{"id":719,"date":"2012-03-24T03:33:00","date_gmt":"2012-03-24T03:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thevollmerfamily.com\/MajorMom\/2012\/03\/the-hunger-games-movie-the-odds-are-definitely-in-its-favor.html"},"modified":"2012-04-01T05:06:26","modified_gmt":"2012-04-01T05:06:26","slug":"the-hunger-games-movie-the-odds-are-definitely-in-its-favor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thevollmerfamily.com\/MajorMom\/2012\/03\/the-hunger-games-movie-the-odds-are-definitely-in-its-favor.html","title":{"rendered":"The Hunger Games Movie…The Odds are Definitely in its Favor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n
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This was at the Rave theater near Cordova Mall in Pensacola. \u00a0Someone had a good time making this out of posters.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Today I did something very anti-social. \u00a0I went BY MYSELF to a movie. \u00a0I can’t remember the last time I did that. \u00a0I just didn’t feel like coordinating with anyone else. \u00a0I knew I could go on Friday while the kids were at school and I didn’t want anyone to stop me.<\/p>\n

I had been drooling to see The Hunger Games<\/a><\/em>\u00a0movie for about a year. \u00a0Probably because I read the trilogy about a year ago. \u00a0For the past 12 months, I discussed with the GeekMoms<\/a> on our message board every time photos from the film shoot, posters and trailers were publicized.<\/p>\n

The excitement was pretty palpable by the time I bought my ticket this morning at a theater in Pensacola. \u00a0I had to haul out<\/a>\u00a0that far because that was the only place in 50 miles offering showings before noon.<\/p>\n

Not counting the midnight showings, of course…but I couldn’t do that last night, Dave was TDY and just got home today. \u00a0If he was home I might have gone.<\/em><\/p>\n

(Warning: contains some slight spoilers)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The movie was phenomenal. \u00a0The crew did an amazing job recreating the grey physical and emotional demeanor of District 12 (Appalachia\/coal country). \u00a0When Effie Trinket (played by Elizabeth Banks, who you might remember from Zack and Miri Make a Porno<\/em><\/a>), the Capitol representative assigned to the District 12 tributes, steps onto the stage to draw the names, she and a flag of Panem above her are the ONLY splashes of color in an otherwise grey and brown world.<\/p>\n

The scenes of the mountains, coal mines, the train, the Capitol and the over-the-top appearance of those who live in the Capitol are all very well done.<\/p>\n

Being that I knew the story well, I could mentally fill in the blanks with what WASN’T being shown in the movie (they couldn’t cover everything, you know). \u00a0For example, even though it wasn’t shown, I knew Katniss had a hard time finding water in the first several days. \u00a0They just skipped that part in the movie, she was contentedly filling her canteen in a pond within minutes of the start of the games. \u00a0To be honest, it wasn’t a huge part of the story…except to provide some time setting.<\/p>\n

The minutes before Katniss stepped into the “tube” that transported her up into the arena were amazing. \u00a0Numerous closeups of Kat shaking like a leaf. \u00a0Her eyes convey fear unlike anything I’ve ever seen in film…not even Carol Ann Freeling<\/a>! \u00a0You’re scared right along with her.<\/p>\n

Rue’s death. \u00a0Oh my goodness. \u00a0It’s a VERY emotional part of the book, and the film paid that scene every respect it deserved. \u00a0I got slightly teary eyed when I read the book…I bawled during the movie. \u00a0Less Rue’s death itself, but when Katniss puts three fingers to her lips and then raises her fingers to salute the cameras…and the reaction of District 11 (Rue’s home district). \u00a0WOW! \u00a0Yeah, I’m glad I had plenty of napkins leftover from my concessions.<\/p>\n

The film was entirely shot in North Carolina. \u00a0Asheville, Concord, Charlotte and part of several National Forests. \u00a0The scenery is stunning…<\/p>\n

When I posted to Facebook about seeing the movie, I got a couple of inquiries about whether the movie was appropriate for their kids. \u00a0It’s rated PG-13, and the crew worked VERY hard to keep it that way<\/a>.<\/p>\n

My two boys want to see the movie. \u00a0They’ve seen enough of the trailers on TV, and a couple of Jacob’s friends have already read at least the first book. \u00a0I said “No” to them. \u00a0I MIGHT read the book WITH them later this year. \u00a0I haven’t decided yet. \u00a0I know Jacob can handle it, he seems quite resilient when it comes to delineating what’s real and what’s not real.<\/p>\n

I can’t say whether you should take your child to the movie outright, but I will offer my perspective:<\/p>\n