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[Replicant]

Don't mind Sculli, guys. He's just bitter that John Carter is a BOMBA!!!

Also, the problem with films like this is that there'd always be someone like Sculli who goes "If it were me, I'd do so and so..." But the fact is, you don't really know how you'd react if you're put in similar situation. The guy who thinks he'd be all tough may end up whimpering if he's put in similar situation and the guy who thinks he'd run away may actually be the most vicious combatant.

Having said that, I hope the film doesn't suck when I finally see it this Saturday. Otherwise there'll be some crow-munching and I hate crows. *fingers crossed*

 

[crazy monkey]

Is this movie similar to japanese movie? That movie was awesome and bloody. The concept sounds very similar.

 

[VGChampion]

Just a little bit more time until this series either becomes a huge hit or stays pretty much exactly the same. Hope we have another Harry Potter on our hands over a Golden Compass.

 

[FillerB]

Is this movie similar to japanese movie? That movie was awesome and bloody. The concept sounds very similar.

Although I only read the books... If by japanese movie you mean Battle Royale... Only basic premise (government making kids fight to the dead) is the same but that is about it.

 

[TehOh]

I've been holding off on reading the books because I got the impression it was the new twilight, something mediocre/bad that's geared towards teens and so on, but I've been hearing the books are good so should I get into them?

I was also a bit miffed that it seems to copy Battle Royale (which I loved, both the film and book), but I've heard it's different and isn't a copy. What's the consensus on this?

I'd compare it more to Harry Potter than Twilight. The writing has plenty of flaws, but something about the world, characters, pacing, etc draws you in. The books are really quick reads. I really liked them, despite ostensibly being aimed at teenagers.

The premise is largely identical to Battle Royale, but in practice, it feels very different.

 

[TehOh]

The soundtrack for this movie looks surprisingly good. New songs from The Decemberists, Arcade Fire, and Neko Case? Damn.

 

[G-Fex]

Hot garbage. I don't know how many of my narrative complaints I can level at the film, since it might be entirely faithful to awful source material. Every character in this movie deserved to die for being so goddamn stupid. The sentimental beats are cloying and shallow to the point where you just wish they would find Dutch's encampment in the jungle so he could put them out of their misery. The production design was AWFUL. It looked like a high budget television show. I was expecting to see the LOST submarine show up at one point.

The fact that this is about to do gangbusters while John Carter dies with a whimper makes me a sad panda.

5/10

So it begins.

 

[Blader]

The soundtrack for this movie looks surprisingly good. New songs from The Decemberists, Arcade Fire, and Neko Case? Damn.

The Arcade Fire track is disappointing and boring.

 

[Cheebo]

Sculli is going to have to be on suicide watch when The Hunger Games crushes Titanic 3D.

 

[Meier]

As an HSX player, this is pretty interesting. Investment analyst for The Globe and Mail suggested buying LGF at $7 back in September due to the HSX price of The Hunger Games at the time.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/glob...ly-pure-profit-for-lions-gate/article2377084/

 

[Jb]

I enjoyed it despite a middling second act.
Some decent to great acting all around, with Tucci and Harrelson once again nailing their respective roles. Fairly well directed too, with the exception of the shaky cam during CQC fights.
The way the actual games played out was a little generic though, with some awefully convenient stuff (

Spoiler

bee hive

), underdevelopped secondary characters (Rue

Spoiler

's death had zero impact on me because of it, the "Alliance"

). That's really where the movie pales in comparison with Battle Royale, where every death had an impact and felt genuinelly shocking. Oh, and vis-à-vis of the romantic stuff, are we going to get another

Spoiler

twilight love triangle

? Not looking forward to it.

Still, much much better than I expected, much more cohesive and better put together than John Carter, so I had a good time Might even read the books now.

 

[Brazil]

I enjoyed it despite a middling second act.
Some decent to great acting all around, with Tucci and Harrelson once again nailing their respective roles. Fairly well directed too, with the exception of the shaky cam during CQC fights.
The way the actual games played out was a little generic though, with some awefully convenient stuff (

Spoiler

bee hive

), underdevelopped secondary characters (Rue

Spoiler

's death had zero impact on me because of it, the "Alliance"

). That's really where the movie pales in comparison with Battle Royale, where every death had an impact and felt genuinelly shocking. Oh, and vis-à-vis of the romantic stuff, are we going to get another

Spoiler

twilight love triangle

? Not looking forward to it.

Still, much much better than I expected, much more cohesive and better put together than John Carter, so I had a good time Might even read the books now.

It's not a

Spoiler

Twilight love triangle

. It's a

Spoiler

love triangle

. So no worries there.

 

[NH Apache]

Going to see it Friday night at 10:30. Trying to decide if I should get liquored up first.

Little disappointed by the reports of shaky cam. Excited nonetheless.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

It felt like a season 4 episode of BSG that ran for 2.5 hours.

 

[Koodo]

Sculli was being legit until he plugged John Bomba at the end.

 

[f0rk]

are we going to get another

Spoiler

twilight love triangle

? Not looking forward to it.

Spoiler

It's not like the twilight one because she's not as desperate, but it's still really dumb for different reasons.

 

[demosthenes]

Is there a reason to see this in Imax? Was it shot in it?

 

[.GqueB.]

Can you further explain without spoilering?

Amazon reviews for the 3rd book are disappointing.
Can I read the 2nd book and just ignore the 3rd? Or will the 2nd end with a huge spoiler?

It gets pretty violent suddenly. I remember reading the first book and thinking "yea I can see how they can make this into a PG13 movie with quick cuts and such". But there are stuff in the 3rd book that not even clever cuts can hide. I'm sure they'll just change those moments entirely.

 

[Zzoram]

How can a movie about kids killing each other be PG-13 and be any good? Did they pull off the violence and brutality or not?

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

How can a movie about kids killing each other be PG-13 and be any good? Did they pull off the violence and brutality or not?

Like this

*SHAKES CAMERA AROUND*

 

[.GqueB.]

How can a movie about kids killing each other be PG-13 and be any good? Did they pull off the violence and brutality or not?

There isnt much brutality in the book to be honest. Not in the first one anyway. A lot of the death happens away from the main character.

 

[Pachterballs]

I enjoyed it despite a middling second act.
Some decent to great acting all around, with Tucci and Harrelson once again nailing their respective roles. Fairly well directed too, with the exception of the shaky cam during CQC fights.
The way the actual games played out was a little generic though, with some awefully convenient stuff (

Spoiler

bee hive

), underdevelopped secondary characters (Rue

Spoiler

's death had zero impact on me because of it, the "Alliance"

). That's really where the movie pales in comparison with Battle Royale, where every death had an impact and felt genuinelly shocking. Oh, and vis-à-vis of the romantic stuff, are we going to get another

Spoiler

twilight love triangle

? Not looking forward to it.

Still, much much better than I expected, much more cohesive and better put together than John Carter, so I had a good time Might even read the books now.

everyone bringing up BR... is going to be disappointed with HG on some level. BR relished each kill but that movie wasn't PG and wasn't afraid of showcasing its violence. I know I mentioned wishing it had more visceral violence.

The one time they could

Spoiler

last guy who got mauled by the dogs; I wanted to see the corpse but they cut away so quickly

.. so yeah.

character:

Spoiler

Rue's death it wasn't a bad death but she's a child and she got speared and she didn't even grimace or screaming in pain - I bet it must have hurt like a motherfucker; that death felt too clean, too PG13 - I get that she looks about 10.. but still

so yeah. BR this isn't.

Like this

*SHAKES CAMERA AROUND*

only really noticed it in the last fight so I disagree.

 

[Mr. Sam]

Like this

*SHAKES CAMERA AROUND*

The more you tell me about it, the more I've just got to see it to believe it.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

only really noticed it in the last fight so I disagree.

Huh? The scene where

Spoiler

Katniss goes for the supplies and is set upon by that girl with the knife, you couldn't see a damn thing. You had absolutely no idea what the fuck was going on until it stopped to let the girl get her bit of dialogue in. Dialogue which was lol-worthy. Stop talking and just kill Katniss you stupid bitch. Goddamn cartoon characters running around this movie.

 

[Expendable.]

Huh? The scene where

Spoiler

Katniss goes for the supplies and is set upon by that girl with the knife, you couldn't see a damn thing. You had absolutely no idea what the fuck was going on until it stopped to let the girl get her bit of dialogue in. Dialogue which was lol-worthy. Stop talking and just kill Katniss you stupid bitch. Goddamn cartoon characters running around this movie.

At least it didn't have flashbacks during the middle of the action scene!

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

At least it didn't have flashbacks during the middle of the action scene!

I answered you other question a page back, re: all the stupid and unrealistic shit that should have gotten these morons killed.

And yes, this is absolutely going for and will capture the Twilight audience. You have boys helplessly pining for the protagonist to the point that they are ineffectual as characters. Their characterization boils down to 'Wants to kiss and be with female lead' without anything else to them. You don't make your female characters strong by making all your male character dullards.

 

[iammeiam]

character:

Spoiler

Rue's death it wasn't a bad death but she's a child and she got speared and she didn't even grimace or screaming in pain - I bet it must have hurt like a motherfucker; that death felt too clean, too PG13 - I get that she looks about 10.. but still

so yeah. BR this isn't.

So does that sequence in the movie at least equal this fan version (spoilers for the above) that went viral shortly before the casting started? The fan version managed to be pretty affecting (linkin park LOL aside), while still being pretty PG13 I thought.

 

[Expendable.]

@giteshpandya:

Industry source just told me #HungerGames FRI may even surge to $80M! More tweets to come over coming days.

Wowza.

 

[Koodo]

I'm wearing my Mockingjay pin all day tomorrow.

 

[cruets]

grabbed some midnight tickets. i'm ready

 

[Relix]

Watched this after reading the books. Lots of censored stuff, lots of stuff they passed over, but it was a good movie. I'd rate it 7/10.

(oh and about the convenient bee hive, the book makes that very clear)

 

[Biggest-Geek-Ever]

@giteshpandya:



Wowza.

New OW record if that happens. It won't be as frontloaded as Deathly Hallows or Twilight.

By the way, will I be seeing any Seattle gaffers down at the Pacific Science Center tonight?

 

[jett]

New OW record if that happens. It won't be as frontloaded as Deathly Hallows or Twilight.

By the way, will I be seeing any Seattle gaffers down at the Pacific Science Center tonight?

If it opens to something crazy like 80 mill I have little doubt it will have an awful 2x or less weekend multiplier.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

If it opens to something crazy like 80 mill I have little doubt it will have an awful 2x or less weekend multiplier.

 

[Solo]

@giteshpandya:



Wowza.

$80M opening DAY?! Good lawd! That would be the second biggest EVER.

 

[Biggest-Geek-Ever]

If it opens to something crazy like 80 mill I have little doubt it will have an awful 2x or less weekend multiplier.

Mr. Negativity

I'd bet the farm on this getting at least a 2.5 multiplier. Unless you meant $80m OD leads to $160m OW, which I still don't see it being quite that frontloaded, but it's certainly possible.

 

[effzee]

Movie is already out in the states?

Pretty psyche now to go see it. Probably Sunday night since I have Monday off from work.

 

[G-Fex]

Wow....I can't imagine why Carter failed at all..

 

[jett]

Mr. Negativity

I'd bet the farm on this getting at least a 2.5 multiplier. Unless you meant $80m OD leads to $160m OW, which I still don't see it being quite that frontloaded, but it's certainly possible.

No way, a crazy opening day number like that guarantees an equally crazy drop. Harry Potter 7-2 didn't even achieve a 2.0 multiplier on its OW. I remember back a month ago I was impressed with a hypothetical 70 million opening weekend.

i just noticed he has four holes on his nose

 

[Solo]

Mr. Negativity

I'd bet the farm on this getting at least a 2.5 multiplier. Unless you meant $80m OD leads to $160m OW, which I still don't see it being quite that frontloaded, but it's certainly possible.

Even if it "only" hits $160M (lolz), it would still be the second biggest weekend ever.

 

[Biggest-Geek-Ever]

No way, a crazy opening day number like that guarantees an equally crazy drop. Harry Potter 7-2 didn't even achieve a 2.0 multiplier on its OW. I remember back a month ago I was impressed with a hypothetical 70 million opening weekend.

To be fair, Harry Potter 7-2 was released in the summer when all schools were off. It is Spring Break for some, but it doesn't compare to the summer, so there'll be less of an opportunity for them to see it during the day. $80m would mean so much was made Friday night that some business HAS to be pushed to Saturday and Sunday.

And yeah, the tracking and expectations for this have exploded in a way I've never seen. I'd personally say a $150m OW would be the single most impressive feat in recent BO history, right up there with Avatar's run.

 

[goldlion054]

I know nothing about these books or this movie, so I looked up some plot summaries on wiki. So this is basically a love letter to the novel Battle Royale? I'm totally ok with that

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

And yeah, the tracking and expectations for this have exploded in a way I've never seen. I'd personally say a $150m OW would be the single most impressive feat in recent BO history, right up there with Avatar's run.

Let's not get crazy. Avatar not only reached the previously untouchable top grossing movie, it beat its ass by almost one billion dollars.

 

[G-Fex]

Let's not get crazy. Avatar not only reached the previously untouchable top grossing movie, it beat its ass by almost one billion dollars.

What goes up must come down

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

What goes up must come down

I have no idea what this is supposed to mean in relation to what we're talking about.

 

[G-Fex]

What the hell are you talking about, G-Fex?

exactly

 

[Mr. Sam]

I have no idea what this is supposed to mean in relation to what we're talking about.

Presumably, Avatar is eventually going to lose billions at the box office.

 

[~Kinggi~]

Amazed to see the 80+% RT score. Guess this movie is gonna be a big hit.

 

[Biggest-Geek-Ever]

Let's not get crazy. Avatar not only reached the previously untouchable top grossing movie, it beat its ass by almost one billion dollars.

I was talking more along the domestic front, but yes, Avatar's overseas gross is considerably more stunning to me than what it made in the states.


In regards to Hunger Games, there's only been one non-sequel that opened to over $150m adjusted, and that was Spider-Man. Spider-Man's a product that had been around for 40 years building up a fanbase, and Hunger Games has been around for less than four. That's why I think it'd be so remarkable.

 

[Of All Trades]

I enjoyed it despite a middling second act.
Some decent to great acting all around, with Tucci and Harrelson once again nailing their respective roles. Fairly well directed too, with the exception of the shaky cam during CQC fights.
The way the actual games played out was a little generic though, with some awefully convenient stuff (

Spoiler

bee hive

), underdevelopped secondary characters (Rue

Spoiler

's death had zero impact on me because of it, the "Alliance"

). That's really where the movie pales in comparison with Battle Royale, where every death had an impact and felt genuinelly shocking. Oh, and vis-à-vis of the romantic stuff, are we going to get another

Spoiler

twilight love triangle

? Not looking forward to it.

I'm reading the first book (75% through) now because my gf wants to see the movie, so in the book, with regards to your first spoiler it's a bit convenient but the book does a tiny bit of setting up the universe as to why that would be the way it was. There are more than a few points in the book, though, where things get pretty ridiculous in how lucky she apparently is.

As for the second spoiler, it's the same way in the book. The whole scene takes maybe 1.5 pages, though, and frankly the characterization of every character is really poor, so when it happened all I could think was "hooray for Kat, two more down". Yeah yeah YA novel but the last book I finished was Solaris by Lem which is almost the inverse of HG in the deep thoughts:stuff happening ratio.