The Hunger Games
Release: 23 March 2012
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Amandla Stenberg, and Lenny Kravitz
Director: Gary Ross
Genre: Action, Drama, SciFi
Length: 142 min.
Rating: PG-13
Based on THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins
Tagline:
The Games Will Change Everyone
Basic Premise:
In a dystopian future, twelve districts must offer up two of their children every year to a fatal game where only one will survive and be crowned the winner. Katniss Everdeen has volunteered. She must endure and survive if she ever hopes to see home and her family ever again.
Review:
When I first heard of this movie (and no I’ve never read the books), my first thought was an American adaptation of Battle Royale — a Japanese film with almost the same premise, though much more brutal (I highly recommend it if you aren’t squeamish). Even thinking that, I wanted to see this movie. I’m glad I did.
This film pulled me into the characters’ plights and made me care. I laughed and cried. I rooted for people and hoped others got what was coming to them in the most painful way possible.
Even given the premise, there is a PG-13 rating, so the violence is mostly an off screen affair — the camera cuts away before things get too bad and then comes back so the audience can see the aftermath. Yes, there are kids killing each other, but that’s something the previews revealed so shouldn’t surprise anyone.
I will be in line for the sequel, which is already scheduled, when it comes out.