‘The Hunger Games’ film review
American director Gary Ross brings you The Hunger Games – a dystopian science fiction adventure film based on the book by Suzanne Collins. In the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem, which is divided into twelve different districts, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) takes the place of her younger sister when she is selected to take part in The Hunger Games – a televised event in which the tributes from each district must fight to the death, until only one remains. Along with her district’s male tribute, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), Katniss travels to the Capitol to train for and participate in The Hunger Games.
Fittingly, both our key characters narrowly escape death once in the arena and faced with the Careers, tributes from Districts 1 and 2 who, for some reason, have been training for this bloodbath from an early age, and are consequently the most skilled tributes – but clearly not the smartest, which is made apparent when Katniss outsmarts them with a nest of genetically modified poisonous wasps. As Katniss fights to return home to District 12, the most forced romance possible between her and Peeta blossoms, keeping them stocked with resources to stay alive as the viewers in the Capitol are entertained in the murders happening before their eyes.
Whilst the starving residents from the Districts living in poverty mourn the deaths of their children, the Capitol residents stuff their faces with exotic food, creating CGI forest fires and wild beats for the tributes to fight off when they get bored. This film brilliantly portrays a selfish society split into rich and poor, which hints at our possible future if we allow war, greed and rebellion take over our lives. It also shows both the positive and negative consequences of genetic modification on animals, from mimicking songbirds to venomous wasps, and raises a question: do we, as a society, really value all life, or just the lives of the wealthy?
With gruesome fight sequences and an effective use of CGI, this perfect blend of dystopian and science fiction raises ethical questions about our future whilst delivering action filled entertainment. Whilst the slow evolution of the romance between Katniss and Peeta can be tedious, this film is a must see that will win the approval of fans of action and dystopian fiction.
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