Review - The Hunger Games (2012)

           Hey guys, Chuck here. This month marked the tenth anniversary of the release of The Hunger Games. Based on the young adult dystopian novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins, this movie was produced by Lionsgate films and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Lenny Kravitz, Willow Shields, Stanley Tucci, Wes Bentley, Toby Jones, Paula Malcolmson, and was directed by Gary Ross.

           Okay, so The Hunger Games takes place in a dystopian future where what's left of North America has formed a new nation called Panem, which is divided up into the wealthy city of the Capitol, and thirteen small districts that spread across what remains of the United States. Nearly a century before the start of the series, the thirteen districts rebelled against the Capitol, and a massive civil war broke out. The Capitol ultimately won, District 13 was wiped out, and the remaining twelve districts were put back in line. In order to prevent another rebellion, the Capitol created an annual event called The Hunger Games, which is a gladiatorial death match carried out between twenty-four competitors plucked at lottery from each of the twelve districts. Each district sends two Tributes, one boy and one girl, between the ages of twelve and eighteen, to be sent to the Capitol and compete in the Hunger Games, and the victor would be greatly rewarded for their victory. 

          So, the movie focuses on Katniss Everdeen of District 12, who on the day of the Reaping (where the Tributes are picked at lottery from two bowls full of names), volunteers to take the place of her twelve-year-old younger sister, Primrose (Prim for short). So Katniss, along with the male tribute Peeta Mellark, traverse to the Capitol by high-speed train, along with their escort Effie Trinket, and their alcoholic mentor Haymitch Abernathy, who himself won the 50th Hunger Games. Yeah, each district also has Mentors, who are victors of prior Hunger Games tournaments. Before leaving, however, Katniss is given a pin she picked up for Prim earlier that day: a Mockingjay with an arrow in its beak.

       So, among the other Tributes in the Hunger Games, which is the seventy-fourth overall, include Marvel and Glimmer from District 1, Cato and Clove from District 2, and Thresh and Rue from District 11. Katniss meets her stylist, Cinna, whose more minimalist style is a stark contrast to the RuPaul meets Lady Gaga over the top fashion aesthetic of the rest of the Capitol citizens. Katniss and Peeta make massive waves among the crowd during the Tribute Parade, and Katniss later impressed greatly during individual assessment of the Tributes after days of rigorous training by Capitol staff. In fact, Katniss is so impressive with her archery skills that Seneca Crane, the Head Gamemaker, gives her a score of eleven. Finally, during the inverviews with Cesar Flickerman, Katniss and Peeta make waves, with Peeta even admitting to having feelings for Katniss, which Haymitch decides to use to sell a star-crossed lovers angle to potential sponsors. 

        The Games finally start, and a large number of tributes are taken out, with Katniss being one of the few to survive the Bloodbath, which is the name of the initial slaughter at the Cornucopia, which is a massive piece filled with weapons and supplies. As the Games continue, the alliance of Cato, Clove, Marvel, and Glimmer (referred to as the Career Pack) start taking out the other Tributes, and ultimately Katniss decides to ally herself with Rue, and the two decide to clear out the supply cache that the Career Pack is hoarding by the Cornucopia. Glimmer dies from being stung multiple times by Tracker Jackers, which are genetically engineered hornets with hallucinatory venom that can also cause death in extreme situations. Marvel kills Rue with a spear, and Katniss impales him with an arrow. After Rue's death, an announcement is made that two Victors can be crowned if both hail from the same District. So, Katniss seeks out Peeta, who is pretty close to death, and the two hide in a small cave for the time being. At the announcement of a Feast, which will have supplies that are sorely needed, including the medicine for Peeta, Katniss heads to the Cornucopia, where Clove nearly kills her, only to be killed herself by Thresh out of revenge for what happened to Rue. Katniss returns to Peeta, who takes the medicine and gets better. The two then head to find whomever is left, which would be Thresh, Cato, and a Tribute named Foxface, but she does after eating poisonous Nightlock berries. The Gamemakers then release giant dogs into the Arena to take out whomever remains, and during a showdown atop the Cornucopia, Cato is killed in an act of mercy by Katniss. An announcement is made that the rule change allowing for two Victors is rescinded, but Katniss and Peeta decide to eat the Nightlock berries to make it so no Victors are had, and both are crowned as the Victors. This act enrages President Coriolanus Snow, who has Seneca Crane sent to a small room with a bowl of Nightlock berries, leaving it ambiguous as to what happens next. 

        During the victory interview, Katniss and Peeta pretty much say that the reason for their actions was because they were so in love with each other, that the idea of them being parted was too painful, and the movie ends with Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch returning home, and Snow planning his next move. 

        Okay, so I saw this movie back when it came out, and of course I read the books as well before the movie hit theaters. And honestly, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson we're both terrific, Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks were fantastic, and I definitely enjoyed Lenny Kravitz, Wes Bentley, and Donald Sutherland. Stanley Tucci and Toby Jones were both terrific as always, and the other kid actors like Amandla Stenberg, Alexander Ludwig, Jack Quaid, Jacqueline Emerson, Leven Rambin, and Isabelle Furhman we're great as well. Heck, it's actually her performance as Rue in this movie that has me excited to see Amandla Stenberg join the Star Wars franchise in The Acolyte. 

         Director Gary Ross definitely did a great job setting up the visual aesthetic of Panem, in particular District 12 and the Capitol. The two were of such a stark contrast to each other, and they felt just like how they were described in the book. Now, one major thing that was left out of the movie from the book was Katniss' inner monologue, but Ross replaces it with brilliant visual storytelling and genuine emotions on the face of Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss. Again, film is a visual medium. Show, don't tell. However I do have to give one negative, and that's the shaky cam. As I have said before, shaky cam, which while fine in found footage movies like Cloverfield, really feels distracting, and ofter causes feelings of nausea if used too much. And unfortunately, a lot of the action is hampered by the blatant overuse of shaky cam in this movie. 

      In spite of the shaky cam, I really love this movie and can't recommend it enough. I'd say to check it out, but let's face it you probably already have. So, I am giving The Hunger Games a rating of 5/5. This is Chuck signing off, and I'll see you guys next time.