The Hunger Games - Movie Review

Taking place in the post-apocalyptic world the film is about Katniss Everdeen who takes her sister’s place in the Hunger Games – an annual brutal event when a boy and a girl from each of the twelve districts must fight to the death in an arena televised to the Capitol’s citizens. The evil Capital governs the districts, displaying the violent Games as both retribution and spectacle. New protagonists are brave and strong-willed Katniss and Peeta from The District 12 who challenge much experienced and skillful fighters whose main goal is to survive facing inhuman oppressors.

_The themes of the Hunger Games are self-preservation and subjugation. It is extremely somber and yet urgent and marked by a desire to struggle –, in other words, it gives a gloomy but compelling view of people when faced with despair. So it is a great and a rather sensitive work which depicts the life of a woman fighting for the society norms.

With her, Jennifer Lawrence perfectly portrays the character of Katniss Everdeen revealing her weak spots as well as her strength. The character development is enhanced by its supporting characters such as Woody Harrelson as Haymitch, and Donald Sutherland as President Snow the film is very engaging. Everyone acts out their part making the story of survival very touching……The movie directed by Gary Ross is fast moving, full of action and emotions. This vision does not overshadow the emotional foundation the movie is based on Suzanne Collins’s novel.

James Newton Howard’s music enriches the film’s narrative, souping up the intrigue during the games and the sweetness in more intimate scenes.

The filming demonstrates the darkness of the society known as Panem and the beauty of the deadly arena. The close up camera movement especially during action scenes well captures the desperation and force of the Games.

The contrast between the glamour of the Capitol and the poverty of the districts is well depicted by set designs. Costumes along with other characters and even set pieces themselves are a part of creating environments within Panem.

Special effects are subtle in the film but well placed. They enhance realism without dominating the movie and, for instance, portray the different Arena dangers the Tributes encounter. This discourishes confusion between the elocution of different portions of the story and engagement of the audience up to every single transition.

The movie does not waver in having a pace for the story and for the visuals all through its entire time of running. Even with this point in mind, the movie does a superb job in moving smoothly between the tension of the games themselves and the political intrigue going on back at the Capitol. The plot proceeds as misunderstandings compounded with one another that lead to a narrative filled with clichés characteristic of dystopian novels. Some viewers may be offended by violence between teenagers which is depicted in the movie. Furthermore, the use of hand-held camera style brings the intensity of the movie but at the same time confusing to some audiences during breath taking moments of the action scene. This portrayal of a tomboy like katniss dealing with these harshest realities of life definitely does leave an impact. It is important to note one’s reaction is an emotional response, even though the theme may be somber and rather dreary, the audience is left with hope, ways the lead character could have made it through to the end, although most often horrific in most of Nolan’s films.