Release Date: Mar 23, 2012
Runtime: 2 hr. 22 min.
Director: Gary Ross
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Wes Bentley.
In the future, North America is in shambles and all that remains is the nation of Panem. As punishment for a past rebellion, the Capitol calls upon the 12 districts to take part in an annually-televised event that features the survival of the fittest. Hence, one girl and one boy from each district must battle to the death until a sole victor is declared. This, is the 'Hunger Games.' Based on the wildly-popular novel by Suzanne Collins and directed by Gary Ross, the next phenomenon of teenage literature is anything but cheesy. Part dystopian thriller and part coming-of-age, "Games" is a concrete adaptation, if ever there was one. Whereas the violence itself is noticeably suppressed (for rating purposes,) the bulk of the material remains intact, producing a cohesive story that even novices could follow. Furthermore, the casting is hands-down stellar. Upon which her shoulders lies the weight of the movie, Jennifer Lawrence embodies the strong-willed heroine, Katniss Everdeen, with simple grace and precision. Her ability to attract empathy, while playing a figure of empowerment, is reason enough to root for the underdog, as well as cultivate an already burgeoning career. Also notable are Elizabeth Banks and Stanley Tucci who play the affable personnel from the Capitol. Their over-the-top attire and eccentric behavior represent the colorful trademarks of the wealthy and help invigorate the bleak surroundings that are the districts. Alas, with such a high-profile film comes inescapable scrutiny — the obvious being the comparison made to Japanese film "Battle Royale." While they have their differences, the identical premise is hard to ignore, and unfortunately, lessens the value of the experience within the arena. In any event, "The Hunger Games" is a solid start to a forthcoming franchise. The battle may have been won but the games are only just beginning.
Rating: 4 stars
Rating: 4 stars
Take away the hullabaloo surrounding the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling young adult book and what you have is an absorbing film with a dire premise that stands pretty much on its own. Lawrence is also the stand-out here as Katniss and makes her seem like a real person rather than just another book character brought to life on film. Good review Jess.
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