When compared to the novel, the blockbuster hit, the film
makers changed some of the most important parts of the plot, and completely
left out some of the best parts of The
Hunger Games.
Some of the changes include the
source of Katniss’ Mockingjay pin, the gifts on the train, Haymitch’s advice
towards the Games and the stylists, the idea of Katniss and Peeta holding hands
at the opening ceremony, Katniss’ attack on Peeta after his revelation, Katniss
finding water in the arena, Gamemaker insight, the releasing of the dogs, and
Peeta’s realization.
Some of the depletions include
Haymitch’s faux pas at the Reaping, the Avoxes, Katniss’ gift from Rue’s
District, Katniss’ goat story, Katniss’ hearing loss, Katniss’ drawn arrow, and
Peeta’s prosthetic leg.
In general, most of the changes and
depletions were easy to understand.
“1) Mockingjay Pin procurement
Book version: Katniss is given the pin by the Mayor’s daughter, Madge.
This comes as a surprise as she thought Madge didn’t like her. The pin is
explained to be a subtle dig at the The Capitol, as Mockingjays were the
comical result of a bio-genetic spying program that the general public
gradually became aware of and used against the government.
Movie version: Katniss finds the Mockingjay pin at a rummage sale, but there’s
no explanation of why the pin would be considered inflammatory towards
President Snow and the ruling class.
Level of Change: Rather large as it doesn’t set up District 12′s Mayor as being somewhat human, and doesn’t show why the
Mockingjay symbol matters. Furthermore, it makes Katniss the driving force
behind the symbol as opposed to the simply the wearer of it, making her complicit
in its power throughout, as opposed to being swept up by events larger than
her.
Good or Bad Change: Overall, not great. I get wanting Katniss to be in charge of her
destiny right off the bat, but this cribs some of the momentum from the next
two films.
2) No Haymitch Gaffe at Ceremony
Book version: Haymitch is drunk at The Reaping and falls off the stage.
Movie version: Doesn’t exist.
Level of Change: Large. Haymitch’s first exposure from a reader’s perspective is
as a drunken buffoon. The scene is also used to take away some of the tension
from Katniss’ volunteering for Prim.
Good Change or Bad Change: Reasonable. My guess is that they didn’t want all that
much comic relief, and coming back from the “mentor” falling off the stage
would have taken too much time. An understandable cut.
3) Peeta’s Dad Bringing Gifts on
the Train
Book version: Peeta’s dad brings Katniss cookies, making her realize he liked
her all along. She later throws the cookies off the train as she realizes she
might have to kill Peeta to get back to District 12.
Movie version: Only Prim, Gale, and Katniss’ mother are allowed to visit.
Peeta’s father is never even mentioned.
Level of Change: Minimal.
Good Change or Bad Change: Another cut for time, but the audience never really gets
the idea that Peeta and Katniss might have to face off. From a screenwriting
perspective, this was likely one theme too many, and there simply wasn’t time
to bring an audience back from that place and into a potentially romantic one.
So again, a reasonable call.
4) “Embrace the prospect of your
imminent death.”
Book version: They ask Haymitch for advice on the train, as he’s their mentor,
and he responds with “Here’s some advice, stay alive.” Then he laughs.
Movie version: The quote above, “Embrace the prospect of your imminent death.”
Level of Change: Moderate. The book version allows for Haymitch to come around to
helping Katniss and Peeta, where the movie version immediately sets up the
premise that the duo is imminent danger.
Good or Bad Change: Decent to good, especially given time constraints. The
movie version of the line is much less funny, but more effective narratively.
5) Haymitch and Eating
Book version: In the book, when Haymitch finally eats something (instead of
drinking) it’s seen as a sign that he’s coming around.
Movie version: Haymitch eats in the first scene we see him, he takes a
roll with him out of the room.
Level of Change: Minimal.
Good or Bad Change: Good, if only because movies don’t have time to focus on
every small detail.
6) Haymitch and Advice on
Stylists
Book version: Haymitch tells Katniss to do exactly what the stylists want, as
they are there to help her attain sponsors.
Movie version: She’s sent into “grooming” without any context whatsoever.
Level of Change: Moderate, because Katniss hating the make-over is a big part of
her personality.
Good or Bad Change: Bad, especially given it would have taken minimal time to impart
that Katniss wasn’t big on appearances.
7) Cinna and The Holding Hands
Advice
Book version: In the book, Cinna shouts that they should hold hands in
front of the opening procession crowd.
Movie version: In the movie, it’s Peeta’s idea.
Level of Change: Big, because it takes away one big character motivation
from Cinna (that he’s keeping the duo informed and alive), giving it to Peeta
instead (making him “all about” Katniss right from the start).
Good or Bad Change: Neither, it’s just a different way to go about it, likely
because they needed to establish the Peeta-Katniss bond early and often.
8 Haymitch on Training Together
Book version: Haymitch tells Katniss and Peeta to stay close to each
other during training, and not to show off any special skills.
Movie version: They are just thrown into training, occasionally together,
although Peeta mentions that Haymitch told them not to show off.
Level of Change: Minimal.
Good or Bad Change: Slightly bad, if only because the training scenes are
missing context, so when Peeta requests to train alone it feels a bit strange.
9) The “She Was Talking About
You” Moment
Book version: Peeta’s mom mentions District 12 might have its first
winner, but then clarifies, referring to Katniss, “She’s a survivor”.
Movie version: Peeta just says his mom was talking about her, not how he
figures it out.
Level of Change: Small, but there’s still some room to interpret that Peeta
misunderstood his mother.
Good or Bad Change: Slightly bad, because it would have taken ten seconds to
get the extra line of dialogue off and would have made the point more forceful,
that Peeta’s mom didn’t believe in him … and that Katniss was tough.
10) The Added “Hope” Scene
Book version: Doesn’t exist.
Movie version: President Snow tells The Gamemaker not to give the people
too much hope.
Level of Change: Big, because we see a true “villain” as opposed to getting
only Katniss’ point of view.
Good or Bad Change: Good, mostly, as the President Snow scenes are well done,
though they do take away some of the mystery from the sequels.
11) Peeta Doesn’t Bleed after
Katniss Attacks
Book version: When Katniss attacks Peeta after his “crush” admission
during the interview, he falls into an urn and cuts his hand on the shards.
Movie version: Katniss pushes him, but no one is really hurt.
Level of Change: Minimal.
Good or Bad Change: Understandable, but they lose a bit of Katniss continually
misinterpreting Peeta’s actions.
12) No Avox Moments
Book version: Katniss recognizes a red-headed Avox who is serving her.
Movie version: Doesn’t exist.
Level of Change: Moderate, because the Avox story shows that people are
attempting to flee the government, and that Katniss is haunted by not helping
when she was younger.
Good or Bad Change: Understandable, clearly cut for time. My guess is they’ll
establish the Avox issue in the second film.
13) The Mockingjay Pin from
Cinna as a Secret
Book version: The Mockingjay pin “barely cleared the review board”.
Movie version: Cinna smuggles the pin in.
Level of Change: Big, because the book version shows The Capitol can be
somewhat unpredictable.
Good or Bad Change: Bad, because the book version sets up a more complex
story, while taking the same amount of time.
14) Cinna in the Tubes
Book version: As Katniss and Cinna are talking, right before games
start, a glass tube lowers and separates them. He’s close to the glass and
motions for Katniss to keep her head high.
Movie version: Katniss walks to the tube of her own volition.
Level of Change: Minimal, thought book version is more dramatic.
Good or Bad Change: Understandable, as the film needed to start establishing
Katniss as a character in control of her own destiny, though the book does
often convey the exact opposite theme.
15) Katniss Doesn’t Lose Track
of Time or Blame Peeta
Book version: In the opening minute of the games, when no one is allowed
to move, Katniss sees a bow and arrow. She wants it, but sees Peeta, possibly
shaking his head, where upon the sun gets in her eyes and she gets disoriented.
She then misses her shot at the bow.
Movie version: Peeta clearly shakes his head, telling her not to get the
bow. She doesn’t lose her concentration in the sun or trying to figure out what
Peeta is trying to tell her.
Level of Change: Minimal, though the book version sets up some initial
tension between Peeta and Katniss.
Good or Bad Change: Good, though the book version reads well this would have
been a much more difficult concept to portray visually without utilizing a
voice-over.
16) Katniss Finds Water
Immediately
Book version: Katniss struggles for a full day before finding water. She
asks, out loud, for Haymitch to send her water via a sponsor. He doesn’t, which
makes her think she’s close to water … and she is.
Movie version: She finds the pond right after running away from The
Cornucopia.
Level of Change: Moderate, especially as Haymitch tells her “water will be
her best friend” in the film.
Good or Bad Change: Good, but only in the interest of time.
17) No Animals Running from Fire
Book version: The Gamemaker sends a fire to force the tributes back
together. Katniss runs away with deer and forest animals, though they are
faster than her.
Movie version: Katniss runs alone.
Level of Change: Minimal.
Good or Bad Change: Not great, though they likely didn’t want to burn through
CGI dollars.
18) Much More “In Game”
Production and Gamemaker Scenes
Book version: Doesn’t exist, though Katniss surmises what the general
public and gamemakers are thinking at various points.
Movie version: Many scenes where the control room for “The Hunger Games”
is shown.
Level of Change: Huge, as we now have a visual foil in President Snow and
the head Gamemaker.
Good or Bad Change: Understandable, as the film needed to show the difference
between Katniss and the government. But it’s definitely less mysterious and
forces home the “corruption of power” element much earlier in the trilogy.
19) A Note With Each Gift
Parachute
Book version: Gifts from sponsors come without notes, and Katniss is
left to interpret what each one means.
Movie version: A note comes with each gift (though there are less gifts
shown), making it easier to keep Haymitch’s thoughts in the narrative.
Level of Change: Minimal, though Katniss doesn’t seem as “thrown to the
wolves” with a strong off-screen message coming in every so often.
Good or Bad Change: Understandable, and it helps provide clarity.
20) Rue and the Tracker Jackers
Book version: Rue points out the Tracker Jackers, but more as a warning
to Katniss as to their proximity in the tree.
Movie version: Rue suggests Katniss drop the Tracker Jacker nest onto her
enemies.
Level of Change: Moderate, as Katniss is pretty resourceful in the book,
and figures this out on her own.
Good or Bad Change: Good, but only because it establishes Rue much more
quickly, which the film desperately needs given her limited screen time.
21) Rue and the Trap
Book version: Rue is speared by a boy from District 1 while still in the
net.
Movie version: Katniss frees Rue from the trap, but then a spear is
thrown at her.
Level of Change: Minimal.
Good or Bad Change: Good, as it’s more dramatic visually.
22) District 11 and Open Revolt
Book version: Doesn’t exist.
Movie version: After Rue’s death, District 11 revolts against the
peacekeepers.
Level of Change: Big, because we don’t ever see other districts in the
book, this is the story of Katniss that only gradually becomes bigger as the
series progresses.
Good or Bad Change: Bad, because they only did it to set up the sequels. The
slow burn of the books is a superior storytelling method in this instance.
23) No Gift Bread from District
11
Book version: After Rue’s death, Katniss receives a gift from District
11.
Movie version: Doesn’t exist.
Level of Change: Big, because the gift gradually shows other districts
coming around to Katniss’ heroism.
Good or Bad Change: Bad, for the same reason as the “open revolt” reasoning.
24) The Kisses Don’t Play as an
Act
Book version: In the book Katniss believes the “romance” angle is an act
to lure sponsors.
Movie version: It’s not entirely clear that Katniss thinks they are
pretending, and Peeta definitely doesn’t.
Level of Change: Massive, as it sets up the ending better.
Good or Bad Change: Bad, because Katniss not understanding the dynamic between
herself and Peeta provides all the tension of the story, whereas in the movie
Peeta’s sadness at the end doesn’t come through as well.
25) Katniss Doesn’t Trick Peeta
to Sleep
Book version: Katniss receives a sleeping potion from Haymitch, which
she uses to drug Peeta so she can go get him medicine.
Movie version: Katniss doesn’t drug him, but she does wait until he’s
asleep to head to The Cornucopia.
Level of Change: Minimal.
Good or Bad Change: Good, as it was clear Katniss was going to try to save
Peeta regardless of his wishes.
26) No Goat Story or Recognition
of Prim and Mom as Healers
Book version: While Peeta is trying to recover from his cut, Katniss
tells him a story about how she attained a goat for her family. The goat was
sick (which was the only reason it was for sale), and Prim and Katniss’ mom
nursed it back to health.
Movie version: Doesn’t exist.
Level of Change: Moderate, because this story shows how out of her element
Katniss is at healing.
Good or Bad Change: Understandable, given the time constraints of a 142-minute
film.
27) Thresh’s Decision
Book version: Thresh lets Katniss live after figuring out that Katniss
was kind to Rue.
Movie version: Thresh lets Katniss live because he knew Katniss was kind
to Rue.
Level of Change: Minimal.
Good or Bad Change: Good, because it’s quicker and adds up to the same thing.
28) Katniss and the Drawn Arrow
Book version: When the gamemakers announce that only one tribute can
live (again) Katniss thinks Peeta is trying to kill her so she draws an arrow
across her bow.
Movie version: Doesn’t happen.
Level of Change: Big, because it shows the continuing divide and lack of
trust of Peeta and Katniss.
Good or Bad Change: Bad, because the drawn bow makes Katniss a more complex
character who clearly has huge trust issues.
29) The Release of the Hounds /
Ghost Beasts
Book version: Beasts are released into the arena that have the eyes of
dead tributes. They walk upright upon occasion.
Movie version: They are just dog-wolf-like hellhounds.
Level of Change: Moderate, as the eyes really freak Katniss out and make
the arena even more ghoulish.
Good or Bad Change: Good, as this would have been just about impossible to
pull off visually.
30) Cato’s Little Speech
Book version: Cato remains psychotic to until the end, but doesn’t give
any grand speeches.
Movie version: Cato is at his wit’s end, and clearly indicates living and
dying are about the same thing to him.
Level of Change: Big, as Cato is sympathetic in the movie version, but not
the book version.
Good or Bad Change: Good, as it gives a more nuanced version of what other
tributes are going through.
31) Peeta’s Realization
Book version: In the book Peeta realizes Katniss thinks they were
“faking it” the entire time. He’s heartbroken.
Movie version: In the movie Peeta merely says “he doesn’t want to forget”
and while upset, doesn’t seem to be completely dispirited.
Level of Change: Moderate, because fundamental differences exist between
movie Katniss and book Katniss in terms of motivation. In the film she’s torn
between two men, Peeta vs. Gale, but in the film she clearly falls for Peeta
somewhat, where that’s less clear in the book (though she does question her
feelings often). Book Katniss is more ruthless, where movie Katniss is more
lovable.
Good or Bad Change: Somewhere in the middle. The book does a great job of
showing a young woman caught up in a whirlwind of events much bigger then
herself, where the film conforms to a more “hero” narrative style.” (Laremy Legel, http://www.film.com/movies/differences-between-the-hunger-games-book-and-movie#fbid=oKgPvr61PJH)
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