This was one of this rare cases where I didn’t like the book but loved the movie. I haven’t read the 2nd two books, but am looking forward to the movies.
this is one of the few cases that the movie is better than the book.
the book is based solely on what catniss sees and does.
the movie goes beyond that, into the game control room, the president’s palace, what is happening in the capital. it does it very well.
it continues it seems with catching fire, with the meeting between the game master and snow, that is shown in the teaser.
i’m looking forward to it.
The Victor’s Village is a very depressing place in the movie, isn’t it?
(sigh) Another movie shot entirely in teal and orange. Man I’m really hating that palette.
I think the reason I preferred the movie is that I find Katniss to be one of the most selfish, annoying characters I’ve ever read about. The story was good enough that I couldn’t stop, but unfortunately, Katniss is a teenage girl, and teenage girls are horrible. (As a former teenage girl myself, I know what I’m talking about. 
)
I did love the fact that the trailer has no sign of the Quarter Quell in it. I’d like to see that kind of kept secret until the release–watching the internet react to information that has always been readily available in other media* is one of my favorite pastimes.
- See: Game of Thrones Seasons 1 and 3, Rue’s skin color, Dumbledore’s death, etc.
Not going to happen, see link to latest release
http://catchingfiremovienews.com/new-catching-fire-character-posters-the-quarter-quell-tributes
Well, dammit.
I think it will work in the film because Jennifer Lawrence is a lot better actor than Suzanne Collins is a writer. She’s going to be able to convey what Katniss was going through much more movingly than Collins was able to.
You are probably right. I was obsessed with the books when they first came out, because it was my first recreational reading since grad school and I forgot how much I loved reading. But I agree she’s not the best writer ever.
My only issue with the third book is that it was too short and felt rushed. I love that Katniss ends up with (essentially) with PTSD. I’m so happy the book doesn’t glamorize war. It’s realistic, and tragic. I appreciate that.
I’m very happy they decided to split the third book into two films. Normally that’s just a money grab, but I think it will help the story in this case. It was just too much action for one smallish novel.
To be fair, I’m sure she’d be a better writer if she had a better editor. The books would have benefited greatly from someone pointing out the things that just didn’t make sense.
One thing that has always bugged me about the premise of the Games in Catching Fire
This is the 75th time the games have been held
Part of the premise is that the tributes from District One and District 2 are volunteers trained pretty much from birth to compete and they “almost always” win.
Yet they have no problem coming up with one male and one female former winner from each district.
So, out of 75 games there have been at least 22 winners that are NOT “careers”… at least 2 ( one male, one female ) from Districts 3-12. Plus, we know that District 12has had 2 male winners -Peeta and Haymitch and District 4 has had at least 2 female winners - Annie and Mags.
Also, you have to figure that not all the winners are still alive, the first winners would be at least 87. With the exception of Mags, most of the Quarter Quell contestants seem to be of an age that would mean they won less than 50 years ago, probably less than that even.
So now we have 21 non-career winners in 50 years, about half. And the odds that the non-career winners would be evenly distributed as to one of each sex and one of each district are very very slim.
So the whole QuarterQuell premise is really at odds with the idea that the career players usually win.