The Hunger
Games
Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson.
Directed by Gary Ross.
PopMusicMogul: **** out of 5.
By Mike Lee
March 23, 2012
Every so often, there comes a novel that seems to define a
young adult literary generation. It slowly becomes a part of our popular culture, enveloping
the masses into an obsessed media frenzy, ushering non-readers into starving bibliophiles
leaving them hungry for the next installment. They wait patiently in line for the Hollywood adaptation. We
yearn for everything and anything associated with the series. We buy our midnight tickets, litter the streets of the local bookstore for the next novel, dress ourselves in tacky costumes and buy cheap merchandise just out of pure unwavering excitment. The Hunger Games, by author Suzanne Collins is
exactly that; a shining, sparking, defining moment in our popular culture. The
novel manages to usher a rather "fresh" idea into the American mainstream, quickly tantalizing
every single starved director in Hollywood today. If you’re one of these hardcore die-hard fans,
let me tell you something. This adaption does not disappoint.
In the dystopian ruins of once was North America, in a territory calle Panem, there lies
twelve districts, each ruled by the Capitol as a result of a terrible war that broke
out between them. Every year, to show the districts they still control them,
they elect two teenagers by a random lottery, a male and a female from each district,
to compete in something called The Hunger Games, in which the contestants attempt
to slaughter each other in hopes of winning the games and bringing glory to
their district.
The film in itself is a very harsh and realistic vision of the novel. It lacks the bejeweled luster of every other blockbuster, simply because the film is more real than anything in Hollywood. It almost feels as if it is some offbeat modern science fiction flick premiering at Sundance Film Festival, it feels that incredibly real. The film becomes a separate piece of art, combining the wit
and imagination of Collins, with the separate interpretation by the director,
Gary Ross. It becomes a different entity
all of its own, more closely resembling a twin to the novel instead of an exact
clone. A near perfect adaptation from book to screen, leaving the hardcore
legion of fans nearly satisfied.
The movie itself is led by an
impressive ensemble cast. The choice of
casting Jennifer Lawrence in the role as Katniss Everdeen is literally the perfect
choice. The incredible fierceness, quick wit, and striking talent, of the
heroine we grew to love in the novel, shines on the silver screen just as beautifully as she does on page. Lawrence
does an absolute stunning job. The raw emotions that hang through the later
scenes of the film already establish Lawrence as a veteran actress. Then, there's the gushing Josh Hutcherson,
who plays warm-hearted and fiercly loveable Peeta. The novel and the film present
two different characters of his character, the one in the novel representing more of a
complex character rather than the lovable teddy bear that he appears to be
onscreen. The performance of Elizabeth
Banks as Effie Trinket is nothing short of genuis. She hits the character
perfectly, sporting a happy-go-lucky attitude and scary demeanor that closely resembles
something like a diluted Professor Umbridge. The curtly Donald Sutherland plays President
Snow, the leader of the Capital, with wicked elegance. Every word than
Sutherland mutters hangs on pure evil and misgiving. Stanley Tucci illuminates
the role of Caesar Flickerman with glamorous and flamboyant contempt.
The film is a literal roller coaster sending the audience
into a pulsating thrill ride. A little sluggish in the beginning, but only to envelop
the audience with the pure beauty of the setting, the decadent costumes, the
gorgeous cast, and the truly imaginative story. Fans of the novel will be left feeling full and satisfied. As soon as the true effect of the film sinks in, the movie will leave an unforgettable memory engraved in
your brain. The Hunger Games remains to be the best adaptation of novel to screen I have ever seen. Like Katniss Everdeen herself, you will never forget "The Movie On Fire".
