'The Hunger Games' - Hungry for more!
'The Hunger Games' is purported to be the next 'Twilight' smash series, however, it is smarter, better written, better acted and far more brutal than the 'Twilight' series. The novels from Suzzane Collins are a terrific mash-up of Richard Connell's 'The Most Dangerous Game', Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery' and the brutal Japanese film, 'Battle Royale' in which a class of children are dropped onto an island in a battle to the death (which I will review in my DVD section); with a nice dose of modern politics added in. While far from a literary classic, 'The Hunger Games' series are a welcome addition to the recent 'teen' fiction film adaptations. The film itself pushes the boundaries of it's PG-13 rating with brutal scenes of hand to hand combat carnage. While the deaths and scenes are largely bloodless (hence the PG-13 rating), they are intense enough to really consider bringing your grade schooler along as I am sure it will prompt more than a few nightmares.
Katniss Everdean (played with gusto by the very talented Jennifer Lawrence) is a natural survivor and not at all anything like the Bella character from the 'Twilight' series. Katniss has had to keep the family together and fed in the wake of the death of her father; dealing with a mother who is unresponsive and still in shock, Katniss hunts and provides. She lives in one of the 12 Districts that make up what seems to be a post apocalyptic United States and every year (in each District) the names of one male and one female are drawn for position in 'The Hunger Games' - a battle of the 24 for the last man or woman standing. In this case, the last child standing. The thought process being that by having 'The Hunger Games' the Capitol reminds the Districts of it's generosity as well as power.
When Katniss's sister is drawn, Katniss steps forward as a volunteer in order to spare her sister's life. Along with the male tribute Peeta (John Hutcherson), Katniss is swept away to the Capitol, forced from her dirt poor coal mining District, to compete in the games. While this type of story line has been done, redone and done some more (The Running Man, Battle Royale, Death Race 2000, Hard Target to name a few), director Gary Ross delivers a film that is thrilling, emotional and very powerful.
Most of the scenes are shot with a tight hand held camera which adds to the very real feeling of the film. After all, in this day and age of UFC Cage Match fighting, how far can some thing like 'The Hunger Games' be off? The film his loaded with fantastic supporting characters. From the drunken, yet wise mentor Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) to the game show like MC of Caesar Flickman (the always great Stanley Tucci) to even the very evil president played with quiet menace by Donald Sutherland; 'The Hunger Games' has just the right mix of what it needs to be a fantastic piece of film making.
But it is Lawrence who, as Katniss, brings the film to life. Oscar nominated for her role in 'Winter's Bone', Lawrence proves that she is a actress of note. She simply dominates the screen when she is on it - giving Katniss the grit and grace that we need to not only root for her, but believe she will survive (even if you have not read the books).
This is a 4 star start to what I hope is a very successful series. If you have not had a chance to read the books - I recommend them as well. They are a fairly quick and easy read, but teh will enhance your enjoyment of the film. This is one that is worthy of the big screen!