Dude! The Hunger Games movie was so good! I’d read in a few reviews that the critics thought it dragged in parts, but I didn’t feel that way at all. My eyes were glued the entire time. I thought it moved at a quick clip from start to finish, and with a few exceptions, stays true to the spirit of the books.
I do think director Gary Ross had to sacrifice some character development to move the story along, so I think it helps in this case to have read the first book beforehand, or at least it might make it more enjoyable to have some of that back story going in.
Oh! And Lenny Kravitz rocked Cinna’s gold eyeliner out! Believe you me, I had my torch and pitchfork with me, and I was ready to use ’em if that detail had been cut.
My own golden eyeliner held up like a champ, yay! I was afraid I’d lose it there for a second when I got teary-eyed in the scene with Rue, but lo, it even lasted through that. 🙂
Totally different than what I experienced with Lancôme’s new liners earlier this week…
I think it was Tuesday; I remember because I’d woken up early that morning feeling emotional and moody.
I call those my “orange alert” days, and I tend to reach for waterproof makeup at those times, especially when the tricks I usually use to soothe my inner savage beast don’t work.
So, I was getting ready in front of my bathroom mirror and thought I’d give a couple of Lancôme’s Liner Design Long Wear Calligraphy Gel Liners a try.
Swatches of Indigo Darling (left) and Violet Stylista (right)
The $24.50 liners are available in 10 shades and are supposed to be smudge-proof and waterproof. Sounded perfect at the time.
I applied a thick line of Indigo Darling, an intensely pigmented, smooth blue, along the upper lash line of my left eye, and shimmery purple Violet Stylista on my right. Then, I went about my daily business, doing my best not to spontaneously cry.
And I did a pretty decent job, too (save a few tears here and there). Sometimes, I guess I’m tougher than I give myself credit for.
This liner, however, that’s a different story.
Now, I like my gel liners sturdy and tough, like the MAC Fluidlines (my favorites), which last all day long on me and don’t move for nothin’ — not tears, sweat, or likely not even a fake rainstorm engineered by Seneca Crane and his games makers behind the area.
But Indigo Darling and Violet Stylista struggle with wear time on me, and they buckle in the face of a few tears. By halfway through the day, much of their pigments have already transferred up into my crease, and by the end of the day, the colors have faded significantly.
It’s a shame, too, because I really like both of these colors and how smooth they feel… Guess I’ll be sticking to my MAC Fluidlines for now.
PRICE: $24.50 each
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Lancome counters and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: C
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S.
Crystal says
Thats too bad about the liners that Indigo Darling looks so pretty! I hope the movie brightened up the end of your week! I can’t wait to see the movie. I’ll drag my husband to see it next week:)
Karen says
Hi Crystal,
Get your guy to read the book first if he hasn’t already! 🙂
Will you be doing a Hunger Games inspired look when you go?
Kim says
See? I’m so weak – I just had to know what you thought of the movie!! 🙂 Thanks for the head’s up on Rue. If you were sniffling, I’m sure I’ll have a Black Beauty meltdown. Now I’ll be prepared!
What a bummer about the liners. I really wanted to like them since they had Calligraphy in the title.
Karen says
I looked over at El Hub right after that scene and even he looked teary eyed. Definitely wear the waterproof mascara and bring tissues.
Sunny @ Mostly Sunny says
Eeeee an eyeliner that wouldn’t hold up? Thanks but no thanks! That’s like THE criteria for a good eyeliner!
I’ve GOT to go see the movie on Sunday! Still haven’t decided what makeup I’ll wear or if I’ll actually wear any. I cried at some point reading the book (I’m not going to spoil it for people who haven’t read it), and I suspect I’ll cry for the same part of the movie. Wouldn’t want to cry my contacts out (I usually only wear makeup when I wear contact lenses). That’s not a good idea…
(PS I’m posting this again because I got some kind of error message after pressing “submit comment,” and I can’t see my comment. If the original one pops up, I’m sorry for spamming you! xx
Karen says
Have fun when you go on Sunday and leave early for the theater so you can get good seats.
Happy Friday!
gio says
What a shame about the liners. The colors are so pretty!
Karen says
They are really pretty!
Shannon says
You’ve convinced me to hold off on the movie until I read the book! Do you recommend seeing it in theaters, or would living-room viewing be alright (i.e., do I have more than a month to read the book, lol)?
Karen says
I think it’s a theater movie, for sure! Especially because of the scenes in the area…
The book is a really fast read. You could easily get it done in one weekend.
Sara says
FOR SURE. i read catching fire in one day, a soild 8 hours or so. nonstop marathon session and SO WORTH IT!
Marian says
Oh oh….I bought tickets to see the movie tomorrow and haven’t read the book. I’m taking my daughter who has read it. Will I know what’s going on?
Karen says
Hi Marian,
Oh you totally will, but I think that when you know the full reason why the characters are doing what they’re doing, the story becomes richer. They had to do a lot of summarizing to move the plot forward.
Adrienne says
You know, I hadnt noticed smudging or transferring with the black, but I’m wearing the teal today (gorrrgeous color!) and it’s holding up fine on me on the upper lash line, but its darn hot in the store today, and I’m noticing a bit of transfer on my brow/ crease where they hit it when my eyes are open :/ I still love the pigmentation and the fact that i only need one line for opaque color, but I’ll have to avoid these on hot summer days
Karen says
Hmm, that’s interesting to know about the black shade. Maybe I’ll give that one a chance. What other colors have you tried?
Happy Friday, btw. 🙂
Adrienne says
Only those two so far, though I should be getting Indigo in the mail anytime soon 🙂 I think these liners exist in opposite land… I have oiiiiily eyelids that eat through any and everything. Seriously, If yOu could copy it and market it, it would make Lancôme bifacils look like water in comparison, lol! And Ive had good luck with these compared to other liners, the black performs same as Fluidline, and the Teal did smudge, but same amount as Urban Decay 24/7 and Tarina Tarintino liners do on me, and its still at full color now after 11 hours on me. Maybe the colors vary, which is frustrating because,  at the price, really they should all be made to perform similarly, and they shouldn’t be smudging anywhere they please!
Next time you’re by a Lancôme counter, give the black or the Teal a whirl and test drive them for a day, I’ll try one of the colors you have next time I get a chance, now I’m curious!
Adrienne says
Also, happy Friday right back atcha 🙂
Kat says
Oh I just noticed your comment! Is the teal a different formula? I just looked at mine and it doesn’t have the same name as Karen reviewed.
Adrienne says
The teal I used is in the same formula as the ones Karen has, they were released just a little while ago with our spring collection. The teal is called “Dress Up Teal”, they come in little square silver boxes. Really we usually refer to them by “liner design” as opposed to their big long name with “calligraphy” in it, so maybe it’s not featured prominently on the box, I’m not sure…
This is the product Karen reviewed and that I have used:
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P306406&categoryId=C15350
I’m thinking maybe the quality varies with the colors, which is a real shame. I’m glad you like the teal though, I was rocking it today with shimmery gold eyes and coral lips, and the color is just lovely! As of today, my counter hasn’t gotten the brighter blue in yet, but I’m really excited for that, and there will be an emerald green too!!
Kat says
Hi Adrienne! Yeah mine just says “liner design” on the bottom sticker and the box was discarded months ago…I’m easily confused so I appreciate you clearing that up for me 🙂 The teal is so pretty, too bad there are wear issues with some of them. I haven’t been out in hot, humid weather while wearing it so my wear experience may change. Thanks for replying!
Adrienne says
No problemo 🙂 With cosmetic companies seemingly endlessly releasing new collections, reformulations, repackagings, new colors, renamed colors, replacement products, etc, it can be easy to get confused!
Maria says
I’m so excited for the movie. I have 17.5 and 13.5 y/o boys in addition to my 3 y/o son. The 13.5 y/o is an avid reader and I’ve been trying to convince him for over a year to start this series and he’s always refused because he’s into another series of books that has soooo many books it’s insane. Last night he got into major trouble over schoolwork and I forced him to the bookshelf to pick any other book than his fav’s for his 30 min. mandatory daily school reading and he started the Hunger Games LOL He liked it and we’re going to see it Sunday! I was a bit perturbed and a lot happy. So now (after reading your review), I’m not sure what to think of how he’ll take it in, but we’re going because they want to see it and I have to see it! BTW, as a side-note, I read to my 17.5 y/o every single night from the day I brought him home because I wanted him to love books and I’m very animated as a reader to my kids, and he loved it. When my 2nd one was born I just didn’t read like that anymore, it was hard to keep up. Guess what?? The 17.5 y/o hates reading- and I mean HATES reading!!! So with number 3, reading is a sometimes thing, I like to read to him but it’s when one of us wants. Anyway, I digress…
Did you try adding shadow over top of the liners (to make them last) and if not, was it because that defeats the purpose of getting them for the color in which case, lets just go with MAC since Fluidlines are cheaper and better?
Patty says
I’ve been seriously thinking of trying the Lancome gel liners and even was looking at them just last night on their web site, but don’t think I’ll bother now. I want my eyeliner to stay on without getting all smudgy.
Kat says
I was surprised by this review, but now that I think about it I’m positive the Lancome gel eyeliner I have (in a GORGEOUS teal) doesn’t have “calligraphy” in it anywhere so it’s probably a different formula. The eyeliner I have lasts all day, and I have oily eyelids. Shame, these colors are so pretty! The Lancome salesperson said they’re coming out with an electric blue (!!) in the same formula that I purchased, haven’t checked back though (it’s been a couple of months).
MelodyJ says
I went to see the movie today. Didn’t read the books yet. I had no problem understanding what was going on. I will read the books later to get more details on what I saw in the movie.
Yes, I had tears in my eyes too. I mean I had to really fight not to have an all out cry. My brother said he got teary eyed also. Bring tissues.
Isolde says
I was curious about these too. Glad to hear I can stick with MAC. Shame tho, they had some pretty exciting colours.
Swatch And Learn says
I agree with you, Karen. I though that the movie was fast-paced. They did a good job of including all the highlights from the book, however, I wished that they would’ve went into more detail about Katniss’ friendship with Rue. In the movie, they skimmed through it – it was more emotional in the book.
Jessica says
I have to disagree about this movie! I don’t mean to sound offensive, but I believe it’s only enjoyable for teenage girls, and the adults who are obssessed with teen fiction. The plot had a lot of issues, some parts were very fast paced and others dragged on for so long they had me glancing at my watch every few minutes praying for it to be over. I know the tight, shaky cam shots were there so we couldn’t see the violence clearly to keep the pg-13 rating, but it was so uncomfortable to watch. Unless you thoroughly enjoyed the book, I suggest skipping this movie.