Question for the book fans-was the Peeta in the book so bland and charisma free? How about his size? Josh is smaller than Jennifer so its weird to see them together, let alone believe she starts a romantic relationship with him...
shareOne of the first things I thought when I saw the movie is JH was not a good fit for Peeta at all. It's been a while since I read the books, but I remember picturing him as a very large guy, kind of a linebacker look. He's supposed to be very strong. I wasn't buying it at all with JH.
~The internet? Is that thing still around?~
I think Josh is great as Peeta, but I saw the first two movies before I read the books. No doubt I would have had a different image if I had read the books first.
I would definitely have had a problem with Katniss being taller than Peeta! In the book, she has to stand on tip-toes to kiss him on the cheek - wearing heels.
Now that I think of it - is that even possible?
There are a few things in the books that the editors should have caught. Like on page 2 of THG, when Katniss pulls on her hunting boots - followed by her trousers. I don't anything about heels, but I know that's unlikely to work!
And I don't think SZ is too good with geometry. In CF, Katniss refers to the tributes having to swim 20 metres from the pedestals to reach the strips of land between them - but the pedestals are only 40 meters out from the Cornucopia. A circle of 40 metres radius has a circumference of 251 metres; with 24 pedestals and 12 strips of land, that's only 7 metres to swim. Which is about what it looks in the aerial shot.
Which reminds me - in the book, Peeta can't swim. I guess JH is also wrong on that score, as he seems to be swimming fine.
And I don't think SZ is too good with geometry. In CF, Katniss refers to the tributes having to swim 20 metres from the pedestals to reach the strips of land between them - but the pedestals are only 40 meters out from the Cornucopia. A circle of 40 metres radius has a circumference of 251 metres; with 24 pedestals and 12 strips of land, that's only 7 metres to swim. Which is about what it looks in the aerial shot.
How about his size? Josh is smaller than Jennifer so its weird to see them together, let alone believe she starts a romantic relationship with him...
Yes, Clove is supposed to be much bigger than Katniss in the book. I still like casting Isabel Fuhrman, because she's so darn good as Clove, but Book-Clove is quite big and has a significant size and weight advantage over Katniss.
shareJen tells the story that when they were filming that scene Jen told Isabelle
it was OK to put her full weight on her. And Isabelle said "this is my full
weight."
It absolutely could be argued that Jennifer and Josh did not physically match up with Katniss and Peeta, but it was how they could convey the essence of the character. The charm, wit, and inner courage seemed to be a higher importance than the physicality.
shareI had read somewhere that Alexander Ludwig (Cato) had tried out for the role of Peeta, and Isabelle Fuhrman (Clove) had tried out for the role of Katniss. They would have both matched the physical character descriptions in the book, but Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence were both good.
shareAlexander Ludwig would have made an interesting Peeta. But then he would have outshone Liam Hemsworth and there would have been no question who Katniss would end up with at the end.
Also Isabelle Fuhrman is good at those creepy child roles. But that is exactly what she looks like, a child. Ludwig looks like 19 going on 20 and Fuhrman looks about 13. Any romantic scenes between them would have been icky as all hell.