Thursday, March 22, 2012
For anyone who noticed I've had a bit of a hiatus, I'm back! A holiday come and gone and now back to reality. You will read a bit about that in due course, but I thought I would give you guys an earlier look at my review of the week. While you normally have to wait until Saturday night, because of the big hype surrounding The Hunger Games I thought I'd be nice.
The Hunger Games (M)
Living in a post-apocalyptic world is something this planet
does not know. It’s often portrayed through the likes of novels and films, but
never truly understood. So in the year that some believe the world as we know
it might end, the idea of post-apocalyptic and unaffected communities
essentially living side by side is intriguing in its own right.
It’s not the first time this idea has been presented, nor bringing
teens into it as the heroes. But when the kids have to kill each other to
survive primarily for viewing pleasure, the idea becomes a little more
sickening. And so creates the Hunger Games, played for 74 years by 12 districts
that rebelled in war as a reminder that sacrifice is the ultimate reparation.
Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) lives on the outskirts of
newly-formed Panem in North America in district 12. She becomes their first
volunteer after swapping places with unluckily selected sister Primrose (Willow
Shields), and leaves the special Gale (Liam Hemsworth) behind to fight for her
life with Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) against 22 others from the 11 districts.
With training and guidance from Haymitch (Woody Harrelson)
and Cinna (Lenny Kravitz), Katniss is a strong contender going into the games.
But as soon as they’re all on the field everything she thought she knew is
sorely tested.
Clearly, no-one is thinking of the children.
Suzanne Collins’ beginning to this trilogy is not for the
faint-hearted. The adaptation of her first novel moves quickly once it’s every
boy or girl for themselves, but a lot of the potential gore, or horror in
general, is left out in focusing on a friendlier rating to catch a younger
audience.
Watching Katniss’ strategies is entertaining as Lawrence is
extraordinary as she learns to comprehend her thoughts. But as she and Peeta
continue to survive they seem to become more obvious; changing circumstances
alter her position.
There are great performances from Harrelson, Stanley Tucci
as television host Caesar Flickerman and Donald Sutherland as the Capitol’s
unlikable president. Third-time director Gary Ross has a lot of big names to
handle but still very much brings the focus to the underdogs in their fight for
district glory. Oh and life.
Cato (Alexander Ludwig) of district 2 appears menacing at
first but isn’t allowed time to develop as any sort of real Hunger Games
villain. That title is given to both Snow and show manager Seneca Crane (Wes
Bentley, sporting a most devilishly wicked beard). But while they call the
shots on the conditions of the game, that also comes across as slightly unsatisfying.
That could be because the entire notion of the plot is a bit inhumane.
Immaturity may get the better of some younger viewers, but
the film really does its best to include a bit of everything. There are laughs
here and there, a scare or two and an opportunity for tears. It’s another
instance of whether die-hard fans of the novel trilogy will accept it as
faithful, but regardless it’s definitely an entertaining watch that will leave
viewers anticipating film number two.
Rating: 3.5
*To be published in the Daily Liberal (Dubbo), Western Advocate (Bathurst), Parkes Champion Post and Midstate Observer (Orange) from Saturday 24/3/2012
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