What the...?!

[katikat]

I haven't read "The Hunger Games" books yet nor have I seen the movie - seriously, the more hype something surrounds, the less interested I am in it, go figure. But!

I freely admit that I'm very insensitive when it comes to sexism etc. In most cases, I think it's simply bad writing, not some prejudice on the part of the writer. I'm more of a 'live and let live' kinda girl when it comes to stuff like that. But some of the reviews that popped up for The Hunger Games movie made even me livid!

If the reviews pointed out that Jennifer Lawrence didn't really fit the description of Katniss, that would be okay and perfectly fine. From what I read, she really doesn't. But there's pointing this out and then there's basically calling her fat! Link.

The Hollywood Reporter’s Todd McCarthy comments that Lawrence’s “lingering baby fat shows here.” And—most bluntly—Hollywood Elsewhere’s Jeffrey Wells calls Lawrence a “fairly tall, big-boned lady” who’s “too big” for Josh Hutcherson, who plays Katniss’s romantic interest. (In case the message didn’t come through: Wells thinks Jennifer Lawrence is BIG. He also thinks we should be wary of “certain female critics” who “may be susceptible to the lore of this young-female-adult-propelled franchise.”)

Wow. Just wow! What the fuckity fuck! As some of the commenters pointed out, why is only Jennifer Lawrence the target here? What about the male actors? Not one word about them, only Jennifer's body is dissed!

I loved this comment by Paige Junge:

I agree that if the casting director were striving for pinpoint accuracy, JL wouldn't have been the first choice - but it's obvious by the selection of other actors that they really didn't care about physical accuracy.
Since that's the case - and pretty obvious - why aren't the critics pointing out the same misaligned casting issues with the other characters? Why is it just Katniss?
Stanley Tucci's skin was supposed to be blue and President Snow was supposed to look as plastic as a Ken doll, not old, wise, and bearded. And Woody Harrelson is just way too clean cut to be Hamich. He supposed to be one step up from cliche hobo-style guy.
So I think, yeah it is a little odd that it's female's body that under scrutiny (yes I know, she's the main character...but if a critic is going for accuracy, go for full accuracy!)

I really hope Jennifer is strong enough mentally to take this, that she won't fall victim to their body image issues - because, yes, it's THEIR issues. She's perfectly fine! More than fine!

Comments

[katikat]

Exactly. Nobody fit the description in the book but they started picking on Jennifer for being fat! That's... I don't even have the words.

I think I'll buy it on DVD later on. For Jennifer, if nothing else. She's so lovely. I just adore it that she doesn't get why women feel the need to starve themselves and look like skeletons. Such a wonderful, gorgeous person! *happy sigh*

The last movie I saw in the cinema was... Sherlock Holmes: AGOS. And Mission Impossible 4. Loved MI4! SH:AGOS wasn't all that great a movie but RDJ and Jude Law made up for it, totally!

[lunchee]

Good plan! Even in Australia watching films in theatres in bizarrely expensive as opposed to waiting a few months to buy it on DVD. There is something very wrong with the industry when tickets are so ludicrously expensive it's better to wait and enjoy it in your home. Having said that, I am also buying the hell out of that when it's out on DVD, too!

Jennifer Lawrence seems like such a fun person. I'm glad she's got such a fabulous personality in conjunction with being a great actor!

AGoS wasn't fantastic for me either, even RDJ and Law couldn't save it for me! i've not watched any of the MI movies, and I can't say I'm at all interested in changing that either... The last film before Hunger Games for me was Hugo - and it was pretty average! The only saving grace was that I saw it at a moonlight cinema.

[katikat]

AGoS disappointed me a bit too but I just loved how much fun RDJ and Jude Law have with these characters. They literally radiate it. It's wonderful. Though it really felt like watching a romance - Holmes was so incredibly in love with Watson and it was obvious that Watson had more than friendly feelings for him too.

I don't like the kid who played Hugo (and Mordred in Merlin). He just doesn't click for me :(

I didn't like the previous Mission: Impossible movies much, but MI4 was... Wow. Just... WOW! I'm smitten with the movie. Jeremy Renner and Tom Cruise had incredible chemistry! And the visuals were fantastic. Brad Bird did amazing job as the director.

[lunchee]

There's too many movies for me to watch them all XD If I find an MI4 DVD at friend's place though, I'll be sure to borrow it!

RDJ and Jude Law were a great team! It's a pity that the incredibly thin plot they were given to work with was so incredibly lacklaster. I literally felt like that movie ran an hour too long, I was that skeptical (and bored!) And I guess I'm too in love with John and Sherlock's dynamic in the BBC version - I much prefer them to RDJ and Law's Holmes and Watson...

I don't mind Asa Butterfield, but Hugo was really...stilted. It felt incredibly dated and the plot dragged itself along. I really wanted to like it too - I love Chloe Moretz :(

[katikat]

If I find an MI4 DVD at friend's place though, I'll be sure to borrow it!

Oh, do! The scene that's shown in the trailer, the "And you're just an analyst. Right? Who are you really, Brandt!" gets me every time. Really funny movie.