The Hunger Games

       As an avid movie goer, there is nothing I enjoy more than being surprised at the movies.  ‘The Hunger Games’ is a young-adult  novel by Suzanne Collins.  I went in reluctantly because of the weak trailers and all the hype that pronounced this the next ‘Twilight’ franchise.  I expected another ponderous teen soap of adolescent angst and pubescent alienation. I was taken completely by surprise and knocked off of my high horse as I found this film, while definitely targeted for the ‘Twilight’ audience, to be a smart, well crafted, intimately dark Science Fantasy story.  The advance publicity makes this seem just like an action packed reality show, but it is far more and deeper than that.

‘The Hunger Games’ is the story of 16 year old Katniss Everdeen (played by the less glamorous than usual Jennifer Lawrence).  She lives in a post-apocalyptic world where the government has divided what remains of Pan Am into 12 Districts.  Every year, each District must offer up one boy and girl to participate in the televised Hunger Games.  It is like the show Survivor only the battle is real and the winner is the last one who is left alive.  The children are chosen each year from a lottery and are referred to as tributes.  When Katniss’s little sister is the one chosen, she steps in and volunteers in her place.  She and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), a boy she grew up with, are whisked away with great ceremony to The Capital where they are put under the mentorship of Haymitch (played by Woody Harrelson who is in his element), a former Hunger Games winner.  They are to be trained and gather sponsors while they prepare for the Hunger Games.

Science fiction has always been used as exaggerated metaphors for present day issues.  The poverty of the Districts compared to the lavish riches of the citizenry of the Capital can be interpreted differently depending on your political bent.  What really stood out for me is that this film really explored the depth of the characters rather than relying on lavish productions and impossible fight scenes which tend to happen in these type of films.  Katniss’s love for her sister is what drives her and you feel her need to win every bit as much as she does. She doesn’t want to be a pawn of a system she despises, but the system is too big and doesn’t provide any easy answers.  There is a futility to rebellion and the urgency of her reality overcomes any ideals she may have.

As the games are launched, we see these teens we came to know and care about devolve into a ‘Lord of the Flies’ world where each must kill each other if they hope to survive.  Some of the scenes are unflinching in their brutality and they don’t try to make the violence antiseptic. It’s hard to watch, especially as the younger children begin to fall, but this is where I admire the movie.  It doesn’t try to portray this as a glamorous ‘Rocky’ story.  Katniss is brave to be sure, but you share her terror and pain as she fights for survival.

There are many great performances in this film and a lot of big name stars.  Donald Sutherland plays the omnipotent President Snow with imperial arrogance.  Stanley Tucci plays the smarmy game show host Caesar Flickerman to plastic perfection.  An unrecognizable Elizabeth Banks plays the eerie Effie Trinket.   Even a shorn Lenny Kravitz turns in an acceptable performance as Katniss’s handler, Cinna.  A lot of talent and some great performances for something I went in considering a teen movie.

I do have some criticisms, but they were minor compared to my overall enjoyment of the film.  I felt some of the deaths were contrived as well as some of the alliances.  As much as I enjoyed Woody Harrelson’s character, Haymitch, I thought he went through dramatic changes without impetus as well as having Katniss change his perspective on life without ever really getting to know her.  Still, minor flaws in a good movie.

If you’re going to this movie just to see an action flick, you might not get what you hoped for.  There are adrenaline rushes; however, they are pulled from dramatic tension and outrage for the characters’ predicaments.   These are somber characters leading lives of quiet desperation who are suddenly thrust into the world of celebrity and violence.  I’ll probably rate this film higher than I should due to how pleasantly surprised I was but I can’t help it.

I rate this film **** stars.