The Hunger Games

Welcome to Panem! 

The first film in this greatly anticipated dystopian trilogy doesn't disappoint. 

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks & Stanley Tucci
Dir: Gary Ross
Writers: Gary Ross, Billy Ray (Suzanne Collins - Novel)

Ready, Aim...

What's it all about?
Set in the not too distant future, what was once North America, now named Panem, consists of 12 districts of varying levels of poverty, with an additional dictator district, the Capitol, where all the big-wigs (literally) reside. The story begins in the poorest area of District 12, where we meet Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) who is willing to break the law to go hunting in the forrest with her best friend Gale (Liam Hemsworth) to provide for her mother and sister - thankfully, she is very nifty with a bow and arrow, a talent proves very useful both now and later.


To maintain the current 'peace-times' and prevent war in Panem, a sacrificial (and to the Capitol, entertaining) annual event takes place: the Hunger Games. One boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 is selected at random from each of the twelve districts to fight to the death in an arena whilst the nation looks on... and there is only one victor: the one who survives. In the year of the 74th Hunger Games, young Primrose Everdeen is selected from District 12, but protective elder sister Katniss volunteers in her place. A kind baker's son, Peeta Melark (Josh Hutcherson) is also selected from their district. The film then follows Katniss and Peeta as they are transported to the glamourous Capitol for training and preening (with excellent turns of Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks as their mentors) before being thrust into the wooded arena to fight for their lives against 22 other youngsters. 


Worth a watch?
I feel that the initial comparison of the film to the Twilight series is a bit of an insult - yes, they are both based on popular teen fiction and star some beautiful up-and-coming talent, but for me, that's where the similarities end. Unlike the bland, slow plot based around a stroppy, sappy teenage girl who cries every time her vampire boyfriend leaves the room, The Hunger Games is fast-paced and engaging from the start, and Lawrence is brilliant as the stoic heroine who you can really get behind. She is resourceful and compassionate, but still believable, as are the other competitors in the arena, one of whom I actually shed a tear for when they died. I also have to give Stanley Tucci (one of my favourite actors) a mention - he is brilliant as Caesar Flickerman: Capitol celebrity, TV personality and the compere for the Games. I love his dry wit, obliviousness and his big blue hair!


Let down?
Some criticised director Gary Ross's use of shaky hand-held cameras in the arena as they distract from the action and subject of the scene. At some points it is effective, but at some times you do just want to shout, "Hold still a minute!". Understandably, one of the main reasons for this technique was to make the violence less graphic and give the film to 12A certificate distributers wanted: Hollywood is all about the big bucks. I think Hunger Games would have been an even better film if the violence had been accentuated, not quite to a Battle Royale level, but a steady hand and leaving in the blood that had to be digitally removed may have helped. I also think that for the benefit of those who haven't read the books, the background of Panem and the Hunger Games could have been explained in a little more detail.


So overall...
When a film is as hyped as The Hunger Games was, I always feel I shouldn't get my hopes too high - that's what ruined the last Harry Potter instalment for me. However, in this case, the hype was right! Hunger Games is a great cinematic adaptation of an equally fantastic book and I cannot wait to watch it again when it comes out on DVD. I am also eagerly anticipating the follow-up, Catching Fire (I can't wait to see who they cast as Finnick - Zac Efron or Armie Hammer please) and I expect we will be seeing a lot more of Jennifer Lawerence and co. on the big screen from now on. Happy Hunger Games! 

• Lives up to expectation 2/2
• Scenery/Effects 2/3
• Eye Candy 2/2
• Quality of Acting 2/3
• Plot  4/5
• Quality of film within it's genre: Drama 4/5 , Science Fiction & Fantasy 4/5

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