(From syracusenewtimes.com)
I saw the first part of “The Hunger Games” series a year after the fact, on NetFlix. Not on my iPad or phone, thankfully. I watched the blockbuster hit on my living room flat screen. Still, the dystopian story didn’t really win my over. I didn’t gush, and I didn’t rush out to see part two “Catching Fire.”
Yet I found myself reviewing the third part of the announced four-parter from the novels by Suzanne Collins for my weekly Monday film blog for the Syracuse New Times.
If you’d like to read my review of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part I,” on that site, click the link below.
http://www.syracusenewtimes.com/mockingjay-keeps-hunger-burning/
Jennifer Lawrence certainly ran around the screen for all she was worth, when she wasn’t underground, brooding about her loved one, Peeta, caught by evil president Donald Sutherland.
I admit I was worried about going in kind of cold, no knowledge about part two.
I wondered if this movie would stand on its own. I’ll tell you what I thought over yonder. But first, my movie Monday questions …
Have you jumped into the middle of a continuing series of theatrical movies or TV movies and felt satisfied, and if so, what movie did the trick and why? Have you seen any of “The Hunger Games” movies, and if so, what did you think? Jennifer Lawrence in “The Hunger Games” series or in “American Hustle,” and why?
Mark Bialczak 
I haven’t read The Hunger Games novels. I love the movies, though – and especially the last one.
LikeLike
Yay, Kate. You surprised me on this one, by seeing the movies before reading the books. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Re the first movie, we had some time on our hands one day and decided to go to the movies. Nothing playing interested us greatly at the time and so we settled on the Hunger Games. I like Sutherland and Harrelson – so I figured ‘why not?’ I ended up liking the first movie and the subsequent ones . I will read the books eventually. 🙂
LikeLike
I haven’t seen Hunger Games Mark, although the trailers seem a bit dark for me. I don’t mind darkness but it has to be mixed with sunny or funny like real life. I am an F&SF fan in general so the genre is good for me, but I’m selective in what I read/watch. There are some incredible authors out there like Greg Bear, whose stuff seldom gets turned into movies – I assume because the detail would be too expensive and the interest not large enough.
That being said, I often see movie series out of order – like Harry Potter, Star Wars, Star Trek, etc – and don’t have a problem following although i know that i would enjoy them more in order. I have a current TV favorite – Blue Blood – and am watching it in order. I find it adds a great deal more depth to the show.
I do enjoy Jennifer Lawrence in most of what she does – she is an incrediby versatile actress who breathes believability.
Great Post Mark. Oh, i noticed The Head is also over on the Syracuse New Times site – but it is round instead of the square WP gravatar. Talk abut vesatile. Ha!
LikeLike
You are more versatile than The Head, Paul, with your likes — Greg Bear, ‘Blue Blood,’ — and the amount of site on which you show up. Just saying! Thanks as always, my friend.
LikeLike
Um…well… um…. I’m one of those few people who didn’t actually see any of the Hunger Game movies. (Or any of the Twilight movies either.) I’m kinda in the unpopular minority like that. 😦 *BLUSHES*
LikeLike
No ‘Twilight’ for me, either, Rachel. May I borrow half a blush?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed! 🙂
LikeLike
I trained for a marathon to the first one. It was perfect for running. That said, what I like to run to is somewhat different than I would choose if I wasn’t running. The movie was okay. I wouldn’t declare it a classic, although it has arguably already become that. I’m actually very disturbed that these movies are marketed to children. I’m also glad I don’t have to deal with that whole thing (as a parent.) I haven’t seen the second two. I haven’t seen American Hustle either, but I suspect I would prefer it.
LikeLike
I suspect you would prefer AH, too, Wormy. Running to the book, prepping for a marathon. You are endlessly surprising. 🙂
LikeLike
No, no. Running to the movie. Running to a book would make me dizzy, unfortunately. I am actually a lot more surprising than this. I went with the boring comment. My sense of self-preservation kicked in just in time. I’m on to you! You lull us into a false sense of security with your cheerful gravatar and insightful questions. Pretty soon we are telling you everything we know. The paper obviously made a good hire!
LikeLike
Running to the movie! How many obstacles do you crash into? 🙂 And, yes, you are onto me. Totally. I am a luller. People love to talk with me. 😮
LikeLike
like a couple of others I could not get into all’the hype’ surrounding these movies, and the Harry Potter ones. I watch bit and pieces of HP on tv; when they air. But cannot quite get into any of them. It was the same with Buffy and the vampire slayer series. Eventually I got the hang of it but could not go on to Twilight etc.
There is a lot of tv series I wish they would just end at the end of season 1. E.g. Revenge, under the dome, homeland, the blacklist, etc etc.
Same with movies. Please how many repeats of Horrible Bosses, hangover, sex and city, bridesmaids, tc type movies can we be punished with? Like you 3hours is waaaayyyyy tooooo long movie makers.
LikeLike
Thanks for pitching in on your distaste for too many series, orangejade5, and, just too much!
LikeLike
Finally saw the hunger games last week, um.
Try this “Interstellar” for a fun several hours 😉
Nx
LikeLike
I am saving it for my home TV screen, Niki. I want to see it, but three hours at the theater is a bit long for my knee joints! 🙂
LikeLike
knee joints?!!!
saving it 🙂
enjoy 🙂
LikeLike
I love Jennifer Lawrence in neither of those movies, although if pressed, Hustle. I loved her in the one about Winter and the Appalachian peoples. Then, the funny and sweet movie she did with Bradley Cooper won my heart: “Silver Linings Play List.” Oh, so good! I am not a fan of the Hunger Games but believe there are fine actors and stories involved, Mark!
LikeLike
If anyone doubts Jennifer Lawrence’s acting chops and wants to see a haunting and sad story of her as a big sister taking care of her little siblings, check out, “Winter’s Bone.” Great and should be considered, “Classic,” too!
LikeLike
Great suggestion. Thanks, Robin!
LikeLike
Yes, “Silver Linings Play LIst” was a winner. I agree, Robin.
LikeLike
Jennifer “Hustle” Lawrence was better than Jennifer “Games” but I am a fan of the Hunger Games’ movies, Chum. Now, personally I think the book series falls apart after the first one. Reading the first book opens up some interesting discussions. Fun talk for a room full of tweens.
Overall, I prefer Jennifer “flirts with Jack” Lawrence.
LikeLike
Yes, me also. Flirts, that is. Indeed. Thanks, Aud.
LikeLike
None of these movies, or the books, have called to me Mark. So I didn’t start in the beginning or middle on any of them.
LikeLike
A non-starter for you, Colleen. 🙂
LikeLike
Exactly. 🙂
LikeLike
I really enjoyed the Hunger Games books, but the movies, so far, haven’t knocked my socks off. I haven’t seen the newest one yet, but I am seriously considering an “alone at the movies” date with my own self one day this week…maybe Friday when everyone else is in their shopping frenzy. 😉 (Normally I would take Grace, but she hasn’t read the book…and we have a policy about that in our house.) 🙂
LikeLike
Good policy, Nerdy. I wouldn’t have been able to handle my weekly movie blog duty, though, following your strict guideline. Oh, no. … 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess I’ll let you off the hook…since you have circumstances and everything. 😉
LikeLike
I am lucky for that, Nerdy. 🙂 I would like to read before every movie, but this blog duty …
LikeLike
I love The Bourne films with Matt Damon and have watched them in random order on TV several times. The TV schedulers didn’t seem bothered about screening them in the right order but they are so good that I soon caught up with the main story.
LikeLike
That’s good that you were able to juggle the order in your mind, Rachel. To heck with the TV schedulers, then. 😦
LikeLike
You’ll be shocked that I’ve avoided this series both books and movies. My 12-year-old has been all over it though and her dad took her to Mockingjay (she had seen the first two on netflix). Her comments were that it was darker and more violent than the first two and she didn’t like it so much.
I enjoy Banks and Lawrence, but not enough to sit through the movies. Bring on Elf! (Having said that, I’ve gotten sucked into a TV show called Torchwood, which is intensely dark. Guess part of me still likes to be scared.)
LikeLike
Well a daddy-daughter date for Mockingjay stands pretty rightteous in my book, Liz! I never saw ”Torchwood.” I’m not so much for dark TV shows like that, I guess. No consistency because I liked this movied. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m a terrible T.V. snob; I don’t have one. After watching The Wire a few years ago I concluded that T.V. couldn’t get any better so threw the damn thing out.
LikeLike
The good news is, Hariod, you never have to decide what to watch! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good thinking Mark; perhaps I should throw my unread books out too . . . ?
LikeLike
No, Hariod. I’d suggest donating them to a shelter, if that’s your urge. 🙂
LikeLike
I was just being ironic Mark – taking your logic to an illogical conclusion.
LikeLike
OK, then. Over my head, I guess. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just lost in translation Mark: English ➡ American
LikeLike
Me = Density of a stone = your irony. Thanks, Hariod.
LikeLike
I have been avoiding this franchise because I am a Battle Royale fan and have heard this is a less gory version of that. (Not that I NEED gore, but you know what I mean) I may check out the first one over the long weekend and give my thoughts. Most other film series I had already followed from the beginning so there wasn’t a problem about jumping back into them.
LikeLike
It is not gory. You may not like it if that’s a must for you. I was glad it wasn’t too much blood-and-guts, Jeanette. 😦
LikeLike
My kids really like these. So do I. 🙂
LikeLike
I saw parents and kids together at this one. Thanks for jumping in here, Brenda. Glad to have you stop by for the first time!
LikeLike
I don’t know how I’ve missed you all this time. I saw Robin was planning on putting pictures on your site, and I recognized your gravatar from seeing it in comments, I guess. And I thought, surely I already follow him. And I didn’t. Easily fixed, though. 🙂
LikeLike
Good fix, Brenda. And now I follow you back, too. 🙂
LikeLike
I hope I don’t miss Robin’s pix. I am highly curious! LOL
LikeLike
Yeah, you missed them. I posted them on Saturday. Here’s the link.
https://markbialczak.com/2014/11/22/guest-photo-post-from-robin-o-cochran/
LikeLike
i saw the first one and really wasn’t that taken by it to be motivated to see the others, though i was entertained. i went with my friend and her 3 sons, who all loved it and wanted to see more. jlaw in american hustle for me.
LikeLike
The difference between Jlaw in the two is startling. That says much for her chops. I did not think I was going to be won over by the dystopian thing. Surprise surprise, Beth.
LikeLike
On a surf trip in Mexico last year, I read the series. The third book was meh.
LikeLike
I may like part two even more when I back-visit, hey, Penny?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jennifer Lawrence is a pretty good actress, but this franchise is awful. My step-daughter insisted on getting the first one while she was with us one weekend and has now read all of the books and seen all of the movies. But she’s 11 and has no taste.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So there you go. I was surprised I liked this one. Oh, well. I liked the tension.
LikeLike
I’m just super picky most of the time, and I rarely enjoy the same things other people do. I would be a terrible film critic. 🙂
LikeLike
Not necessarily terrible. Harsh, more likely, Mama. You’d have to back it all up with your reasoning. 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, harsh – I like that. “That movie sucked, now get off my damn lawn!” 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
And make sure to fluff up those sneaker prints! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person