All the Right Notes: The Hunger Games trilogy, Part 1

...or, an alternative title: Reader Expectation vs. Character Reality in The Hunger Games trilogy.

I did not first hear about The Hunger Games until the fans of the books pulled the movie out of the mess of other movie trailers and into the spotlight last year.  Upon reading the first book before seeing the movie, I was duly impressed.  (I also believe the movie is fantastic, but since this AtRN is about the books and not the movie, that is perhaps a discussion for another day.)  I then resolved to finish the trilogy--even though I had heard some troublesome dissonance about the last two books--as soon as possible.

Well, "as soon as possible" turned into "months later," but I've finally gotten around to consuming the entire series.

I have heard many different opinions on the trilogy.  Some say the last two "suck."  Some say the second "sucks" and the third one is "better."  Many lament that the books are good "except for the damn love triangle."  Most people agree that the first is the best.

Before I delve into my AtRN thesis for The Hunger Games, let's just get my very quick opinions of the three individual books out of the way:

• The Hunger Games (the first book) is fairly superb.  It is engrossing, well-written, and overall has excellent balance to its numerous aspects.
• Catching Fire is certainly the weakest of the trilogy, and suffers the most from Collins's selected writing style for the series.  I would not go so far as to say it "sucks," but the book sadly places itself in the tired category of the "weak-but-unfortunately-necessary-second-book-in-a-trilogy."  It is in no way a horrible book, however.
• Mockingjay, though not as strong as The Hunger Games, surprised me with its satisfying end and left me with a pleasant association with the entire series.  In that way, I'd say it's highly successful, and a worthy end to the trilogy.

Although I have issues with the second (and somewhat the third) books, clearly I am far from condemning them as some readers have.  This is because I believe readers of The Hunger Games often suffer from what I am calling Reader Expectation vs. Character Reality, a problem I find increasingly in modern audiences and have even caught myself succumbing to.

What is Reader Expectation vs. Character Reality, and what does it have to do with The Hunger Games trilogy?  Read on after the break to find out!

All the Right Notes: Brave

...or, an alternative title: Why Brave is not a bad movie (and worth seeing in theaters).

OK, Anna, what's your deal?  Brave's been out for awhile now.  It won't be in theaters much longer.  You had the chance to write a review back in the summer.  Why, suddenly, are you taking the time to write about it?

Well, dear reader, it is because I find myself in an odd predicament.

When I first saw Brave awhile ago, I was, admittedly, disappointed.  I stated as such in a few-sentence-Facebook-status.  And quite honestly, I felt I did not have much more to elaborate on after writing that, so I didn't bother with an "All the Right Notes" review.  I did note the merits I thought the movie had, however, and I ended up happily seeing it a second time (in 3D), and actually enjoyed it more than the first time.

So, while I had (have) problems with the movie, it settled in my mind favorably, and even now I can look up and see my lovely Brave poster hanging in my dorm.

All of a sudden, however, even now when Brave has been in theaters for a month and a half, I seem to be stumbling upon some of my friends and acquaintances making the same sweep statement: "Brave is a bad movie."  And, just as inexplicably, suddenly I'm finding myself defending the very movie that I had previously spoken somewhat ill of.

This is an odd situation, and thus, I have decided that it is best for me to sit down and write my final thoughts on the matter.  Because after seeing this dismissive statement, I have been forced to really decide what I think about Brave, and, just as the title says, my opinion is thus: Brave is NOT a "bad movie," and it IS worth seeing in theaters.

Why have I finally come to this conclusion?  Read on after the break to find out!

FYI, this is the poster image hanging in my room.  It's sweeeeet.