The Hunger Games (2012)
Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Part twisted entertainment, part government intimidation tactic, the Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains. Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. The world will be watching.
Video Reviews
Reviews
This movie was a very entertaining, think-about film. I enjoyed seeing it with my best friend, who happens to be a big fan of the series. As I watched, I was captured by Jennifer Lawarence's amazing portrayal of this strong, independent, Katniss Everdeen. My friend said that she thought the books were better, so I took the time to read them AFTER I watched the movie, and I thought they were obviously more descriptive and fun to read, but the movie made it come to life. This movie was bloody, yet satisfying.
After watching this worthless film I suggest that the definition of the word "pretentious" include--see "The Hunger Games." What we have here is the overused "Man is an animal to man" concept, wrapped up in a costume drama that trys way too hard to appear significant. And those costumes and makeup!!! Eeghads, it's a cross between punk, female impersonaters, and evil clowns. The plot is about as engaging as an evening with boring friends. I never felt drawn into the supposed deep emotion of the story. As a supposed indictment of an evil futuristic society, this is a joke! Compare it to "A Clockwork Orange" and "1984" and then try to tell me I'm wrong. This left me starving for a real movie, and I'm ever so glad that I saw it on an overseas trip and didn't pay for it.
I’m sure you’ve heard much discussion over “Team Peeta” and “Team Gale” and the phrase “the girl on fire” has been tossed around a lot. That’s right, now the literature phenomenon known as The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins has been packaged into a conveniently condensed movie. Now, I only wish I could say I enjoyed it….
The cast is rather impressive, with Jennifer Lawrence starring as Katniss, Josh Hutchinson as Peeta, and Liam Hensworth as Gale. In the book, Katniss lives in the small, poor district twelve, which is under the merciless control of the Capitol. Although she may be unhappy a lot of the time, in the book Katniss does have moments where she isn’t quiet or moody. In the movie, however, Jennifer Lawrence depicts her as a silent, sullen girl who lacks the ability to feel any emotions but sadness or rage. Depicting his character as a soft-spoken boy with no hope to win, Josh was far closer to his character. The love triangle between Peeta, Katniss, and Gale was very under-emphasized in the movie, more like a tiny detail than an essential part of the plot, as it is represented in the book.
As I mentioned before, the Capitol is the cruel ruler over all of the districts (twelve in total). Years ago, the districts tried to revolt, but failed, and ever since the capitol has held a tournament in which twenty-four children, two from each district, are placed in an arena. Killing everyone else is the object of the game, as well as avoiding the perils placed around you by the Gamemakers. Selected, Katniss and Peeta are sent to the capitol to fight. This plot is relatively grim, but is fast-paced and is filled with surprises that shock and startle any viewer. In the book, several sweet scenes between Katniss and Peeta lighten the mood a little. In the movie, the director omitted some of my favorite parts, just for the sake of time. This leads to a darker movie, which I though was slightly depressing. I think that the parts he kept weren’t all necessary, and parts such as the sleeping medicine scene and characters such as her beauty team, are far more important to the overall quality of the movie than the multiple shots of her hunting in the woods, and walking in search of water, and sleeping in a tree.
In the Capitol, the scenery astonishes, with lots of outlandish sleek chrome elements with pops of bright, feathery color in the costumes of the residents. This is hardly like how the capitol is described in the book, but I feel that the director did a better job here in creating an extremely interesting setting that leaves the audience carefully examining all the quirky details in each scene. This was probably what the director did best.
I think that this movie will be most enjoyed by those who haven’t read the book, because for me, it came nowhere close to the extremely high expectations I had due to such a wonderful book. By itself, I thought this was a good, if not great movie, but for those who read and loved the book as much as I did, be prepared for a letdown.
It's nice to see a movie that is original. With so many movies coming out that just re-use the same basic premise it's refreshing to see something that is more out of the box. In American movies today it seems like few movies show kids being killed. I guess it's understandable why but in real life that does happen. Kids killing each other is something that many people aren't going to like about this movie and is going to turn off a lot of viewers. The ending left something to be desired even though it was pretty obvious that it could only end the way that it did. They did leave it open for sequels which is always a good thing with a decent movie. 7/10
I will start by saying I have NOT read the books, so I went into the theatre without that background knowledge.
I feel like while the premise had great potential, the film itself didn't live up to it. There was some character development, but not enough to make me care about any character other than the two main characters. There were hints of this and hints of that, but then the writer never went back and fleshed those hints out (ie. how did Katniss learn how to hunt etc, Donald Sutherland's and Woody Harrelson's characters).
I also didn't like the part where the rules of the game changed. I realize this may be part of the books, but to start changing the game at mid-point made me wonder how this world has kept any cohesion up to that point? Specifically, if you start changing the rules to one of (if not THE) most important elelment of keeping order and peace, then cohesion is lost and you have anarchy and chaos. What this the first time they changed the rules???
Also a strong suggestion NOT to take anyone under the age of 15 or 16 years.........even then, you will need to make a judgement call as there was violence towards elementary-aged children.
I was entertained, but left with a lot of questions and the feeling like there could've been more. (Luckily, I went to the cheap theatre!)
Deliberately chose not to experience the book but could not resist delving into the film; the seismic popularity surpassing all expectations. Jennifer Lawrence, as "Katniss Everdeen" is riveting and perfectly cast as the tough, savvy sixteen-year-old heroine; encapsulating the attributes of the mythical Diana, goddess of the hunt.
Suzanne Collins's book has become a Bible for young adults, especially girls, but the eerie, numbing premise I found profoundly disturbing; a futuristic, "Alice in Wonderland" universe where there is a yearly contest comprised of two contestants (boy/girl) from twelve districts; 24 children who are "reaped" , lottery style, from their starved villages, placed in a manipulated environment where only one will emerge victorious. Children killing children, "Lord of the Flies" on steroids.
Ms. Collins's main inspiration is the mythological tale of "Theseus and the Minatour" (monster with the head of a bull and body of a man); the King of Athens, every nine years sends to the King of Crete (to appease his lust for war), seven Athenian boys and girls to be fed to the Minatour; Prince Theseus of Athens puts and end to this horrific travesty.
If you view "The Hunger Games" as a gruesome fairy tale (historically we've had some "Grimm" ones, "Hansel and Gretel") is is easier to digest, even contemplate. The Orwellian overtones: the "Tributes" reminiscent of reality shows are under constant surveillance; controlled, exploited by a technologically sophisticated command center and watched by the masses; sickening acceptance of the sport by the populace. Survival rests not only with the fittest but the most cunning.
Stanley Tucci as the mad -hatter talk show host, "Caesar Flickerman" is humorously grotesque as he interviews the 24 death disciples. Lawrence has her best and most beautiful moments during these scenes. The freakishly, cartoonish, costumed and made- up cast include: Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, a recognizable Donald Sutherland as the stoic "President" of the Metropolis; missing was Johnny Depp who has to be mourning (along with Helena Bonham Carter) his exclusion.
The killing is handled sensitively; rooting for the star-crossed lovers (Katniss and "Peeta" Josh Hutcherson)) from District 12; with the exception of a lovely sprite- like contestant our empathetic genes are not provoked.
A fear that youth will be anesthetized, immune to violence; a game that should be locked in the imagination, never to be actualized, a hunger, never to be gratified.
TWO & 1/2 STARS!!
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One word... WAUW....
This movie is so good...
So UNIQUE!
Even though the movie was very long, I wasnt bored for one second.
I even saw the movie 3 times in the theatre!!!
I give this movie a 8.5 out of 10
"the hunger games is a great movie for teens. What i really liked about it is that it followed the book a lot. They had the best cast ever. Rue did awesome at the part where she died. i cried in the book and the movie when that happened. i mean everything was amazing.l thanks Suzanne Collins!"
Pretty good movie! Even though President Snow looked REAAALLY weird like a mall santa, it was good (lol). Everyone should see it, especially people who read the book (which IS everyone). If you liked the books though, another good book series is Cirque Du Freak (but the movie for that series sucks).
This movie could have been really great, it is really great if all you had to do was listen to it. The filming was so jittery and fast that you couldn't see what was going on more than half the time. I don't understand how that is supposed to enhance the action of the film. I really would have liked it if it was easier to watch, but I came away with a real headache, it literally made my eyes hurt. Too bad, I won't be looking forward to the others.
