In an age of war and reality television, “The Hunger Games” depicts how two underdogs struggle to survive a deadly competition between teenagers. The buzz around the hot sci-fi film has drawn massive attention among social media, critics, and fans, all questioning if it will live up to the hype and reach the same levels of success as the Harry Potter and Twilight franchises.
The Hunger Games features a brilliantly versatile cast including Elizabeth Banks (Seabiscuit), Lenny Kravitz (Precious), Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada, Julie & Julia), and Toby Jones (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy).
Donald Sutherland (Space Cowboys) makes his appearance as the Capitol’s dictator, President Snow, and Wes Bentley (American Beauty) as the Head Gamemaker, both controlling all aspects of the game.
The film stays close to the novel with consistent character development, cinematography, and a terrific cast, allowing this film to be a satisfying book-to-film translation. Much of this credit goes to director Gary Ross who co-wrote the screenplay with the novel’s author, Suzanne Collins.
Ross’s clever use of facial close-up shots tugs at the heart without relying on clichés or extra gimmicks, fully portraying Katniss’s first-person standpoint without the help of narration while his shaky-cam shots give the rawness that fits the content.
The only issue holding back half a star was the special effects, more specifically, the treatment of fire in the movie. Given that fire is a common element throughout the story, the outcome of the flames is slightly disappointing. Additionally, there were some minor elements from the book that were altered to make way for the bigger sequences and motifs of the story but not distracting enough to dispute that the film fully complements the book.
Despite the constraints on fully depicting the violence and gory scenarios from the book due to the film’s PG-13 rating, Ross flawlessly delivers Katniss’s point of view, the terrifying battles fought in the arena, and a number of deaths without neglecting emotions. The film’s soundtrack, or rather, lack thereof, magnifies each moment, creating a greater impact to the overall tone and evoking a more compelling response from the audience.
The Hunger Games successfully portrays Suzanne Collins’s heavyweight message of sacrifice and survival, sparking the strong beginning of a new cultural phenomenon and definitely living up to the hype.
[etRating value=“ 4.5”]
