The Hunger Games (2012) (Movie Review)

Title: The Hunger Games

Director: Gary Ross

Writer: Gary Ross (screenplay)

Music by: James Newton Howard

Cinematography: Tom Stern

Producer: Nina Jacobson & Jon Kilik

Distributor: Lionsgate

Studio: Lionsgate & Color Force
In Theaters: March 23rd, 2012

Running Time: 142 minutes

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, & Lenny Kravitz

Genre(s): action/drama/sci-fi/thriller

Storyline: In a not-too-distant future, North America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcast throughout Panem. The 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss’ young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district’s female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Written by Suzanne Collins

Movie Trailer:


My Review: Why, if I saw this movie the weekend it came out, has it taken me THIS long to write my review? Because initially I hated it and I wanted SO BADLY to love it (or at least like it a little bit) as those I know (and total strangers) have. Unfortunately, time did not heal this wound the movie left me with. I stand by my belief that the ONLY commonality this movie had with the book is it’s title and the character names. Otherwise, the movie is utterly different. If you haven’t read the book OR seen the movie you might want to stop reading here since I plan on revealing quite a few important spoilers from both.

For starters the mockingjay pin was my BIGGEST issue with the movie. The fact that Katniss simply finds it amongst some other cheap items at the Hob, in itself, is wrong and takes away from the sheer magnitude of what that pin is and represents! In the book that pin is made of gold and is so rare and valuable Gale is upset with her for accepting such a gift (from Madge whom the writers chose to leave out of the movie completely!) that could easily feed his large family for 6 months! The fact that the movie played down its significance in such a way right at the beginning of the movie, then had the pin simply given to her and she in turn, gives it to her sister?! I was turned off immediately.

My other issue wit the movie was the children participating in the Hunger Games. The only desperation I saw in the movie was in the few (and far between) scenes of what their neighborhood looked like. Otherwise, none of those who were chosen for the Hunger Games looked or acted as if they were “without” at all. Perhaps this was Disney’s way of babying the movie for those younger viewers? To me that seemed unfair to those who’ve read the book and already understood (and like myself, expected) those scenes of desperation and violence. There were too many bad camera angles on the death and violence that it left me unmoved. Especially the scene where Rue is killed. That moment is probably one of a few I was looking forward to seeing played out on the screen. That moment when Rue is hit in the stomach with the spear and Katniss, without hesitation, shoots an arrow right at the attackers neck!! For the sake of keeping this movie PG-13, I’m sure Disney thought simply shooting him in the stomach would have sufficed the audience. Not me it didn’t!

There are SEVERAL other issues I too had with but I will only mention one more that truly bothered me and that is what I consider the best moment in book one. The visitors Katniss has just before she is to leave for the Hunger Games. That scene with her mother still gives me chills but in the movie they played down the mothers character entirely. Not only that but her most important visitor (to me) in the book, was left out entirely as well, when Peeta’s father visits her!

And don’t get me started on the POOR acting on everyone’s part. I fault the writers staccato dialogue choices more than the actual actors though. The fighting was substandard considering all the CGI technology we have today and the romantic scenes were more uncomfortable (for me) than natural and comforting like they should have been. I believe Disney was a poor choice to handle making this trilogy into a movie. I think this would have been in better hands had someone like Tim Burton been at the helm of this production.

My Rating: D

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