The Hunger Games: Child Gladiators to Feed the Masses

The Hunger Games had a high expectation to live up to ever since its announcement to be made into a major motion picture. It succeeded with flying colors. The wildly popular series started with the publishing of the first novel The Hunger Games in 2008, about three years ago and has really “caught fire” for not only teen readers but also the adult masses. The storyline is engrossing, the writing style simple but appealing and something about the heroine draws the reader in. A word to the wise, read the book before you see the movie, some references might be harder to follow if you weren’t already familiar with the plot before you came. Even if you hadn’t read the series, it would be hard not to like The Hunger Games with its sadistic morals and all.

The movie opens in a one-roomed hut with Katniss hugging her little sister, Prim, who fears being picked to enter the dreaded Hugner Games, a game from which she would most likely not return. The odds are ever not in her favor. In the bleak not too distant world, Panem, there are thirteen districts ruled by one powerful, rich city called The Capitol. One president, Snow, controls everything. There, people, never want or thirst for anything and sport bizarre fashions in their luxury. The districts in comparison, are generally all around poor and working to no end for their next day’s food source, even when at times they neglect to receive it. At least this is the case in District Twelve, the home of the heroine, Katniss Everdeen, who’s sole hobby is hunting illegally to make ends meet. Sneaking into the forbidden forest daily, she joins her friend and hunting partner, Gale, two years older and very attractive. Angry and frustrated, he rails about the Capitol for hours at a time but while his hatred towards them is great, his need to feed his family is greater so he dares not complain in public.

As punishment for the rising up of the districts against the Capitol many years ago every child aged 12-18 is required to put their name in once every year to fight to the death against 23 other children from other districts. There is only one victor. Two “tributes” are chosen, one boy and one girl from each district. This year, Katniss’s little sister Prim is chosen, against all odds. Volunteering to take her sister’s place, Katniss makes history and a meaningful first impression on the Capitol citizens. Chosen as well is Peeta, the baker’s boy in her grade who had one exchange that changed Katniss’s life when they were both younger. Never trusting to begin with Katniss is forced to work with a boy she knows will have to die so that she can fulfill her promise to Prim and return alive. Her only hope is that she is not the one to kill him.

Gary Ross directs three “teenagers” in their star roles as characters not easily forgotten casting Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song) as Gale, Josh Hutcherson (Bridge to Teribithia) as Peeta, and Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) as Katniss. Originally, I had my doubts about Josh Hutcherson, having seen enough PG rated Disney movies with him as the lead to last a lifetime. I was also speculative as to whether he would fill the emotional capacity needed for Peeta’s way with words and utter selflessness. However, he proved more than satisfactory on screen as did all the main cast featuring Woody Harrelson (Zombieland) as the tributes’ drunken mentor and comic relief, Elizabeth Banks as the clueless Effie Trinket, and Stanley Tucci (Easy A) as the cheery TV interviewer. The cast is winning. With everyone contributing and playing their part to the best that could ever be hoped for. Hemsworth brings the eye candy, Lawrence contributes the emotional gravity, and Hutcherson, well he's Peeta, what more do you want?

James Newton Howard provided an excellent folksy score that matched the wilderness of the setting as well. However, glaring problems might include the cheap special effects, the lack of dialogue (or perhaps chemistry?) between Katniss and Peeta, the lackluster fighting scenes, obtrusive unfaithfulness to the books by way of loss of symbolism, and jagged jump cuts with messy edits back and forth making the viewer dizzy. Many details and characters were cut, some essential to continue the trilogy and I will be interested to see how the screenwriters compromise without them. Somehow, this adaption left out the urgency, the violence, and the intensity of not only fighting to stay alive but fighting to keep your identity as a contender in the Games.

The costumes were well done, the make-up of the Capitol population stayed true to the book’s description although some might describe it as overdone and gaudy. However, I am glad I saw this movie as soon as it hit theaters. At first sight, it did not disappoint. There are those avid fans who might see fault in the changes made and the symbols that were simply left out but hopefully those holes can be filled in the movie’s sequel, which I hear Lionsgate plans to make. Hopefully this time they can split it into two movies to include everything that is needed. Perfect cast, perfect location. If you read the books, definitely go see the film’s take on it. If you haven’t, shell out the ten dollars and see it anyway. The heart of the story is enough to blow your mind away.