countdown to hunger games week 6 of 16

 

 

Well hello, friends! Today for Countdown to Hunger Games, we have my friend Tameka discussing the gloriousness that is Cinna. Who doesn't love Cinna and his fabulous self? Enjoy!

 

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From the moment he makes his first appearance to Katniss in The Hunger Games, and tells her he purposely asked for District 12, Cinna had me. He was so quiet and mysterious that I just knew he would end up becoming a pivotal person in Katniss' life. I especially loved that upon introduction he looked perfectly non-descript except for his fabulous gold eyeliner. I sort of pictured Cinna as a Tom Ford/Tim Gunn/Marc Jacobs hybrid (probably because I would love either of these men to design my life for me) and eagerly anticipated the role this silent hero would play in Katniss' journey.

For me, Cinna represents truth, creativity, heart, bravery, and true artistry. He is Katniss' Jiminy Cricket. Her Rafikki. Her Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. (Yes these are analogies based on Disney movies, but I stand by them.) It's amazing how much he stayed with me from his first scene in The Hunger Games until the scene in Mockingjay after SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED and he tells Katniss, "I'm still betting on you." I was sobbing by that point. In fact I went back to reread in preparation for this post and had myself an ugly cry.

When I first read that my much-loved Hunger Games series was going to be turned into a movie I was nervous. I didn't want the books ruined but I was also eager to see all of my favorite characters come to life. Then I read that Suzanne Collins herself wrote the screenplay is very involved in the film making.  I decided then and there that I would give the process to God and eagerly anticipate the release of the first film fully trusting that as much as I love this story and these characters, their creator loves them just as much if not more and she wouldn't let Hollywood completely change them.

I was initially conflicted when Lenny Kravitz was cast into the role of Cinna mainly because he was not the Cinna in my imagination. I have fangirly feelings for Lenny that are completely separate from the way I feel about Cinna and I didn't feel right mixing the two.

So I had to process.

The more I thought about it, the more I decided that Lenny being cast could actually be a brilliant move. Since the story takes place in a dystopian society, all of our present day stereotypes are pretty much out the window.  I was so worried that because he's a "stylist" they would turn Cinna into an arm flailing, vest wearing, glitter spraying, catch phrase spouting, Jack McFarland-esque character and that would be a tragedy.  Think Chris Tucker in The Fifth Element or any of the hair stylists on the Real Housewives of Atlanta and you'll understand my fear. 

Lenny Kravitz is an artist. He is sexy, commanding, creative, funky, unconventional, and also incredibly masculine. I can't wait to see how he brings Cinna to life and I hope he rocks the crap out of it with the style and panache with which he does everything else.

I also hope that one day he'll want to marry me, let me wear one of his leather jackets complete with a pair of aviator shades, and live happily ever after in his beach house, but that is of course another story.

I am dying for this movie to come out! March 23rd can't get here fast enough!