“The Hunger Games,” directed by Gary Ross and based on the novel by Suzanne Collins, is a box-office grand slam which delivers an innovative usage of background music, creative cinematography, and a memorable cast that exceeded critics’ expectations.
The setting is Panem, a post-apocalyptic world where remaining citizens raised from a civil war’s ashes to fight for survival, and the twelve different districts that were created use their resources to provide sustenance to the Capitol, at the top of Panem’s hierarchy. Each district must offer up one boy and one girl to The Hunger Games, a fight to the death that reminds the citizens that the government should not be crossed.
One such offering is Katniss Everdeen [Jennifer Lawrence] who steps in for her younger sister, Primrose Everdeen [Willow Shields] who was selected to represent the poor, coal-mining District 12. The 16-year-old is paired with Peeta Mellark [Josh Hutcherson], a teen who kneads and bakes bread in a sweets shop. They are faced with the decisions between friendship or hostility, morals and vices, but most importantly, life and death.
The lack of vocals in the music played during the film adds to the intensity of each scene. It invites the audience to pay close attention to what’s on screen and keeps them on the edge of their seats. When Katniss Everdeen walks into a room with a raving crowd, the sound is muffled; causing an effect similar to what most would feel when they’re nervous.
Cameras remain steady, not shaking once as someone runs behind them. In “The Hunger Games,” the lens moves with the subject even through jumps, crashes, and attacks. Close-ups are favored and minor details are brought to life within seconds.
An arrow is about to be sent off to cut open a bag of apples that can cause an explosion. The screen pans Everdeen’s face, lips, eyes, and then, finally, the arrow.
Although the cast was questionable before anyone could step foot into a theatre, each acted with shining brilliancy. Lawrence [“Winter’s Bone,” “X-Men: First Class”] landed the role by acing each moment as precisely as Everdeen would have.
When Lawrence shoots an arrow and puts someone to the ground, she’s not smiling. She’s mourning.
Hutcherson [ “Journey to the Center of the Earth”] has the compassion of the boy with the bread, and Shields, who has been in previous TV films and shorts, lives up to Primrose’s hope for her sister. There’s no longer any curiosity as to why “The Hunger Games’” actors and actresses made the cut.
While some critics claim the softening of the violence was a downfall to the film, the fan base for “The Hunger Games” is wide. If Ross had included every single chucking of a knife and another death of a teenager who did nothing to deserve it, the majority would not be too pleased.
A setback for the fans who have read the novel is how the movie strayed from the book. The forced rivalry between Gale Hawthorne [Liam Hemsworth] and Mellark has created questions about what “The Hunger Games” is about. Is this film about trying to overcome the government for the greater good of Panem or is there a deeper meaning behind Hawthorne’s pained face when he has to watch someone he cares for fall in love with someone else? Another Twilight-style craze, dividing fans into groups like Team Gale and Team Peeta, would cause an unwanted uproar.
In contrast, the film brings to life situations that were not included in the book. On occasion, Ross would flash back to Haymitch Abernathy [Woody Harrelson] to see his reactions to what is happening to Katniss on the screen. A sneak peek into the room where all the magic happens, or where the controls for the arena lay, shows how much the Games seem like an interactive video stimulation to the Gamemakers. The behind-the-scenes perception adds to the viewer’s understanding and develops characters who went mainly unseen in the book.
Overall, the blockbuster quickly snatched all of the funds in wallets of millions and it’s the talk of the town. The two hours spent sitting in a cushioned chair will be worth it when tears are shed and laughter is shared.
