Yes, I Finally Watched ‘The Hunger Games’: Here’s My Series Review

The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins has been a pop culture staple since the 2008 publication of its titular first installment, The Hunger Games. It revolutionized the dystopian genre, sparking a feeding frenzy within the young adult age group. With now five books, five movies, and yet another on the way with casting drops imminently occurring, there is no doubt that the franchise is one of the most beloved and impactful of this century.

I’ve just never read or seen it.

Okay, okay, before the Everlark shippers come after me, as I am one of you, let me amend that statement by saying that I have read it and seen all the movies now. (I don’t even want to talk about Gale because I hate him so much, so do not expect any mention of him past this sentence.) Somehow, from when I was 12 years old and obsessed with the Divergent series and vehemently rejecting that of the Hunger Games, I made it all these years without major spoilers. This allowed me to have an uninhibited and authentic consumption experience. And boy, do I have some things to say as a 23-year-old who probably should’ve read this series first.

In honor of the cast for the Sunrise on the Reaping movie releasing, here are my SparkNotes, first-time viewer opinions of the Hunger Games movies thus far, intended for seasoned fans.

The Hunger Games

In this movie, my immediate impression of Peeta, notwithstanding Josh Hutcherson’s portrayal of him, is that he is the equivalent of watered-down juice. The flavor of what it should be is somewhat there, but in essence, all that remains is a less desirable option. Rather than coming off as a rather semi-self-assured guy, he doesn’t have much of a personality. His quick wittiness dissolves to only a few randomly placed one-liners, and omitted book scenes, such as Peeta covering for Katniss with the Avox slip-up, ignore his ability to effortlessly lie. In this way, it is understandable why Katniss doesn’t appear to care much about him. If I were her, I wouldn’t either—even if it was Josh Hutcherson pretending to be in love with me.

With this in mind, viewers (i.e., me) don’t see any sort of relationship progression between Katniss and Peeta, especially compared to that in the books. However, this is a natural downside of not having Katniss’s inner monologue transfer from book to screen.

This being said, there is a noticeable difference between book Katniss and movie Katniss from the jump, with book Katniss having more of a discernible personality because of her inner monologue. Nevertheless, Jennifer Lawrence’s performance as Katniss is near flawless and a great rendition of how she must’ve come off to everybody around her.

Having the snippets of commentary during the games led by Caesar Flickerman, however, helped the explanation of what certain things were because we lacked Katniss’s thoughts. This, in addition to the outlier snippets of Snow and the Gamemakers, was valuable for both people who haven’t read the books and those who have.

Nevertheless, this movie proved to be an acceptable first installment, though somewhat obviously with a low budget.

Score & Streaming

3.75 out of 5 Nightlock berries

Where to Watch: Max, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV

Catching Fire

As a Hunger Games series first-timer, this was both my favorite movie and book of the series.

Something that baffled me, however, was the lack of Peeta’s leg amputation. Admittedly, there was too much leg present, although this could have been an easy transfer from book to movie. A resurgence of the witty and charming Peeta that we love in the books, lost in the first movie, makes up for it.

Overall, there is a better sense of everybody coming into their characters. Though briefly aforementioned, I need to say again that Jennifer Lawrence’s acting is impeccable. The scenes where she finds out she’s going back into the games again and then later witnesses Cinna’s attack before rising into the games display such genuine moments of nauseating fear, I wouldn’t have been surprised if we saw her get sick.

Throughout the movie, a lack of reminders of Katniss’s “pregnancy” makes that plotline sort of lose its focus, and I wonder why it wasn’t included in the movie script. In the book, Finnick keeps this ruse on track, as Katniss repeatedly forgets. I would’ve loved even more lines from him, as nobody fit the role better than Sam Claflin.

It’s specific, but I also wish they filmed the scene of Finnick and Katniss messing with Peeta when he was sleeping on the beach; it’s such a good show of them being able to have a sense of humor despite the absolute horrors that they’re living through. There were moments in the books where I laughed out loud; the movie could have captured a few more of those.

Despite this, Catching Fire successfully kept me constantly on the edge of my seat, despite knowing what was going to happen.

Score & Streaming

5 out of 5 Finnick’s sugar cubes

Where to Watch: Max, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV

Mockingjay, Part 1

The inclusion of Effie in this movie pleasantly surprised me, especially since her character embodies the idea that good, albeit brainwashed into complacency, Capitol citizens exist. However, not seeing Katniss’s prep team imprisoned in the bowels of District 13, though, erases the sort of ominous feeling that pervades 13 and especially Coin’s leadership.

Seeing Peeta in such a state of obvious decline, though, was genuinely more terrifying than much else of what was happening. This movie finally allows Josh Hutcherson to demonstrate his impressive range of acting, as we see him act as if rent was due. It is so obvious how talented he is. 

One aspect of the movie that particularly ground my gears was having Prim be the first one to go in and speak to Peeta rather than Delly, as mentioned in the books. Again, I understand why Delly couldn’t have been present, but having it be Prim before even Haymitch or anybody else defeated the point of trying to rehabilitate him before any exposure to Katniss.

No book-to-movie adaptation succeeds without a “Dumbledore asked calmly” moment. In the Hunger Games series, it’s Peeta’s not-so-subtle warning of District 13 being bombed. He might as well have yelled, “HARRY, DID YOU PUT YOUR NAME IN THE GOBLET OF FIRE!?” and it would’ve gotten the same point across. I mean, come on.

Score & Streaming

4 out of 5 cringy propos

Where to Watch: Max, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV

Mockingjay, Part 2

Picking up right where we left off with complaints, Boggs’ death is way less rushed in the books, but of course, they had to cut down for time. In the books, he bleeds out for a rather long time. This (perhaps intentionally) falls in line with seeing heartwrenching scenes like Finnick dying. Having it happen so fast highlights what terrible pressure everybody was under and their inability to stop and grieve for loved ones.

Opposite from the complaint department, the hints of a deeper relationship between Effie and Haymitch are a palate cleanser to the rest of the depressing storm that is most of this series. Learning that their kiss moment was unscripted and improvised by both of them solidified that nobody could have played Haymitch and Effie better than Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks, respectively.

Not seeing Katniss go mute after the death of Prim sort of undermines how badly she suffered after the war and with the trauma of everything. My girl in the books festered in her clothes from the Capitol during her trial for at least a month afterwards. In the movies, it is easier to forget that she is literally only 17, maybe 18, years old by the time the war ends.

Yet somehow, Jennifer Lawrence looks older in the epilogue, and seeing them past their teenage years is so heartbreaking in the best way possible.

And if I’m biased for ranking this so high because of more Peeta screentime? Mind your own business.

Score & Streaming

4.75 out of 5 bomb drops devised by Gale

Where to Watch: Max, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Besides knowing almost all of the songs from their use as sounds on TikTok, again, all of this plot was a surprise to me. Of course, the movie misses much of it, but for how long the book is, it’s a worthy adaptation.

The absence of Snow’s internal monologue throughout the entirety (as it was there in the book) makes the viewer miss out on his terrifying and possessive thoughts in relation to Lucy Gray. While we miss out on how dimensional Katniss is from her book-to-movie adaptations, we miss out on how utterly manipulative and terrifying Snow is.

Nevertheless, the primary duo shone, and Rachel Zegler’s voice fit Lucy Gray’s raw vocal beauty as described in the books. Keeping the exact lyrics from the book to the movie gave viewers an especially well-appreciated added treat. Not to mention, the slight melody variation from what we know to be that of “The Hanging Tree” effectively demonstrates that the passage of time has rendered the melody simpler. 

This is the one adaptation where the visuals really helped because I personally had a difficult time imagining what the arena looked like, especially after the explosion. Additionally, the juxtaposition of old technology (like in the viewing room when the games are on), coupled with the fact that this is set in the future, effectively shows that it’s set in the past of Katniss’s story while still being in the future of the present day in real life.

With callbacks to the original Hunger Games movies—showing the bow in the arena and Lucy Gray’s bow mimicking Katniss’s—Ballad lived up to and exceeded its expectations.

Score & Streaming

4.5 out of 5 stray shots at Lucy Gray

Where to Watch: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV

Overall…

While, of course, there is much more that could be said about any of the films, it doesn’t discredit the fact that this series contains some of the best book-to-movie adaptations out there. With a new movie so close on the horizon, and with an already unbelievable cast, there is no doubt that Sunrise on the Reaping will be a faithful companion to the Hunger Games in telling Haymitch’s story.