Can we talk about The Hunger Games for a few minutes, please?
Raise your hand if you’ve read the series. In English, I mean.
*counts* Eight… twelve… fourteen… That’s what I thought – nearly everyone on the planet. Cool.
Now, when I started reading this series, I forced myself to stay away from Google images… I knew the movie was going to hit theatres momentarily, but I wanted to develop the characters faces in my own head, as I read the story. That’s the best part about reading the novel before seeing the film – and you get a richer experience that way.
Of course, this can also be the cause all sorts of brouhaha, once actors are chosen for this part or that, and readers from far and wide take issue with who’s been cast in various roles.
I’ve never really been bothered with this kind of thing since Val Kilmer was cast as Jim Morrisson in The Doors (okay, and maybe the Tom Cruise/Brad Pitt choices for Interview With a Vampire) but that’s only because a) Val played a PERFECT Jim as it turns out, 2) in the end I really enjoyed that vampire movie, and thirdly, they’re just movies for crying out loud, and it’s not as if my opinion matters to anyone at Twenty-First Century Fox anyway. And really? WHO CARES?! Do a good job with the acting and the story – that’s plenty.
The Hunger Games opened in theatres across Panem North America last Thursday, and there have been drips and drabs of commentary all over the net. I’ve not paid such close attention, because I’m on my way out to see it this very night. But, there was one post that caught my attention yesterday…
Let me first say that as I read this story, I don’t recall much by the way of physical description of the character Cinna. He wore some gold eyeliner. That said, in my head, I had pictured this guy:
Chris Colfer from the cast of Glee
I’m not really sure why, but I pictured a tidy, reserved, gay-ish dude. In the film, Cinna is played by this funky badass Made Of Handsome:
Lenny Kravitz of… um… Awesomeness
Huh! Older than I thought. And a little taller, maybe. Whatever. *shrugs* I have no issue with this choice. Bring. Me. The. Kravitz.
But, it didn’t surprise me to hear that some people out there in the world didn’t like this casting choice. What DID surprise me was how some people were cross about Rue being black.
*scratches head*
In the book, she is described as having “dark brown skin and eyes…” which in my mind, made her some kind of brown person. Never mind that her “district” was probably somewhere in the former deep south… but that’s a detail. Another character called Thresh was similarly described… so, based on those few words alone, what did people think? That they’d be freckled and Irish?
The holy hell of it all is played out over here – go ahead and read all the nasty racists being hateful and disgusting. It’s almost laughable, if it wasn’t so sad. And these are YOUNG people! *shudders* Some humans are just awful, I can’t even. WHO CARES WHAT COLOUR THEY ARE??!
And I’m not trying to shine the light on haters – I don’t really care about them – but I care more about simple reading comprehension… I just don’t know what’s gone wrong with reading, but MAN! Back to the libraries, people… and hurry.
PS – If the haters thought The Hunger Games was too dark, they really shouldn’t see this piece on the remake of Steel Magnolias. Heh. (If you don’t like rude language, don’t look.)
I’m excited about my date with my fox tonight… Have you seen the film?
I know just what you mean about the costuming, Kathy. While watching the film, I found myself thinking this film might find itself in vying for Oscars in wardrobe, sound, editing, and adapted screenplay.
I loved the costumes too… I didn’t have clear images about the people of the Capitol either (I just knew they were kind of ridiculous looking) but I loved all the eye-candy in the film.
The only place I took small issue with in terms of costuming, was with the people of District 13. I know they’re Appalachian mining people, but I wasn’t expecting them to STILL be dressed in post-depression era clothing. They wouldn’t be wearing them today, would they? But whatever – it’s just a movie. 😉
Thanks for reading here, Maria! If you’re keen at all, I’d absolutely go for the books first. In fact, had I not known anything about the books, I would not have likely seen the film – it’s not normally the kind of story that interests me, but the novels were compelling. Try!!
Oh Jen – I KNOW!! The Capitol? That sounds like mutated “Hollywood” residents, only living somewhere in the Rockies. Panem = Bread + Circuses. Interesting, no? There was LOTS foreshadowing our current state of humanness VS where humans could go next, given how some used others to watch as sport. Like bear-bating, once upon a time. Or genocide. (Ew.)
Handmaid’s Tale. Oh, yeah. Margaret Atwood used to go to my former high school, so she’s on the required reading list (natch) which I resented at the time, but I do so love her writing… I should read Handmaid’s Tale again – it’s been an eon since I’ve read it, and it was delicious. I remember digging deep into the power and corruption bits… but we had to, for school. I should read them all again.
I thought the movie was good too… I’m so glad you got out to see it, Erin!!
I read the books a few years ago and of course developed my own ideas of what each character looked like. Also my perceptions of the settings and costumes were part of that read. I just want to say, I loved Kravitz as Cinna and even though I wasn’t sure about the casting of Katniss, I thought she did a pretty good job. I was very pleased with the costumes in the capitol as I wasn’t quite sure how I saw them, but when I saw Effie approaching the Reaping stand, I was really pleased with the whole outfit. The games themselves were very true to setting in the book. Remember this is Fantasy and everyone has their own perceptions about what things should look like. That’s part of the fun of the read. Black or White, who cares, I never pictured Denzel in the lead role with Julie Roberts in the Pelican Brief but I have to say I loved him in that movie, but then again who wouldn’t (I’m 62 and still panting).
And finally, I imagined Rue as a brown or black skinned girl and her district partner Thresh, as the same colour. I was glad to see that the director got it right.
Haven’t seen the movie or read the book. Alarming to see these comments on twitter. Just writing to say I enjoyed reading your commentary – I like your writing style and I especially like your character which comes through. I’ll be checking back 🙂 Cheers.
LOVED Lenny in the film. Come on. Honestly, it never occurred to me that ANY of the characters would look exactly how I pictured them. Hello self-importance! And Rue? That is just nutty. She WAS black in the book. And the little girl who played her? Fab.
Btw, your slip calling NA Panem? Brillers, girl. THAT is the point of the book that everyone seemed to miss with this whole Hollywood thing. The book is a disturbing reflection/foreshadowing of the world we live in. Reminds me a bit of my fave novel, The Handmaid’s Tale. The colour of the character’s skin was irrelevant in comparison to a much, much deeper issue of power and corruption.
Geesh.
I mean Lenny! LOL
Saw it!
I thought it was very well cast. I loved Rue – cried when she died, just as I did in the book. I also thought it was very true to the book, thank goodness. Although the characters didn’t all look like I imagined them, they acted well so that I came to see them as they are, if you know what I mean.
Loved Kenny! He was perfect!
I really have NO WORDS for that part of this whole dumb mess. Just when you think things are getting better… DENIED!! It’s not perfect here either, but I’m glad I live in Canada.
And I’m glad to know smart people like you, Alice. xox
There was a very interesting article on whitewashing in Jezebel about this, too. But you know my stance on this – I’m flat-out appalled, because this is not about feeling the actors didn’t do a good job, and some of the comments about Rue are horrifying. The fact that, as you say, these are young people who have picked up this kind of hatred or even just callousness toward a segment of the planet’s population while living in this time in history and somehow think it’s acceptable is mind-boggling.
Oh Idas… Lenny. LENNY!!
The film isn’t a horror movie (I hate those) but his role is kinda small in this film, so if you’re not terribly interested in seeing it, I’d stick to his delicious music instead. 😉
Oh, Lenny Kravitz…I had no intention to watch that movie now….hmmm.
He has one of those iconic voices like Sting and Prince. It has it’s own unique vibration.
I caught the preview for the Japanese film about juvenile survival…creeped the daylights out of me.
I used to love horror movies but once I had children, that stuff chills my blood.
I am trying to remember if he was my first dreaded crush..
xo
i
Olive-skinned with dark hair was Katniss… and yeah, the region was former Appalachia – I would have been surprised if SHE had been cast as black, but I doubt it would have “ruined” the film if they had. It’s just so silly.
Indeed, rage and vomiting are among my least favourite things. Good call.
I didn’t picture Lenny in the role, but after watching him, I think it was a good choice. As for Katniss, I kind of assumed she was white due to the region (Appalachia), but Mediterranean-ish. Every other tribute – didn’t really matter to me who they cast. And dear god, the choices certainly didn’t offend. I’ve resisted reading the ‘material’ you link to, because I just don’t enjoy rage and/or vomiting.
Sure, maybe some coloured contacts would have made for an excellent extra layer of detail… no matter though – he did a fairly good job, I thought. And yes, I thought Katniss would be more slight and gaunt – she was an impoverished, skinny girl… whatever though – she was fine enough in the role.
As for the Rue and Thresh thing, LOTS of people missed the outlined details (which is fine – make faces any way you want to inside you head) but for the ones that are just crying about how the movie failed the novel, and how the whole film was RUINED, (and indeed their WHOLE LIVES NOW! Sob! Wail!!) I just as soon send them off for a cup of soup and a nap. Holy crap.
The actress who played Rue DID do a wonderful job. Had she not been described as she was in the book, she STILL would have been terrific. That’s enough.
Cinna. Lawd… gimme gimme.
PS – Nice to see you, DesiValentine!!
I Pictured Cinna the same way you did – and having watched the movie – they could have dyed Lenny’s hair brown and given him hazel or green contacts because in the description of Cinna, although skin colour isn’t mentioned they do say that his gold eyeliner complimented the flecks of gold in his green eyes… woulda been nice to see… as for the Rue and Tresh thing – they are clearly described as being dark skin in the book – (although I will admit to somehow missing that part and picturing them white anyway). A casting that did bug me a bit was Katniss, she was too healthy to be Katniss – the book clearly describes her as being slight of figure (which is why she had an advantage over the others and could climb high up on the slimmer branches of the trees)… the girl cast as “Foxface” would have made a better Katniss.
Having watched the movie – I am rather disappointed at the lack of character development – the books are GREAT but the movie doesn’t give you a chance to really feel anything for any of the characters… ANOTHER reason I LOVE READING… people that refuse to / don’t enjoy reading are just ripping themselves because the book was so very much better than the movie…
Dude. I’m currently (avoiding) writing a term paper on the construction of race in global society and I need to delude myself that we are progressing past this hurtful, divisive, damaging bullsh*t. So, I am intentionally stepping out of the ridiculousness surrounding the casting of Rue. The actress did a spectacular job. I bawled my face off in a room with a couple of hundred other WEEPING strangers. ‘Nuff said.
As for Cinna? Oh, honey. I’m a master’s student living in a crowded box with an excess of children, textbooks and unfolded laundry, so my sister has to tell me who is young and hot in Hollywood and then I sort of just nod and smile. But Kravitz as Cinna? Perfection, I tell you. I mean, I was also picturing someone more effeminate, less muscular, and definitely younger. But that warm, relaxed, reassuring, inviting, honeyed chocolate voice? Those strong, comforting arms? *swoons* Bring. Me. The Kravitz. Yes, please!
It’s astounding to me. I just don’t understand people at all.
Tim Gunn. Heh.
I seriously read those tweets and almost barfed. I just can’t understand it. I loved that you pictured Chris Colfer. I kept picturing Tim Gunn….:)
It is rather disappointing. I’m sad for the world.
As a black woman and mother this ignorance and out and out racism makes me sick and just disappointed.
The one that really stood out to me was the one where he called the girl a black b**** and then said “not to be racist”. What the hell do you call it then?
*shakes head*
I haven’t read or seen the Harry Potter stories either… one day I will – Oliver is nearly ready, I reckon. I sucked in the Twilight series, and saw all the movies… fun.
This read is just really compelling, Christine. You get drawn into the story really quickly – it’s fast and uncomplicated. It’s a nice “escape” kind of read. Give it a try!
Holy Batshit is right! I mean, really.
I hope you get to to go on Thursday!!
I thought she was well cast too… even if the details escaped a reader the first time (they ARE only details anyway) seriously, who cares? It’s the ones who cry, “Stick to the book” that make me nuts in the head. Oy.
I’ve heard of The Hunger Games and know that it is a series of books and now a movie. And that is the extent of my knowledge, sadly.
I did not read any Harry Potter books, nor did I see any of the movies. And the same with the Twilight stuff…
Holy Batshit! Those twitter posts are brutal. Sadly, I’m not that surprised.
I have not seen the film yet, hopefully on Thurs,
So, I can’t remember being aware of race at all in the books, then again, I only read them once so maybe those details escaped me. When I saw the movie I was instantly struck with how perfect Rue was. Petite, innocent, loveable. I loved her! Just like I did in the books! I am sad that racism has reared it’s ugly head in the midst of all this.