The Film Series That's Better Than the Books?
Is that even possible? Many, on principle, would probably say no. There’s no way a derivative visual work could be better than what the human imagination is capable of creating.
There aren’t many that exist, but for years I’ve said that ‘The Hunger Games’ film franchise is better than the books. Now, before you yell at me, I don’t mean that as an insult to Suzanne Collins. In fact, I think the films work so well because of her vision. I believe she wrote these books with films in mind, because the emotional impact of these films are totally informed by the pages in the book.
I think it’s important to address some of the controversies and criticisms surrounding this series, including allegations that Suzanne Collins plagiarized ‘Battle Royale,’ written by Koushun Takami. There was also some criticism regarding casting choices. I mention these to acknowledge the sentiments felt by a portion of viewers, not that I agree with the criticism or feel the same way. To me, these are all things I am able to overlook. You might not agree with me, and that is ok.
ANYWAY…
The most recent entry into the series, “A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” was a box office success AND also a very well done film- in my opinion. The book, on the other hand, was just fine for me. When I put it down after finishing during my reading frenzy in the craziness that was 2020, I said “this is going to make an awesome movie.” Well, I think I was right.
Rachel Zegler really made the film impactful for me. Her charisma and commitment to the vocal performance was something to see.
There are many reasons why the films work so well. For one, I think the sub-genre of Dystopian Fantasy can only truly deliver when you have acting performances that can truly match the stakes of world created in books. Jennifer Lawrence became a mega-star for a reason:
The casting across the board was really well done. I wouldn’t call this an ensemble cast, because Katniss is truly the hero in this story, however, there is an incredible array of supporting characters that make this incredibly dark and monstrous world dynamic.
The Production Design gets equal props from me, because the world that existed in my imagination while reading the books was also what was presented to me in the films, especially The Capital. Suzanne Collins also should get props for this because it is clear the source of inspiration for the Production Design were her very words.
Gary Ross and Francis Lawrence, the only two directors in the franchise, understood the assignment and completely delivered. Every single entry works for me.
‘The Hunger Games’ (directed by Ross) was the first movie, and established the style of the franchise. It was gritty and immersive, and Jennifer Lawrence was not a household name at the time. She gave a raw and gritty performance that matched the style. Who else cried when she volunteered as tribute to protect her sister? Just me?
‘Catching Fire,’ number two, is noted by fans to be their favorite of the film franchise as well as the books. It is not common for the sequel to be the favorite, and yet there is undeniable magic in the way Katniss’s arc expands. The film clearly got an upgraded budget, and Francis only enhanced the style established by Ross. It’s a great film, you could watch it without having watched any of the others and still be emotionally invested.
Yes, ‘Mockingjay’ was broken up into two parts… which was a popular tactic used by the studios at the time to generate more money on one story, but in this case I wasn’t mad. It really allowed the Francis Lawrence to tell a complete story, with proper set up and payoff from Mockingjay part 1 and part 2. Similarly to “A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,’ I believe the films were more successful than the book. Fight me if you disagree.
Just kidding, I’m a lover not a fighter. I would die in the Hunger Games, no doubt about it.
This series also has a special place in my heart because it was the first book series that made me realize I love to read. I didn’t read much as a kid, I thought it was boring and I wanted to play sports at the time (which is a big LOL considering my life now).
So, thank you Suzanne Collins and all those who inspired this series. It is dark and depressing and I love to suffer.
Do you think you could survive The Hunger Games? If they did a reboot (don’t laugh, it could happen), who would you cast? If you think the books are better, tell me why below.
