Compelling and Truly Heartbreaking

Rating: 10/10 (4 April 2012)

I will admit to not having read the books, but I will also stand by my belief that it shouldn't matter. A movie, based on a book or not, should be allowed to stand on its own. Of course it's not going to be an exact replica of the book come to life. If you detested the film adaptation of this book, I'm inclined to believe you went in to it with either too high an expectation or way too low. You were destined to hate it from the beginning. But I digress.
I found this movie absolutely compelling. I was moved from start to finish. To use the word "enjoy" would be wrong. I cannot say I found much enjoyment from the story at all. But that was the point, was it not? This is a story about a government hell bent on scaring it's people into submission. A government that is so desperate to keep the lower class in their place, they insist on twenty three sacrifices from the lower class each year. A government that insists on the sacrifice of children, no less. The class distinction was glaringly obvious and truly devastating. I found myself overwhelmed with heartache for the poor children forced into such a macabre situation.
I found the lavish lifestyles of those who live in the capital nauseating. Especially when seen through the eyes of children who have to slaughter their own food regularly to avoid starvation. The stark contrast in colors alone between the districts and the capital was fascinating. I was strangely reminded of the Emerald City from the Wizard of Oz. Watching the children continuously paraded in front of thousands of cheering upper class people was probably the most difficult aspect of the movie for me to watch. (Excluding of course the slaughtering scenes toward the end).
I was moved by many of the actors' portrayals of their roles. They were honest and believable and in some cases, truly frightening. I laughed (briefly) with them, cried with them, cheered and sneered right along side them.
After all of that it should come as no surprise that I found this film to be one of the very best I have seen in a long time. The tragic and horrific nature of the story was told with integrity, sincerity, and just the right amount of flare. Cannot wait to own my very own DVD of it.