The Hunger Games: Film Review

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".