The Hunger Games review

THE HUNGER GAMES:

A THRILLING AND ACTION PACKED WINNER!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: A (3 ½ stars)

Reviewed March 2012

LIONSGATE

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen fighting to the death in The Hunger Games

           

            Director Gary Ross (Seabiscuit, Pleasantville) takes a new approach with his film adaption of Suzanne Collins’ best selling novel The Hunger Games and it’s a thrilling, emotional, and completely entertaining movie, and it stays accurate to Suzanne Collins’ book.

            In the near future the nation of Panem selects one man and woman from twelve districts to participate in a competition of survival known as The Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence- X-Men: First Class) of District 12 volunteers to take her younger sister Primrose’s place in the latest match, the 74^th Annual Hunger Games.

Katniss is joined up with Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson- Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, Journey to the Center of the Earth) who was also selected to participate in the competition for District 12, a stylist named Cinna (Lenny Kravitz), Capitol escort Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks), and a drunkard and the only District 12 victor Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson- Zombieland, The Messenger) to help her make an impression and possibly win the game, for Prim.

Unfortunately, it’s not that easy because the members of the twelve districts must fight to the death until only one is left, but Katniss is a good hunter and great at archery so she’s got a fighting chance.

The film is well executed with gripping visuals, good chemistry by the cast, and it has plenty of exciting action that should please the audience. It does have its dark moments and although the film is PG-13 they depict it pretty graphic, almost R-rated material.

The Hunger Games is a perfect movie adaption of a popular book in every way, it’s not quite at the Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings level but The Hunger Games is pretty close to them. It’s a completely better film adaption than the silly Twilight films with its charming cast, enchanting visuals, and good plot structure with plenty of sequels to top it off.

Not only is it a great movie adaption of an excellent book, The Hunger Games is an amazing movie in general. The visual effects, terrifying creatures, and dramatic violence are well pieced together in a truly inspirational script with brilliantly executed performances by the film’s cast.

It’s not just a game; The Hunger Games is an experience.