So, Xoe's blog post got me thinking...

PeonyPumps

Who would you have recast in the Hunger Games? 

I always read a book first and then have completely different views of characters in my head, and while we haven't actually gotten out to see the movie yet (sad panda), just from the commercials I know there are a few I was totally thrown off by their casting. 

jacksmom119

Peeta! Not sure who I would have cast but the kid that plays him is just all wrong. I can't get myself to cheer for him to win katniss over!

PeonyPumps

Yeah, Peeta is the number one character that didn't fit.  I thought he should have been bigger and bulkier.  Maybe like a less funny Ryan Reynolds or Paul Walker type?  But those two don't do him justice either.  I think the body type of Kellan Lutz would work but not his face.  You know?

 I also really thought that they should have cast a Fran Drescher type (someone unknown) in the One For the Money movie.  I never went to see it because Katherine Heigl SO was not the right choice and I couldn't stand to let my love of the books go down the drain because of the wrong person cast for the main role. 

RissKay

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riley_Finn

If he were still the age for this movie, I would've cast him. This is basically who I saw as Peeta.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_Wilde 

This is who I saw in my head for Katniss. Of course, not all done up like she is often times, but it's who I saw. Either her or the girl who played Juno. (Sarcastic character aside, the physique is what I was thinking of)  

I would've recast a LOT of people..... /shakes head. But, I'm an amateur actor myself, so I'm a little more picky than some people.  

However, that being said, I don't completely HATE the cast they put together. What I had a bigger problem with was key elements left out of the movie. The Mockingjay pin? Peeta's leg at the end?  /sigh. I'm all for leaving out LITTLE details to make the movie a good length. However, things like those two parts were PIVOTAL to me as a reader. 

chrissymazer

I agree that they guy who played Peeta wasn't exact match physically to what I had in my mind the way he played him was spot on.

On the other side, the best cast characters for me were Woody Harrelson (!) and Donald Sutherland!  I didn't care for the woman who played Effie at all.

this decaf life

I thought Peeta would be bigger. Beefy even - not necessarily out of shape but i had pictured him as a much bigger guy. 

xoexpat

It seems like everyone I've talked to is in agreement on Peeta's lack of Peeta-ness in the movie.  I even thought the guy they cast as Gale would have made a better Peeta (if he were blond).  The Riley Finn guy mentioned in a PP would have worked too.  

Why did they do this!? Bleccch.  I was pumped for the movie but found the book to be way better (no big shock there, but I was still hoping for more from the movie). Donald Sutherland and Rue were the best cast characters for me.