Movie Review: Lionsgate's "The Hunger Games"

Motion Picture Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 142 minutes

Grade: ★★★★★

“May the odds be ever in your favor.”

Movie Review: Lionsgate's "The Hunger Games" 1

Photo cr: Murray Close. Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen and Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne

If you haven’t read The Hunger Games novel before venturing out to see the film, here’s a short summary of what to expect. The gray dismal world of 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), the baker’s son who joins her in the games, and Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), Katniss’ best friend, is decimated when Katniss volunteers to take her sister Prim’s (Willow Shields) place as a tribute (a 12 to 18-year-old male and female chosen to do the honors of representing their district) in the Hunger Games. What are these games, you ask? A competition endorsed by President Snow (Donald Sutherland) where a lottery is held, selecting children who must fight it out to the death leaving one sole winner. The basis of the Hunger Games—good ol’ fashioned entertainment. Who’s entertainment? Definitely not that of the districts where the children are taken from. The real purpose of the Hunger Games is control the population with fear so they won’t devise another uprising against the Capitol (the major city in the newly reformed US), but President Snow admits the purpose of having a lone victor is to give citizens “hope.” Really? The sadness and desperation oozes through the big screen as everyday life for the occupants of District 12 is revealed. This is done expertly as you see the difference between the outlying districts and the Capitol once Katniss and Peeta travel from home to the Capitol. The colors, grandeur and excess are what stand out most because people have access to everything possible there—food, showers, happiness.

I just have to come out and say it: I didn’t love this movie. I liked it, thought it was good in putting across the substance of Suzanne Collins’ novel, but felt some major points were left out. I wanted to love this film with a desperation you can’t understand because of my love for the novel. Sometimes things don’t always work out the way we want. The Hunger Games is entertaining and has the beginnings of greatness, yet it falls short during the Katniss/Peeta moments. I wanted more from their budding relationship. The camaraderie from the book isn’t there and the two of them don’t feel like friends when they should. Although these two characters are separated by class distinctions, they should have some common ground on which to build a realistic friendship.

Movie Review: Lionsgate's "The Hunger Games" 2

Photo credit: Murray Close

The best parts of the movie are the scenes shot in District 12 where Katniss, Peeta and Gale live; the intimate moments between Katniss and Cinna (Lenny Kravitz), her fashion guru for the games, when he’s giving her the support she needs to get through the melee surrounding the games; and an emotional scene during the games when Katniss realizes she can’t save Rue (Amandla Stenberg), a tribute from District 11 who reminds Katniss of Prim. Stenberg totally captures my heart during the few scenes she’s in. Great job on the part of the casting department!

What I find strange is the chemistry between Katniss and Peeta—it just isn’t there. Katniss has better rapport with Cinna than Peeta probably because Kravitz has rock star charm that oozes through his characterization of Cinna. He’s excellent and rocks his gold eye shadow like nobody else! I love Elizabeth Banks’ portrayal of Effie as well. She comes across exactly as I pictured her in the novel and intrigues me as a potential ally for Katniss. Then there’s the games director, Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley). His intricately shaped beard captures your attention, as well as his ease and joy in being a game master. He pisses you off quite a bit, so be prepared. Also, I would have been happier had Hemsworth been Peeta instead of Gale. He has the body type and look Collins associates with Peeta. Neither is Hutcherson a good fit for a kid who can hurl 100 lb. bags of flour over his shoulder. He’s too short and doesn’t have the stocky build needed. Here I am being picky again because when I first saw the posters for The Hunger Games I mistakenly thought Hemsworth was playing Peeta.

Woody Harrelson’s portrayal of Haymitch Abernathy is flat. Haymitch is a former winner of the games, a drunk and genuinely unhappy person, in the book. In the film, Harrelson’s interpretation of a drunk isn’t authentic; his nonchalance or self-pity leaves a bit to be desired. It’s as if Harrelson doesn’t want to go too overboard with the character and in doing such misses the mark. You should know I love Harrelson, so I’m not picking on him for any reason other than I thought he could do better. There is so much he could have done with Haymitch and my disappointment holds as he is one of the characters I was most looking forward to seeing.

Movie Review: Lionsgate's "The Hunger Games" 3

Photo cr: Murray Close. Elizabeth Banks as Effie and Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss

I enjoyed the overall feel of the movie—no matter what your circumstances, there is always hope for a better life. There are various themes on respect, love, relationships and humanity articulated throughout the film. The cinematography is utilized well and plays up certain aspects of the film, adding to the overall effect of pulling you into the film as a participant, not just an observer. The soundtrack aids in setting the mood for the different scenes and even some of the special effects were outstanding. However, I kept thinking, “This is 2012. Aren’t special effects supposed to be so good we can’t tell CGI is being used?” I expect a lot from a big blockbuster film like The Hunger Games and it let me down.

That being said, the most outstanding aspect of the film is Lawrence’s portrayal of Katniss. She’s spectacular and I felt every single emotion she displayed, crying along with her when she felt she was at the end of her rope. As most of the film is seen from Katniss’ point of view, we explore her community through her eyes, discover the splendor of the Capitol as she does, and are thrust into the games right alongside her and the other 23 tributes. This is another case where the book is respectfully portrayed, but the movie simply doesn’t compete with the novel. The essence of a novel is the detail involved in the story for our understanding of the characters—who they are and what they stand for. I kind of wish I hadn’t read the book first because then my expectations wouldn’t have been set so high. Please don’t get me wrong, The Hunger Games is good, though it certainly is no Twilight.

For more information on the film, visit the official movie website http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com.

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Elle

Writer, mother, realist, cloud lover, daydreamer, dessert enthusiast, sweet tea addict, perfectionist, and lover of life and Christ, but not in that order. http://www.fanfiction.net/~vikingloverelle