tendrils of the rebellion across the districts becomes clear.

I agree with that wish, Megan.

The issue of how many times one's name is in the bowl (and I'm pretty sure there were more kids there than there were names in that bowl, but that's another issue) was also not made clear. And I think that's key information. Up there with "Harry's father and his friends made the map."