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The Hunger Games became an instant hit after its unexpectedly huge critical and box office triumph, but has been known by many as “the new Twilight” and the American remake of 2000 Japanese film Battle Royale. Therefore, expectations were rather mixed due to the rating it received following dialogue that involves the sickening way of teenagers being forced to kill each other in the wilderness by use of weapons for entertainment. On the other hand, this story had pretty much all aspects of where it could become the ultimate fun thrill-ride. So, with this in mind, The Hunger Games manages to avoid becoming a corny, mishandled catastrophe and becomes an intense, emotional and occasionally funny experience that adds hype and pure excitement to the upcoming sequels.
Gary Ross directs not only his first feature since Seabiscuit in 2003 but only his third feature film throughout his directorial career. The Hunger Games really could have been seriously mishandled like the Twilight saga by transforming a dark story into something a lot easier on the eyes that just didn’t work. Miraculously, The Hunger Games amazingly balances as a film that is intense and rather psychologically disturbing to endure, but is worthy of the attention of families and youngsters too. It doesn’t have the vintage characteristics of an action film, but it almost like a sub-genre. Gary Ross collaborates with Billy Ray and the writer of the novel – Suzanne Collins as the trio pen the script and write it very creatively achieving a wide target audience and mixes the genres of drama, thriller and romance into one.
After Jennifer Lawrence’s Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in 2010 film Winter’s Bone and appearing as Raven Darkholme/Mystique in X-Men: The First Class the following year, Lawrence stars in the female leading role as Katniss Everdeen. Whilst we are watching The Hunger Games, we are there alongside Katniss and the other contenders who are feeling corrupted by the government to kill each other on television for entertainment. So, although Lawrence illustrates her beauty in a sense of innocence, she revolutionizes her toughness as she gradually starts to change into someone different. Alongside, Lawrence is popular, former child-actor Josh Hutcherson. He has delivered some very impressive performances in his young career and has starred beside some great actors. Now that he is at that age, Hutcherson’s portrayal of Peeta Mellark perfectly demonstrates the transformation from boy into man. Thus, due to the reception that The Hunger Games has been receiving and the eager anticipation for the sequels, Lawrence and Hutchinson’s role could turn out to be both or best-known individual roles for all time.
Beside these two talented youngsters are a wide range of Hollywood stars. Elizabeth Banks portrays eccentric Effie Trinket, the escort of the District 12 tributes, Donald Sutherland plays President Snow, who although appears laid-back, holds back a sadistic and psychopathic personality. In addition, American Beauty and Ghost Rider actor Wes Bentley portrays Seneca Crane, the Head Gamemaker of 74th Annual Games, Stanley Tucci’s portrayal of Hunger Games television host Caesar Flickerman and Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy, the alcoholic, former Hunger Games winner who becomes Katniss and Peeta’s mentor.
Overall, The Hunger Games is surprisingly a very entertaining, non-stop ride that proves itself as appealing for all audiences. There is an emotional mix of beauty and horror behind it and whilst first experiencing The Hunger Games and entering the Capitol is identically similar to arriving in the extraordinary but magical and colourful worlds, such as the Harry Potter Wizarding World, Narnia, Wonderland and Oz. Now that we have been introduced to the characters, the settings and have experienced the thrills and excitement of Suzanne Collins’ film-adapted novels for the first time, the anticipation will be even higher for upcoming sequels Catching Fire and Mockingjay.
8/10
