Written by Suzanne Collins, Gary Ross, and Billy Ray
Directed by Gary Ross
If you’ve lived under a rock, then you probably haven’t heard of this young-adult series from author Suzanne Collins. That’s okay, go out, read the book(s), then come back. The rest of us will wait. Don’t worry, it won’t take long. The books are that good, and yes, the movie pretty much is too.
For the rest of us who have read the books, I can assure you that the movie The Hunger Games will not disappoint you. Yes, there are things glossed over in the movie that are given more depth in the book and certain plot points that have been changed for the sake of expediency, but otherwise, it is very true to Collins’ original story.
I actually first saw The Hunger Games in the theater – a rarity for me. After reading the books I was looking forward to the large screen for the scenes of the Games themselves. This was a good and bad decision, because I will give you my one major complaint about the film first, and it might have been exacerbated by the IMAX screen: the camera work. This was done in the style of Lost with the jerky camera work that often left me unable to process a scene and occasionally on the brink of a headache. I would know there was a fight happening, but could I really grasp what was going on? No. In IMAX, this was only worse.
The story, however, is good and is true to the books. In the future, there has been a rebellion quelled. As penance for the rebellion, each of the twelve North American districts must send one of their teenage daughters and sons to an annual Games in the Capitol. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) lives in District Twelve. When her sister Prim (Willow Shields), at the youngest age for selection into the Games, is chosen, Katniss volunteers to go in her place. The other selection from her District is Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), the baker’s son. They leave their friends and family, including Gale (Liam Hemsworth) who is a love interest of Katniss’.
If you need to know more than that, well, read the books or see the film. That’s the basis for the plot of the three books.
The costuming and cinematography are beautiful.  I loved the contrast of District 12 which is in Appalachia with the bright, vivid colors of the Capitol. The citizens of this comfortable world look like clowns most of the time, but it picked up on that detail from the books so wonderfully and brought it to life.
The acting is great. Jennifer Lawrence is perfect as Katniss. She’s got the right amount of beauty to be appealing while at the same time giving everyone a caustic edge that comes from living on the edge of survival. It doesn’t make her an inherently likable person to those she needs to gain favor from, which are the sponsors in the Games. For this, Peeta steps in. Josh Hutcherson is excellent as someone who’s somewhat soft-spoken, but knows how to smooth a situation over when he has to and turn on the charm. He cultivates those around him and gains the favor for their District that Katniss seems unable to. Yet there can only be one winner in the Games….
My second, more minor complaint comes here. In the books I had a better feel that Peeta somehow developed this personality from having to smooth things over at home. We get a few glimpses of his interaction with his mother, but not much is really shown to get the feel for the contrasts in his awkwardness and occasional shyness and his ability to turn on the charm. The same is true for Katniss’ relationship with Cinna (portrayed by Lenny Kravitz). There’s just not enough time to see the strong bond of friendship that develops between the tribute and her designer, although the audience is expected to take it for granted. If you’ve read the books, it’s not a problem, but seeing just a few moments of interaction on the screen it’s a bit more difficult to comprehend.
I also thought Woody Harrelson was wonderful as the only other winner of the Games ever to come out of District 12. His Haymitch was perfect. I had no trouble envisioning him for the role when I heard he was portraying the character, and he did not disappoint at all. Again, I thought we didn’t get to know as much about him as I would have liked, but with a movie running as long as this one is already, it’s understandable.
There is more in The Hunger Games that is building towards what will happen in the next two films in the series than there was in Collins’ first novel. This is the reason Donald Sutherland got more screen time as President Snow than I expected him to have. It’s handled fairly well and will really keep the audience on the hook for what’s to come next. I would recommend reading the series before seeing the film, but if you haven’t you can still enjoy this wonderful film. I had all the “kids” with me, from age 11 to 21 and they all enjoyed it immensely. It’s really a great film for the whole family and will provide for plenty of discussion material. See it together.
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Categories: Movie Reviews
This film always brings tears to my eyes (even merely thinking about little Rue, of course, always does…), and I think they did an excellent job in casting the actress who portrays Katniss, and I was surprised when I read the books to see that the films gave President Snow far more screen time than I had expected, but it does make sense. Now I want to read the books again and see the films again immediately!! And in English! The first time I saw the films was in French, and it really loses something when not seen (heard, actually) in the original.
I watched the movies again coming back from the UK and they kept my attention way more than I was expecting for something I’d seen so many times. They are adapted so well.
Yes, they really are. And (sadly) still so relevant, as well. That is what gets me. That and the fact that an American writer, writing a novel that has nothing to do with Asia, except in terms of global metaphor, has managed to provide symbols for peace movements resisting tyranny all the way across the world, in Myanmar (Burma?). That they were using the District 13 symbol was incredible (and also, I wonder why the PeaceKeepers do not attact the crowd when Katiniss first volunteers for District 12 in this book, and they give her the District 13 salut, unless I am recalling it incorrectly?). So many incredible things about this series. And I am relieved that it was so well adapted from the books.
I didn’t remember that detail! Excuse to watch them again!
Ah, I remember now! It’s explained in the books (actually, in the third book, I think, when they replace the head Peacekeeper and whip -oh, so that is the second book,), and is also the reason that the military always rotates command officers out of units after a year or two, to prevent over familiarity developing with various parties, but you see part of it back in book one, as Katniss explains that she was starving to death because she refused to follow the trend and go get food from the Head Peacekeeper, who had been in Distric 12 for many years, and would feed girls for a small fee, privately. So the guys with guns there in District 12 were almost friends with her, since she and her father before her had been in the habit of selling game meet to them in the Market. Also the reason that the old troops are all replaced in Book two.
I have all four films, but I never have the time to sit down and watch them. Someday….
There’s an additional prequel as well that is pretty good.
On the bright side, the few times I tried to watch this film, I liked what I managed to see before I fell asleep. (I usually chose times at night that weren’t optimal to watch feature films, like 11 PM or so.
That was an exceptionally well written overview of the Hunger Games. I saw the movies but I have not read the books. I might do that. Thank you for an inspirational and very helpful review.
Thank you so much!