Hunger Games (Film Review)
Some
say film adaptations are the most difficult films to make. One has to capture
the very essence of a well-loved book or series to please the cinema goers. Adaptations are like interpretations of the
written words by a filmmaker who has to cater to the taste of a bigger crowd.
Looking back over the years, it is obvious that some have found success in both
forms (e.g. Harry Potter, Twilight etc.), while some have failed.
Especially
for a book series which have amassed a following, much pressure is given to the
filmmaker to deliver a show as fantastic as the books. The Hunger Games trilogy
written by Suzanne Collins was a critical and commercial hit, depicting the
story of a reality game show held annually in the post-apocalyptic world of a
country called Panem. Panem is a country governed by the powerful Capitol, an
advanced metropolis which basically conquers the rest of the nation. However,
it isn’t all fun and games. This annual event, called The Hunger Games must
comprise of one boy and one girl aged 12 to 18 from each of the 12 districts
surrounding the Capitol, who are selected by lottery to compete in a televised
battle until only one person survives. The games are a form of punishment for a
previous revolt against the Capitol, in which a 13th district was
destroyed.
As
such, being the adaptation of the first book of the successful series, The
Hunger Games was one of the most anticipated movies of 2012. Having not read
the books before, I must say that the movie was acceptably cool, with its
well-written plot and steady acting. I entered the cinema with not much to
expect as I haven’t read the reviews at that time-so do consider this review to
be unbiased.
The
movie opens with the dreary landscape of District 12, which was once a
coal-rich region. The story’s narrator, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer
Lawrence) is hunting for food and is shown to be skilled in shooting with a bow
and arrow. When all the children were gathered for the selection of
participants (called ‘tributes’) for the games, she volunteers to take the
place of her younger sister, Primrose who was the actual chosen tribute. Peeta
Mellark, a baker’s son who once gave bread to Katniss when her family was
starving (played by Josh Hutcherson) was also selected. They were then taken
away to the Capitol, where they were trained by their mentor, Haymitch, who was
once a Games victor.
The
independent and skilled Katniss strikes me as stronger and more of a survivalist
when compared to Peeta. I think this is a refreshing take on the science
fiction adventure genre, which is mostly dominated by male leads. At first, the
movie may seem rather slow but it builds up its pace when the setting shifts to
the Capitol where its flashy, brightly-attired citizens are a stark contrast to
the poorer set back in District 12. This comparison conjures up the theme of
social hierarchy-where the wealthier class is often more powerful than the
poor. Are they actually any better than the poor? Is it really necessary for
them to hold an annual event where kids are forced to kill each other to
survive?
The
movie is not without its drawbacks though. I personally found it to be draggy
at times, and I did not appreciate the shaky hand-camera effect they used to
film the movie. But its depiction of a reality battle show in the future is
scarily possible, what with the rush of reality shows flooding our televisions
in this century. The action is realistic and fast-paced during the battle part
of the film. And the twist at the ending will leave moviegoers begging for
more. A smart storyline like this is further helped by the commendable
performance of its actors, especially Lawrence and Hutcherson who played their
roles very well.
As
a non-follower of the book series, I won’t draw much comparison between the
book and the movie. Also, it is quite unfair to expect the filmmakers to squeeze
the entire contents in a book of 374 pages into a two-hour-long movie. But then
again, the well-developed plot and overall dark tone of the movie can be
attributed to Collins’ participation in the making of the movie-she co-wrote
and helped produce it with director Gary Ross. This science-fiction action
movie will appeal to a broad audience as it managed to strike the right balance
for children and adults.
BY SITI AZIEMAH
