Hunger Games Fangirl Raving

I could not be more excited about the Hunger Games casting announcements. They've been coming fast and furious for awhile now, and I am just absolutely brimming with anticipation over this movie!

First, can we talk about Jennifer Lawrence? I know when the announcement was first made, there was a lot of uproar about Hollywood "whitewashing" this movie. And while I think whitewashing a film is one of the more reprehensible behaviors that Hollywood engages in, I don't think it applies here. Much hubbub was made over the fact that Katniss is described as having dark hair, gray eyes and olive skin- and people were arguing like idiots debating over the point: is someone with olive skin a Caucasian?

Here's my short answer: I don't care.

Here's my long answer: In The Hunger Games books, we know that this story is set in North America, centuries into the future. Anybody who has been paying even a little bit of attention to race and ethnicity patterns here in North America can tell you that racial lines are blurring faster than we can even attempt to keep up with. In 2008, a little more than five percent of the population listed their race as being "Some Other Race", when the option of selecting multiple races was available. That may not seem like a lot now, but when you add to that the fact that about the same number identify themselves as being multi-racial, you have TEN PERCENT of the US population as being of a race that is not easily identified at first glance.

Extrapolate this out over the coming centuries, and hundreds of years from now, the American population would be very nearly homogeneous and of a completely mixed background. There would be virtually no racial distinctions. And Suzanne Collins' book seems to fall in line with that train of thought: different shades of hair color are described, but there's not a lot of description of anybody's skin being specifically pale or black or any other race-specific shade. There's just dark, olive, lighter, etc. It's pretty vague. Which means, to me, it doesn't matter what race anybody in this movie is.

Everyone fits, Jennifer Lawrence included.

And, plus, she looks pretty freaking cool:

Now, Haymitch. I had picked Bill Murray, and while I stand by that as being a solid choice, I have to admit the brilliance of Woody Harrelson being cast as Haymitch. I think he can pull off drunk and crazy like nobody's business, and then pull it together and be convincing as a political mastermind and fairly believable father-figure to Katniss. I approve.

And Cesar!

Cesar Flickman! I had this character pegged as being a little more... airhead-ish. I saw him as being kind of a mindless, idiotic puppet of the Capital. In my mind, he hosted the games and talked to the tributes and had no idea that these kids' lives were at stake, it was all just show business to him.

However.

The casting of Stanley Tucci brings a softer side to the character. A more empathetic side. More of an Oprah-style host, rather than the John Stewart-hijinks-guy I had pictured. And I think I like this interpretation a little better. Tucci can certainly be flamboyant (heck, I am pretty sure he can be anything- he's amazing), but I think he'll bring a depth to the character that had hitherto been unrealized. I'm impressed by this choice.

Pretty much all the same stuff can be said of the Elizabeth-Banks-as-Effie-Trinket choice. She's still funny and a little nuts; she's just a different brand of zany than I had originally envisioned. But again, I think this brings a new depth to Effie, and Banks is definitely a strong enough character to hold on for three movies and make us believe that this woman really believes her job is important. We, as Katniss' fans, see Effie as a tool of the Capital, but Effie sees this job as a stepping stone in her career, and Banks brings that seriousness to this role. 

Well... seriousness is a relative term, I guess.

Now, to Peeta and Gale.

I cannot tell the world how relieved I am that Alex Pettyfer was not cast as Peeta. He is- as far as I can tell- one giant douche nozzle. I know he's still in the running (last I heard, anyway) for the part of Jace in The Mortal Instruments, and I would much prefer him cast as the semi-jack-assed Jace than the ever-devoted Peeta.

I am reserving judgment about Josh Hutcherson, I just don't think he's done enough for us to say what he is or is not capable of. He's grown up a bunch since the Bridge to Terabithia days, and I am more than willing to give him a chance here.

And I don't know much about Liam Hemsworth, but I think he looks the part. I see nothing wrong with this particular choice.

All in all, I think the casting choices here are pretty perfect. Much more Harry Potter than Twilight; because if there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that Alan Rickman rules and Kristen Stewart sucks.

The Hunger Games

The story, and terror, of the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins relies on the fact that these are children in this competition. Children killing and being killed. In my opinion, the only way to really convey this horror is to really cast kids. Sweet faced, smiling kids. My choices:


Katniss is the heroine of our story. She is young, just barely 16 years old. She is abrasive, independent, smart, resourceful and one heck of a shot with a bow and arrow. I think AnnaSophie Robb is the girl for this part.

She's done action, so I can believe her running around and camping out and being all resourceful-like. Plus, wouldn't that face be absolutely chilling with a bow and arrow pulled up close? **SHIVERS**
 

Peeta is the other tribute to the games from District 12, so we get to see a lot of him throughout the story. He's just a deep down, good-to-the-core type of guy.  William Moseley

Gale is Katniss' friend in District 12. He is a bit older than Katniss, also fiercely independent and takes care of his whole family. He is tough as nails, and I think he would be a bit intimidating. Someone like Steven Strait

 

Primrose needs to be young. Very young. Her youth and fragility highlight the cruelty of the games. She needs to be the embodiment of childhood. I think this girl, Hannah Robinson looks the part.
 

 For Rue, there needs to be a superficial resemblance to Prim, and she needs to be youthful and delicate as well. Her character helps us see the cruelty of these games; what kind of government forces a beautiful young girl like her into this situation? I like Evanna Lynch

I don't know, there is just something about her that makes me believe she would actually be flitting around from tree to tree, singing a songbird song and wearing wildflowers in the midst of a killing competition. 

  Foxface- Ashley Tisdale This is just funny. I think she really does look like a fox, and the moment the phrase "foxface" was used, her face immediately popped into my head. 

For the careers, I don't really picture anybody specific, they are mostly just smirking, hulking masses.  Although, they look a lot like Channing Tatum and Missy Peregym in my head (both are probably too old, and too famous for non-speaking parts, I know that)

But the adults really are the "fun" characters.



Haymitch- We need somebody loud. Obnoxious. Lovable. And later, we learn, that we need somebody completely capable of true intelligence and subterfuge. We need a guy like  Bill Murray

Cinna is superficially from the Capitol. He is much more normal than the other Capitol stylists, but he still maintains a little excess and a certain flair. How about: David Bromstad

I know he isn't an "actor" per se, but, honestly, isn't every person on TV an actor to some degree? My sister suggested this one to me, and I just couldn't agree more.


OK, for Effie Trinket we need somebody who can be equal parts intimidating, shallow, mothering and annoying. We need Jennifer Coolidge

And, lastly, Cesar. The talk show host type character from the Capitol. I like this guy: Fred Willard.

I've also done a list of some of the newer characters featured in Catching Fire .


What do you think?
Images: Google Images