tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656921634940224775.post8346150365108739744..comments2024-02-11T15:29:31.409-05:00Comments on Richard's Pretension: The Game Is UpRichard Bellushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108081864942272619noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656921634940224775.post-16749589863933338202015-12-04T15:28:42.625-05:002015-12-04T15:28:42.625-05:00Well, movie-making is a business. The studio clear...Well, movie-making is a business. The studio clearly split the last book into two scripts for no other reason than to milk the series. That said, there is enough happening in the last book to provide material for two movies, even though it could have been compressed into one had the producers so demanded. So, from a viewer’s perspective, the split probably didn’t harm that much.<br /><br />I’ve heard about “Battle Royale” but haven’t seen/read it. It is certainly possible that Collins did. There are other precedents too, e.g. “The 10th Victim” by Robert Sheckley (made into a movie in 1965) though the participants in those games are voluntary – the sole survivor gets fame and fortune. There also is the allusion to Theseus and the Minotaur, particularly the 7 young men and 7 maidens sent as tribute to King Minos; Mary Renault’s “The King Must Die” is probably the best modern treatment of the myth.<br /><br />Once again, I like that Collins hasn’t created a simple good vs evil contest. While the final outcome (*mild Spoiler*) of “Mockingjay” is about as good as one could hope given the previous civil war, it is hard to miss that it takes place amid depopulated rubble. <br />Richard Bellushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10108081864942272619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656921634940224775.post-78412628711101712522015-12-04T11:00:30.994-05:002015-12-04T11:00:30.994-05:00The film has gotten mixed reviews, however I'l...The film has gotten mixed reviews, however I'll still go see it as I'm a fan. I don't know how I'll feel about splitting the last book until I see it. With the Hobbit, that final film didn't work for me, and I thought milking that book for four films was overreach. But again, if you're a huge fan of the franchise and story, you probably enjoyed it on some level. <br /><br />Collins' Huger Games novels have been compared to the Japanese film/manga, Battle Royale. Granted they have a similar plot, but I've enjoyed The Hunger Games more because the characters are fleshed out a bit more as well as the setting, plus as you said ask a few hard questions, and gets you to think about them later.<br /><br />Hey, yay for the senior discount. El Voxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05985563041511492981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656921634940224775.post-34776037001977735732015-12-03T01:49:16.455-05:002015-12-03T01:49:16.455-05:00The series took 5 years to complete, so a memory r...The series took 5 years to complete, so a memory refresher was probably handy for most viewers.<br /><br />Jenn hasn't lost her appeal or, fortunately, her willingness to work even though she now can buy Kentucky.Richard Bellushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10108081864942272619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656921634940224775.post-7345399120482457072015-12-02T16:23:14.285-05:002015-12-02T16:23:14.285-05:00Even having seen the first 3 installments, my memo...Even having seen the first 3 installments, my memory was rusty about some of the secondary characters, so binge watching is probably a good idea. As to Jennifer Lawrence, I have loved her in every movie I have seen her in, which includes "American Hustle" and "Silver Linings Playbook." I stand with the mockingjay!kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00748791043071682086noreply@blogger.com