The Original Is Still The Greatest!

Rating: Null/10 (3 December 2013)

Since I gave CATCHING FIRE a bad review, I wanted to come back and say how much I loved the original movie, THE HUNGER GAMES.
It's so easy to make fun of this movie as if it's just another teen exploitation product, like the TWILIGHT movies. Certainly there are times when it feels that way. A lot of people say it rips off other action epics, everything from RUNNING MAN to ROLLERBALL.
But THE HUNGER GAMES also has elements of much older films, like THE GRAPES OF WRATH (hillbillies coping with poverty in a dignified way) and ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (corrupt government forces young people into pointless war) and even GONE WITH THE WIND (in a time of turbulence, a headstrong, independent, strikingly beautiful young woman must save her family and deal with her feelings for two very different beaus.)
This is not to say that it's a great movie all the way through. It's not always convincing as a study of totalitarian governments. As a drama it's often corny and derivative. The real point is that Jennifer Lawrence can do anything and make it seem fresh and new. She can be honest and stubborn in the face of social injustice (like Henry Fonda as Tom Joad), sensitive and thoughtful in the midst of combat (like Lew Ayres as Paul Baumer in ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT) and she can even be innocent and sensual and provocative all at the same time (like Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara.)
Quite a range for a young actress who's still learning her craft!