Side Step: Catching Fire Movie vs Book

Okay, who has seen Catching Fire (Sequel to The Hunger Games)? I saw it over the weekend, and I need to talk about it. I read the series and loved it. I even watched Catching Fire in an Imax theater too, just to heighten the intensity. There was big hype about this movie. It was said that this was the best book-to-film adaptation ever made, so I was excited. Overly excited.

Without releasing any spoilers, readers can agree with me that it is disappointing to find information and scenes in movies, but a movie can’t cover everything in a book. It would be too long (even though I’d watch it all). I liked the movie, Catching Fire. I didn’t love it. Everyone was raving about it, but when I left the theater, I found I just liked it. Why? Because of the things they chose to remove from the movie. Most of the excluded scenes were my favorite ones from the book. The absence of Haymitch’s Games and how he won his Quarter Quell was my absolute favorite part of the book! I was so upset that it wasn’t mentioned in the movie. I also hated how much Katniss cried. She barely cried in the books, but in the movie she blubbered like a baby a lot. I don’t know. I am overcritical of female characters. Katniss was one of my favorite females because of her hardened emotional shell. I’m not saying I wouldn’t cry if I was forced to compete in a death match AGAIN, but for Katniss, if felt out of character. Did anyone else feel this way?

If anyone is interested, I found an article about the differences found in the movie. It’s pretty shocking all the important stuff they left out or changed. Some of the stuff didn’t make a big difference, but some left me like “What?” or “Where the heck did that come from?” when I was watching the movie.

Remember people–Spoilers Here–so don’t read it if you don’t want to know what happens.

‘Catching Fire’: 12 big changes from page to screen

Did you see the movie or read the books? What did you think?

The books are always better than the movies, people! Read!

Have a great Thanksgiving holiday everyone!

~H.A.B.