Hunger Games, The Ballad of…

[Britpopbaby]

I was so bored and was waiting for it to end. I was my invested in any of the characters and just waiting for it to end.

I’ve just re-read the book ready to watch the film and I’d forgotten how bad it was

It was alright. I thought more might happen to get from sweet boy to president snow though.

The main point of interest was how different the lead male looked with short hair.

I thought the exact same. I could have done without the entirety of part 3, and yet, I didn't feel like I understood the motivation of any character. There was no depth or development at all. Only Sejanus felt three dimensional to me.

Total lack of chemistry between the leads. What was the great attraction of Lucy Gray? She seemed to have absolutley zero personality.

DS2 has read the book and said the film paled in comparison.

I honestly didn’t see the point and don’t care one bit for any of the characters. I agree about the lack of chemistry with the leads and just thought it was rehashing stuff that was not needed in terms of seeing the hunger games. You could have literally started the film at the end of the hunger games and took more time developing the story afterwards. The singing and music just didn’t fit. The actor playing Snow was good but his character could have had a lot more depth. I agree his friend had more depth but even that character was a little stereotypical in terms of rich boy with a conscious. I didn’t have much invested in the film the way fans do and I hope that they feel that the book was serviced well.

I want blown away but didn't hate it. The last "act" dwindled as if the writers weren't quite sure how to tie it up.

It was difficult not to compare Lucy to Katiniss but agree she had zero personality or real character. I also thought that until she was in the games her past sounded quite nice actually compared to every other poor bugger in district 12, she actually had no skin in the game (excuse the pun). And when she went back as victor she didn't seem in the least bit traumatised

The part where she bowed to the crowd at the reaping was a poor copy of Katniss bowing at training "thank you for your consideration".

Young Snow was interesting but I think I would have liked to have seen more of what happens to turn him into the horrible character he becomes, surely it's not just having been wronged by Lucy.

I did love Viola Davis though - full on Dr Nefario!

Oh no, I'm so looking forward to it 🙁

I did think those first few minutes in the arena seemed more brutal than the other films

Has anyone read the book and seen the movie? I thought the book was fine (though the last third really dragged) and I'm curious about the movie, but not sure if it's worth seeing int he cinema.

And are there many songs in the movie? The book was full of song after song after song and they ranged from dreadful to passable.

Oh don't say that! I read the book and enjoyed it I would have put it as 2nd or maybe 3rd favourite in the series and am seeing it on Thursday.

I do think the book could have explored a longer time period though.

@toastofthetown yep, quite a few songs. Some work; some are shoehorned in, especially the 'look how the poor people can have fun dancing' ones.

That said, the first two parts I thought were great and the last one could have been trimmed massively.

You can't really get invested in any character as they are superficially painted, although Viola Davies steals the whole show.

I didn't like the first 3 films, they weren't a patch on the books. I liked the prequel book (although none are as good as the first book IMO) but I know the film will be a disappointment.

Third favourite in a series of four is not a great accolade?

Aww it last night and enjoyed it... we didn't see Snow get bad/mad enough perhaps they'll do one more film.

Loved the books and enjoyed all the films.

Quite liked it. It did seem to loose a bit after the games were finished and the ending seemed very rushed!

Then again the 3rd films again seemed meh without the game parts.

DD2 and I are going next Saturday ..... I've read the book and am looking forward to the film but a real shame if it isn't all I expect it to be.

Tbf it's mostly second and I adore all but the last one

I enjoyed it, although agree that the last part was not filled out properly, which was weird for a 2 1/2 hour film. There was no real character development of Snow. He was sensitive then randomly violent. The songs were cringe. Agree that Viola Davis was the standout. Proper baddie.

Absolutely awful. No empathy for any of the characters, no build up, no twists, nothing.

2 and a half hours of my life I'll not get back. I agree with other comments about lack of character development. I sneezed, and Snow had gone from goody to baddy. I wasn't sure what exactly had happened. Too violent and grim. I only went under duress and really didn't enjoy anything about it.

To all saying the last bit is too sudden when he goes form almost goody to evil baddy - that's the book. I found it a somewhat disappointing denouement.

My DD and friends went to see it this evening and all of them enjoyed it.

Just got back and myself and dd absolutely loved it .

I think you definitely had to have read the book first though. But it was so well cast and followed the book perfectly. I loved it

I hadn't read this book but really enjoyed the film last night. I thought the actor that played Lucky Flickerman was brilliant. He really created a very feasible ancestor of Stanley Tucci's Flickerman character.

I didn’t know what to expect, my DD wanted to go. But I really enjoyed it, was a bit too violent for me.
I really didn’t like the hanging tree scenes.
And I shred a tear at the little girl who had Down syndrome and just wanted to go home 😭.
Thought the actor who played Snow very handsome ( with and without his blonde curls).