12A
Directed by Gary Ross
Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth
Behold, the time is finally upon us. The long awaited release
of The Hunger Games was today, and as promised Amateur Reviews was there at the
first showing. In the first 60 seconds the story is set and the audience learn
of the wealthy (who live in The Capitol) and the impoverished (who live in 12
districts). They live under rule as a punishment from some uprising in the
past. Set in this futuristic North America, The Capitol select a boy and a girl
from each district to participate in a televised fight to the death: The Hunger
Games.
Based on the supremely successful series of books by Suzanne
Collins, The Hunger Games are teen staples on booklists world wide. Although,
this is more than an adaptation and this is where Gary Ross proliferates where
others have failed. Instead of merely retelling the book on screen, the film is
as original and innovative as the book. Similarly, unlike a whole load of
recent adaptations, this movie doesn’t rely on pragmatic knowledge from the
book to make sense.
Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) is our heroine of the piece. Lawrence
pulls from her character in Winters Bone and manages to portray a young individual
who is brave enough to do anything for her family and is not scared to get her
hands dirty. There is little sweetness in Katniss’ character and it is perfect
for the role. Her onscreen chemistry with Peeta (Hutcherson) will set teenage
hearts a flutter as he is more sweet and incapable than her. Woody Harrelson is
fantastic as the pair’s mentor and he brings some lighter moments in what would
otherwise be an intensely nerve racking experience.
The majority of the action takes place in the arena where
the Games are played. It’s a massive forest where the children essentially hunt
each other equipped with bows, arrows and knives. The violence is handled well,
the quick camera work flashes across the action and never gives you long enough
to realise quite what is happening. However, the film may have benefitted from
being a 15, giving Ross license to choreograph some more gory sequences which
would have definitely enhanced the terrifying situation Katniss finds herself
in.
Although The Hunger Games is clearly aimed at a teenage
market, it is definitely a lot smarter and a lot more powerful than you may
first give it credit for. We see The Capitols puppeteers controlling the Game
and inducing certain situations which is a chilling thought on top of the
already barbaric concept. You question whether the poor really should do what
they’re told when the rich show no regard to the consequences despite the whole
games being senseless and pointless in the first place. What’s more, it will
genuinely make you think: would I watch it? The Hunger Games is exceptional,
and for once, lives up to the hype.
Rating: 8
Check out the trailer!
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