***The Starry-Eyed Revue***: suzanne collins

We all delight in seeing our favorite books brought to life on the big screen. We cringe at casting. We scoff at release dates. All the while, we're gearing up to see if the director's vision lives up to the world we've conceived in our own imaginations. Sometimes it does...and sometimes it doesn't. We could lament the movies that don't measure up, or we could return to the books for a re-read, possibly with a slightly different mind-set. All's fair when it comes to artistic vision, right?

This week, I'm featuring the following adaptation:

Title: Catching Fire
Director: Francis Lawrence
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Sam Claflin
Release date: November 22, 2013
Based on: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.

I purposely didn't re-read Catching Fire prior to seeing the movie. I'm always disappointed when I do that because it makes it that much easier to pick up on all the things that an adaptation is lacking. But with this movie, I honestly don't think anything was missing. The power, the message, the emotion of the book...it was all there for the world to see in the movie.

Jennifer Lawrence is just awesome. I don't even really think I need to go into that because you've seen her act, you've seen the interviews, and you've seen her spaz out over meeting Jeff Bridges. She is the girl you want to be best friends with. Sam Claflin as Finnick was Finnick. Holy hotness! And lots of people are finally giving Josh Hutcherson the praise he deserves after his role in this sequel, but I've been a fan since Bridge to Terabithia. I cried like nobody's business at the end of that movie, and I know he'll have me crying again in Mockingjay.

But what really surprised me, though, is how much I love Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket. Admittedly, I kind of despised this character in the books because of what she and the Capitol stood for, but when brought to life on the big screen, I can see her character for what she really is: a woman who is only now witnessing the horrible injustices served up at the hands of the Capitol. Effie was oblivious to it all before the Quarter Quell, I think, and that doesn't make it alright, but now her eyes are open and she's come to think of Katniss, Peeta and even Haymitch as family.

Oh, and the costumes, especially Effie's...I think they were even more elaborate and gorgeous and just stunning this time around. I mean that twirling "girl on fire" dress in the first movie was amazing, but the dress with the mockingjay wings? That was beyond impressive. And the statement it makes! The costume designers on these movies are simply amazing.

I'm hoping to see the movie again with my sister to pick up on all the nuances I missed while I was fangirling the first time around. Also, she's pissed that I saw it without her, especially since I was the one who got her to read the series in the first place. Oops. =) But maybe I'll re-read before I see it this time. Just in case I really did miss something.

All in all, I thought the movie was absolutely brilliant. The cast and the acting were phenomenal, even better than in the first movie, and even though this movie isn't quite as sad and emotionally draining as the story in the first, my eyes still welled up a few times. These adaptations are really living up to the supremely high expectations the books set for them. My only complaint is that I wish the final book weren't being split into two movies. :(

Have you read the book? Have you seen the movie? How do you think this one fared as an adaptation?

Labels: adaptations, favorites, from book to screen, movie mondays, movie reviews, must-see, suzanne collins, the hunger games

Welcome to my stop on the Books to Movies Giveaway Hop! This hop features books that have been made into movies or TV shows. It is the choice of each blog stop whether to give away a copy of the book, the movie, or both! But, c'mon, guys...how could I not give away both?!?

You have to have been living under a rock not to know how awesome both this book and movie are, but just in case, here's what I'm giving away:

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Series: 1st book in The Hunger Games trilogy

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publication Date: October 31, 2008

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning? In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

In addition to a hardcover of The Hunger Games, I'm also giving away this exclusive Blu-ray gift set, all to ONE lucky winner:

The gift set includes the following, in addition to a Blu-ray copy of the movie, in case you can't view the image above:

Parachute Compartment Necklace that opens to reveal secret canister
Bag Clip, featuring the District 12 seal
14" Arena Sack: Authentic prop replica, made of nylon

I'll admit, when I first got mine, I thought it was going to be soooo cheesy, but once I opened it up, you should have seen me ohhhing and ahhhing and squeeeing. My husband just didn't understand until he saw the movie. And now he's reading the series. So there! :0)

Rules:

US residents only, sorry, unless you can provide a US shipping address...it's going to be pretty expensive to ship this prize pack!
One entry per household.
All entries will be verified. Any entry found to be falsified will result in disqualification of all entries for that participant.
Winner will be notified via email. Winner will then have 48 hours to respond before another winner will be selected.
I am not responsible for lost packages.

And now on to the fun stuff! You only have to follow my blog to enter, but all other entries/follows are appreciated! :D

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now that you've entered here, be sure to check out all the rest of the stops on the Books to Movies Giveaway Hop:

Thanks for entering & happy reading! =)