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Tag Archives: philip seymour hoffman

Mockingjay, Part 1: Philip Seymour Hoffman Does It Again, But For The Last Time…

22 Saturday Nov 2014

Posted by IfByYes in Shhh, I'm Reading

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

book, mockingjay, movie, philip seymour hoffman, review, suzanne collins

Well, PH and I got to Mockingjay last night. As you may remember, we LOVED Catching Fire, which you folks are simply not used to hearing after I’ve gone to see a book-to-movie film. Mockingjay shoot

We went in extremely hopeful. We were disappointed with the original Hunger Games movie, although it was acceptable, but then Catching Fire actually had us slow-clapping when the credits rolled.

Our hope was that the presence of Philip Seymour Hoffman would keep the good ball rolling (we’re convinced that he somehow infused his essence into Catching Fire, thus perfecting it).

Overall, I’m happy to report that it did.

Critics have complained that there is too much exposition in this movie. I personally disagree. I LIKE exposition.

One of the things that frustrates me is when movies skip over extremely important plot points because they assume their audience will be too stupid to sit through two more minutes of dialogue.

Besides, it actually has a lot LESS exposition than the book. One of the best things about translating a first-person narrative into a movie is that they can show you things that you don’t get to see in the story because the main character didn’t see those things.

Mockingjay Part 1 actually SHOWS the effect of Katniss’s “propos” in the districts. There are multiple very-cool, very-exciting rebellion shots which you totally don’t get to see in the book, because Katniss is too busy moping in an underground bunker.

Mockingjay_dam

Critics have also complained that the movie just builds towards Part II, but I disagree there, as well.

The focus of the first movie is on Katniss’s concern for Peeta, and to me, getting Peeta back seems like the obvious goal and building-point.

Those of you who have read the book know how well THAT goes, and I think the movie ends on a great “what next?” note.

mockingjay-part-1-peeta-beaten-660x400

Overall, much of the dialogue is word-for-word, which I value. The sentiments of the movie are very well expressed. The desolation of District 12 is not understated.

They leave in stuff I thought they’d cut, like the Hanging Tree song (VERY NICE), and the white rose in Katniss’s house. They even left in Buttercup chasing the light in the bunker.

Other than removing some of the best Boggs lines, the only things that got cut were very specific – they cut everything that shows District 13 and/or President Coin in a negative light.

Which I thought was a little odd.

The prep team? Gone. Instead Effie Trinket is there, which I accept because the first movie basically eradicated the Prep Team when they should have left them in. So Effie is there instead as damage control. But she is treated very well – no complaints there.

The restrictive lifestyle, Coin’s coldness… all of that is cut.

It struck me as an interesting choice. Are they trying to build up our trust in 13 and Coin, only to tear it down? Or have they decided to wipe out that whole aspect of the storyline (surely they can’t??).

If the first option is correct, then they had better do it fast and well in Part II, that’s all I can say.

And with Philip Seymour Hoffman lost to us, I don’t know how much faith I have in their ability to do so…

philip-seymour-hoffman

Catching Fire: In Which I Give Philip Seymour Hoffman All The Credit

10 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by IfByYes in Life and Love

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

acting, caesar flickerman, catching fire, directing, hunger games, movies, philip seymour hoffman, reviews

catching fire mockingjay dress*slow clap*

I… have NO COMPLAINTS.

It’s… PERFECT.

catching fire old man

As you know, this is not something I say lightly. I have a reputation for being somewhat picky when it comes to movies.

The first Hunger Games movie really disappointed me, and the irony of the advertising has horrified me.

I THINK YOU MISSED THE POINT

But… Catching Fire is wonderful.

They hit all the right notes.

I mean, sure, they cut out a lot of stuff, but after all, the movie is very long as-is. They can never put an entire book into a two hour movie. And I accept the cuts they made. I understand why they changed the things they changed, and I am okay with it.

Because they left all the right things in.

catching fire finnick

Little things – like Finnick’s sugar, Johanna Mason stripping in the elevator, Chaff’s kiss, great Peeta/Katniss exchanges, fantastic Haymitch/Effie moments. The old man in District 11. Caesar Flickerman’s face when Peeta proposes – oh, that made us laugh out loud!

The actual time in the arena happens on a much shorter timeline, but pretty much the entirety of it is there, just condensed. Even Katniss armed with one syringe against the capital. It’s all there, and it’s right.

The characters are SO much better done in this movie. Effie’s inherent EFFIENESS is made very clear, and she provides some great laughable moments. Caesar Flickerman is more schmoozy, mugging the camera, more on par with who I see in my head when I read.

CATCHING-FIRE-CAESAR

Instead of mute pawns moving through a strangely silent world, the characters are full of life and the plot feels vibrant and immediate. Peeta’s motivations are a little more clear, and so are Katniss’s, although they still utterly fail at heating up a room with their lukewarm romance.

Haymitch is more of a lovable abrasive drunk than a strangely charming hero. Effie is more ridiculous. 

PH and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire movie, welcoming each scene in bewildered delight.

…and we figure it’s because of Philip Seymour Hoffman.

"Why yes, I do always play a douchebag but I am excellent at it, you must admit."

“Why yes, I do always play a douchebag but I am excellent at it, you must admit.”

Because he is only in good movies. I don’t always LIKE them. Master was weird and Doubt was depressing, and Capote is just disturbing…. but the movies are always GOOD.

Philip Seymour Hoffman must have just infused his native brilliance into every scene.

I mean, yeah, sure, I could credit Francis Lawrence, the director, for the loss of annoying bouncy-cam and the infusion of actual personalities into the acting… but the previous director, Gary Ross, wrote/directed several other films that I like a lot, like Pleasantville, Big, and Dave.

I can’t begin to understand why someone who has produced such sweet and occasionally moving movies was completely unable to replicate the sweetness of Peeta, or put any heart into the film. Maybe he was trying too hard not to be himself, I don’t know.

Maybe the new writers just “got” the series more. Maybe Francis Lawrence, who did I Am Legend and Constantine, just got the genre better.

Or maybe it is because of Philip Seymour Hoffman.

All I know is… it is FANTASTIC.

PH and I will own Catching Fire… but not The Hunger Games.

…Who knows, with the same writers and director, maybe they can even get me to enjoy Mockingjay.

And THAT will be a feat.

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