Right film review time and this one is on the acclaimed sci-fi film The Hunger Games, based on the book by the author Suzanne Collins. So let's gie it a look...
OK so the story is set in the distant future in Panem, which was formerly North America, which has been ravaged by a civil war and left in a desolate state. The nation now consists of 12 districts which are kept under control by a corrupt and wealthy capitol that uses totaliltarian methods to keep the population in check, which is run by the ruthless President Snow (Donald Sutherland). As a punishment for the dark days (the nickname for the civil wear) each year a boy and a girl must be selected from all 12 districts, aged between 12 and 18 (who are known as tributes) for the annual Hunger Games, which is an event where the tributes are forced to fight each other to the death, with the last survivor winning the games and will be awarded wealth and fame. In the 12th district, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers for the games after her younger sister was initially selected, along with a boy named Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) who once helped Katniss.
Katniss and Peeta are taken to the Capitol and enroute they meet their mentor, Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) a former District 12 winner of the games, who is also a heavy drinker. Catniss and Peeta are taken to a training academy where they meet the other candidates for the games and Catniss displays her exceptional archery skills during the training. Catniss however stubbornly at first refuses to play ball and flaunt herself in a phoney way to the public in order to gain popularity and sponsors, which Haymitch insists is the only way they have a real chance to survive in the games as the public support could help influence their survival. However when the real games begin (which are televised and are set in a large forest) half the tributes are killed straight off as they try to run for a stockpile of weapons and equipment. Katniss manages to escape with a supply pack into the woods and uses her skills as a hunter and wilderness survivor to help her stay alive. However the other tributes form an alliance, including Peeta who they intend to use to find and kill Katniss as they believe she is their biggest threat. And this is where things soon go from bad to worse for Katniss who must try and survive out in the forest against the bloodthirsty tributes and harshness of the environment controlled by the Capitol.
The Hunger Games is an excellent sci-fi film which offers an engrossing albeit familiar concept of a dystopian future where the population is controlled by a totalitarian state, which echoes the themes of such TV sci-fi shows as Firefly and Blake's 7. It also borrows heavily on the gladiatorial themes as we even see the tributes in chariots as they arrive in the Capitol. You could also say it is a satire on reality TV in which the viewers witness the games being played out on live television with the mentors manipulating the situation behind the scenes. The characters are also well drawn with the strong yet vulnerable Katniss, who bravely volunteers for the games in place of her younger sister, Primrose, and has to use all her resolve and hunting skills to try and survive. Peeta also makes for a compassionate character who at first seems to be intent on playing the game and manipulating the crowds just so he can survive, but as the story progresses you see that he really cares about Katniss, who he soon falls for but his feelings remain unreturned. Haymitch makes for probably the best character in the story as he is an amusing, drunken and disaffected mentor but soon comes around and tries to use all his influence to keep his tributes alive.
So getting onto the performances they are excellent, particularly Jennifer Lawrence who is perfect in the role as Katniss, as she plays the part of a brave young woman who is thrown into a dangerous hostile world and shows nothing but defiance for the Capitol. Lawrence has plenty of good moments here, and one of my favourites is scene where she is getting marked for her skills in archery and she fires a poor arrow, missing the target, which causes some mocking laughter from the wealthy capitalists above. Then Katniss fires a perfect arrow into the centre of the targeted and no one is watching, so then she fires another arrow straight at an apple sitting up on a plate of flood close to Senece Crane, the gamemaker who looks startled and Katniss bows and says "thank you for your consideration!". And one of her other great moments include when she comforts the young tribute, Rue, as she is dying, and after she passes away, Katniss stands up and gives a signal to the people of Rue's District 11 who make the signal in return and they start a riot.
Josh Hutcherson also does a fine job as Peeta, Katniss's partner in the games who at first we suspect is just playing the game and her and as the games begins he flees into the forrest leaving Katniss alone. However later on he reveals his feelings for her and he insists that she should live and he helps to her survive as he sees her as the winner of the games. Josh's best scenes are generally with Katniss but one of his best is when he is interviewed on TV and he tells the presenter (Stanley Tucci) and he admits he has a crush on Katniss, much to her chagrin! Woody Harrleson is great in his role as Haymitch, the drunken mentor who promotes Katniss and Peeta and tries everything he can to help them by sending Katniss little cases of items to help her survival. Woody also typically get's some good lines scuh as when Katniss asks him "Where are you here then?" and he replies "for the refreshments!" and Peeta tries to take the drink off and Haymitch pushes him down saying "You spilled my drink!". Also later on after Katniss's interview he says to her "Nice dress sweetheart" and looks to his female chaperone, Effie who assumes he means her and says "not you".
Donald Sutherland is also great in his role as the ruthless president Snow who rules the capitol and the districts with an iron fist, as he coldly observes the Hunger Games and shows his disdain for Katniss's defiance. Sutherland's best line comes when he talks with the gamemaker, Senece Crane who says in regards to Katniss that "every one likes an underdog" and Snow replies "I don't!". Elizabeth Banks is quite amusing in her role as the prim and overly cheerful Effie Trinket who is more of a fawning lovie than anything else and often shows her disapproval for Catniss's rebelious nature. One scene that is an example of this is when Catniss stabs a knife into a table they are dining at Effie looks on in shock saying "Hey! That is Mahogany!". Stanley Tucci is also funny in his role as the TV presenter who wear a ridiculous outfit and a pony tail, Caesar Flickman, who interviews the tributes one by one. And finally Lenny Kravitz puts in a good performance as the fashion designer who makes Katniss's dress who gives her much encouragement throughout her training, which also shows Kravitz is a capable actor.
Getting on to the director, Gary Ross, who does an excellent job here with adapting the novel and bringing it to the big screen. The overall tone of the film is pretty grim but Ross also provides some moments of levity thanks to the colourful supporting cast and he keeps the suspense and action in the film going well. The film's music score by James Newton Howard is also worthy of note which is pretty good and has plenty of dramatic passages which perfectly suit the tone of the film.
So as for the flaws in the Hunger Games does it have any???? Yes well it has to be said if there is one thing that let's the film down slightly it is the pacing as the film at nearly two and a half hours is simply too long and does it drag somewhat. Some of the campish characters can also be a bit annoying such as Effie and the Edwardian periodic fashion seems just a bit out of place next to the modern clothes they have to wear out in the hunger games arena. Perhaps Collins is just taking the piss out of reality TV and how the Capitol makes a mockery out of the world and of reality itself as they are so corrupt and wealthy they don't have a clue, or more to the point care about the outside world.
Anyway despite the niggles, The Hunger Games is a compelling, albet quite grim sci-fi adventure film which is well worth checking out. In fact I have just seen the second one, Catching Fire, so I will do a post on that soon.
Till the next one, bye for now!
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