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May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor: The New Hunger Games Trailer

By TK | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (44)

618_movies_hunger_games_katniss_archer.jpg

I have to say, I have high hopes for the adaptation of The Hunger Games. The talent assembled is pretty fantastic, although both male leads seem a little wooden to me. But then, they felt a little weak in the book as well, so I suppose there won’t be too many surprises there. Truth be told, while I enjoyed all three books, the romantic aspects were the parts where the books failed me. Perhaps it was because the protagonists were so young, and I just couldn’t relate to their childish-seeming love triangle. It’s actually one of the reasons that I’m glad that the cast has been aged up for the films. It’ll give it a more mature — and perhaps ultimately more believable — feeling.

Anyway, the new trailer is here, and it works even better than the first one (which was pretty good in its own right). They’re doing the smart thing with the trailers and marketing — giving a glimpse of the characters and the world of The Hunger Games, a feel for some of the interpersonal conflict, and definitely a taste of some astonishing costume design — but keeping the games themselves secret. It’s definitely the right idea, and will hopefully draw in fans of the books as well as the neophytes.

Elizabeth Banks looks goddamn amazing, and I’m happy to see her continue her run on dramatic roles. Stanley Tucci looks terrific too, but then, he’s Stanley Tucci — that’s his default setting. And I’m hoping — praying — that Lenny Kravitz kills it as Cinna, because he looks great himself. Jennifer Lawrence is capturing the feel of Katniss quite nicely, to round things out. So yeah, I’m excited.

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Comments

In the first five seconds, they already fucked up the story.

BITCH, YOU DIDN'T GET THAT MOCKINGJAY PIN FOR PRIM, DON'T BE LYIN' TO ME!

...Sorry, I was feeling Chris Tucker-ish after that bit. Carry on.

Posted by: ChristianH at February 2, 2012 1:56 PM

I want to be excited about this but I'm just not.

Posted by: Rob at February 2, 2012 1:58 PM

ChristianH, that's exactly what I thought. Are they just eliminating the mayor's daughter as a character? Doesn't that fuck up Catching Fire a good bit?

Posted by: Robert at February 2, 2012 2:03 PM

As far as the male leads being wooden, the twitching muscles in Peeta's jaw as they prepare to go into the games kinda killed me. And Katniss's scream as she volunteers still gives me the chills.

Posted by: jvo at February 2, 2012 2:10 PM

@ChristianH

Didn't she try and give the pin to Prim and then Prim insists that she keep it as her token? That's what I remember.

Posted by: Reindeer Balls at February 2, 2012 2:11 PM

If by "capturing the feel of Katniss" you mean being every bit as wooden as every other character, then you're right.

Are there trailers for Prometheus yet?

Posted by: Samantha at February 2, 2012 2:13 PM

I wonder if leaving out the Mayor's daughter might have been done to shorten the beginning of the story. In order to get her the pin from the Mayor's daughter there's two full scenes (before the reaping and visiting Katniss after the reaping) that would add to what is, I'm sure, already a jam packed movie. Maybe they didn't eliminate the character so much as that particular interaction.

Posted by: Genevieve at February 2, 2012 2:14 PM

Looks great!....and now in IMAX so, yes I really can't wait for this film to hit theaters. I had seen Winter's Bone before I read the books so I already pictured Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss and she looks/seems fantastic. I have a huge crush on Lenny Kravitz these days. Josh and Liam are selling it for me...yeah, I'm a happy woman.

Posted by: J.J at February 2, 2012 2:15 PM

I'm looking forward to this for the simple reason that it captivated my kids (the book). I held my breath as my kids turned up their noses at all the Twilight nonsense, and exhaled in relief when they latched on to this trilogy. I am glad to have an exciting, thought-provoking tale out there for kids to ruminate. And The Long Walk notwithstanding, it is relatively original a story. In a landscape of boring, samesamesame tired plots and superhero idiocy (just my opinion, natch), this feels fresh. I hope it lives up to their (and my) expectations.

Posted by: klingonfree at February 2, 2012 2:21 PM

My feelings exaaaactly, ChristianH. Being that though, I'm ridiculously exited. :D

Posted by: Chantelle at February 2, 2012 2:22 PM

Ooops, I meant *beyond that

Posted by: Chantelle at February 2, 2012 2:23 PM

Almost done with the books. Looks pretty good. I'll watch. Katniss is not exactly supposed to be emotional, Samantha, but I think JL still manages to convey the right emotions. Aaanyway...we'll see when the movie comes out, but it looks like the odds are in its favour.

Posted by: Joker at February 2, 2012 2:25 PM

There's something missing. I don't get chills seeing those key scenes come to life but I still want to see it.

Posted by: Candy at February 2, 2012 2:27 PM

I hate to discount this movie based on a meaningless superficiality, bit Jennifer Lawrence has really dumb looking eyes. I can't stand looking at her.

Posted by: Pfft at February 2, 2012 2:37 PM

This is gonna be amazing.

What would be the problem with Prim giving her the pin? The mayor's daughter doesn't play much of a role at all that I can remember. The scene works mostly for Gale to say how the mayor's daughter isn't in trouble for the reaping. It actually makes the Mockingjay pin more significant if Prim gives it to her, I think.

Posted by: figgy at February 2, 2012 2:39 PM

The script was adapted by the author, so I can't fault them too much for leaving parts out (like the Mayor's daughter/mockingjay pin thing) for time constraints. At least she has a say in the editing of the story.

Posted by: Sean at February 2, 2012 2:39 PM

It's infinitely more creepy watching the citizens watching the games in the trailer than I imagined when reading the books.

Smart choice intercutting the way they have.

Posted by: countfosco at February 2, 2012 2:42 PM

To be fair, I'm still totally down for this movie. 100%. And people who rag on Jennifer Lawrence baffle me. Anyone who's seen Winter's Bone and doesn't think she's both an amazing actress and the perfect choice for Katniss has baffling opinions I will never accept.

Posted by: ChristianH at February 2, 2012 2:44 PM

Yeah, I've read the books twice, and it never really came across to me what Collins was going for by having the mayor's daughter give Katniss the Mockingjay pin. Especially since at the time she gives it to Katniss, it's not a symbol of rebellion or anything yet. She just kind of gives it to her, and insists she wear it in the arena. I figured there would be something in the later books connecting that girl to the rebellion, but there isn't. Again, unless I missed something.

Posted by: heatseeker at February 2, 2012 2:45 PM

For the record, I'm not saying she isn't a good actress. I'm saying she has eyes that appear dumb to me. Hopefully it comes across that I see this as a fault of my perception rather than anything I could blame her for. Nevertheless, it is the reason why I won't watch her movies.

Posted by: Pfft at February 2, 2012 2:47 PM

Ah, wait, they changed it so that Katniss gets it for Prim. Still doesn't seem like that big of a deal to me. It still works.

Posted by: figgy at February 2, 2012 2:51 PM

RE: Mockingjay pin

It turns out Madge got the pin from her aunt or grandmother (can't recall which it was) who was in the 50th Games and who teamed up with Haymitch during the Games. So in a way, she was an original member of the Rebellion by helping Haymitch to win.

But that's a lot of backstory to try to get into the series, so I can understand if they drop Madge's storyline altogether.

Either way, I'm seriously considered attending the midnight opening. I'm ridiculously excited for this movie.

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at February 2, 2012 2:59 PM

I'm ridiculously excited for this movie, but simultaneously dreading it. If they don't get it juuust right, everything will be utterly spoiled. The fact that guy who plays Peeta is currently in some kiddie movie with The Rock scares me a lot.

Still, I'll be going to the midnight premeire and keeping my fingers crossed.

Posted by: noodlestein at February 2, 2012 3:21 PM

I don't get why people are in a huff over how Katniss gets the Mockingjay pin. Like others have mentioned, they no doubt had to cut it down to save time and frankly, it's not that big of a deal.

That said, I'll be seeing this at midnight and I'm excited as hell.

Posted by: beckster at February 2, 2012 3:22 PM

jvo - I was just going to write the same thing about her "I volunteer" scream giving me the chills. I can't wait to see this either. I've only read the first of the trilogy so far but need to get on the other two post haste.

Posted by: prairiegirl at February 2, 2012 3:52 PM

Does it really matter who gives who the pin? No offense to anyone, but Madge is a very minor character in the books, and really only serves as one more tiny gut punch in the finale that has been beating the emotional crap out of Katniss. It's a movie. Small characters get cut sometimes, I would care more if they misconstrue the entire idea behind the the Mockingjay pin, which they don't seem to be doing.

Posted by: Jessica at February 2, 2012 5:18 PM

Cool!

Posted by: DarthCorleone at February 2, 2012 5:48 PM

jvo and prairiegirl-I got chills too! Then watching them carry away Prim made my eyes tear up a little. I can't wait to see this movie.
I agree that the guys will be wooden but that's okay because its the women that drive the story.

Posted by: jjrox at February 2, 2012 6:26 PM

How she gets the mockingjay pin is irrelevant. At least this way it has some meaning attached to it. Getting it for luck from the mayor's daughter was always an extraneous detail.

The movie looks amazing. After it comes out I can start to get excited for Prometheus and Dark Knight Rises but until then THIS is my most anticipated movie of 2012.

Posted by: TylerDFC at February 2, 2012 6:27 PM

2 words for the text prurists:

Harry Potter

sokwitcherwhinin.

Posted by: idiosynchronic at February 2, 2012 6:54 PM

Katniss says to Prim "Wanna see what I got you today?" and then they cut to the hands and her saying "It's a Mockingjay....." So based on what Katniss is saying, she gives the mockingjay to Prim, but it seems Prim refuses to keep it and gives it back to Katniss. In the book Madge comes to visit Katniss to give her the pin but after her mom and Prim and the baker, so maybe they just changed her visit to be the first one.

Also, this is only over a minute of the movie and obviously since it's a trailer the little bits we get to see are not in the exact order.

Posted by: MissRos at February 2, 2012 7:57 PM

The point is: stop making a big fuss out of it a wait till the movies comes out, people.

Posted by: MissRos at February 2, 2012 8:01 PM

TK, I think part of the problem with the love "triangle" is that it's very much a teenager's story of love (i.e. as much about finding yourself and what you want as it is about finding the cute guy/girl to make eternal promises to).

It's going to be interesting to see how much it attracts non-series fans. It's got a good chance.

Posted by: Fredo at February 2, 2012 8:33 PM

I loved the way the love triangle was handled in the books b/c Katniss is much more concerned about her survival, her family, and the kind of world she's living in then in choosing between two boys. She's the anti-Bella. I could go on about this for days, but I don't want to be one of those people. I'll just say this trailer has me all hopped up on antici

pation.

Posted by: kucheza at February 2, 2012 9:11 PM

The girl in the picture clearly never held a bow in her life hahaha

Posted by: Magiel at February 3, 2012 8:00 AM

Then how did they get that picture of her holding a bow, Magiel?

Also, Rue's mockingjay call at the very end made me goose-bumpy.

Posted by: admin at February 3, 2012 9:15 AM

Yes! I loved the little song at the end. I kept trying to make up tunes in my head and they all sounded stupid. But this sounds perfect.

Posted by: figgy at February 3, 2012 10:00 AM

Stanley Tucci? STANLEY TUCCI. I was wondering why I got these goosebumps.

He makes everything better. Does he play the smarmy announcer/host man?

Posted by: LadyJustus at February 3, 2012 11:36 AM

Yes yes yes I love that all the trailers include the 4-note song of Rue.

I read the trilogy in a week and I am Hunger Games saturated. The gf is catching up and I've been very good about not spoiling anything for her.

We're going to see the movie when it comes out, for sure.

Posted by: MyySharona at February 3, 2012 2:53 PM

yay! The Battle Royale film is finally coming to America!

Posted by: Geroge at February 4, 2012 10:36 AM

What people dont realize is that the book/movie is a ripoff of a Japanese visual novel from 1998.

Battle Royale fans are shaking their heads at this film. Its watered down, even.

Hope Japan has their lawyers ready...

Posted by: jdev at February 4, 2012 3:22 PM

Anyone else think that the closing notes sound like the message from 'Close Encounters'?

Posted by: Henry at February 4, 2012 3:24 PM

Lenny Kravitz and Woody Harrelson are in this movie. I'm in.

Posted by: Lauralyn at February 6, 2012 10:51 PM

I just realized how much I want Ryan Reynolds to play Finnick Odair.

Posted by: Jerry at February 11, 2012 12:53 AM