A dystopian science fiction drama set in a future where teenagers must fight to the death to survive.

Rating: 10/10 (18 December 2012)

In a dystopian future that is neither so distant nor inconceivable, where marshal law is ever present within the confines of the "Districts" of Panem. Where the people are born in to casts and subjugated into slavery within the twelve "Districts". Subject to the laws laid down by the oppressive regime of The Capitol whom their ancestors of the "Districts" rebelled against a mere 74+ years ago.
With heavy influences from Richard Bachman's (Stephen King) The Running Man (1987) meets the surrealism of Mad Max mixed together with a similar eye candy of the Twilight fiasco and indeed of most films that are marketed towards the affluent tweens of today. Rather than a world burned by nuclear fire or natural catastrophe, as tends to be the setting for films of this type. One is treated to a vision that is both refreshing for this genre yet believable. Instead of a dark and oppressive mood the whole feel of the "Districts" is one of starkness and poverty of hopeless and helplessness, with an absence of colour or joy.
Scenes we can see now in this day and age if one looks close enough within our major cities. Although the length of time between the present day and when this film is set is never fully explained, I believe this is due to the fact that Panem is but a mere shadows width away. As it has been said that civilization is only two square meals away from barbarism. The most harrowing aspect of this movie is the fact that the general premise is one born not of fiction. Ancient Rome once held gladiatorial events just as deadly and just as applauded as The Hunger Games.
Is it a happy chance or purely deliberate of the author Suzanne Collins to name the Capitol of her universe Panem, deliciously acknowledging the Latin Panem et Circenses, (Bread and Circuses) which comes from the latter days of the Roman Empire, where Caesar would keep the masses subdued by providing violent and deadly entertainments within the great coliseum, which is rather fitting for the subject matter of the film. Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen) plays her part in this film with all due care and attention, captivating us with an emotional detachment and a will to survive that is somewhat lacking in the Heroines of today.
Central to the whole point of the film are The Hunger Games themselves that were brought about to remind the "Districts" just who is in command, and to satiate the masses of the decadent Capitol with "Quality reality television" where there is no second place.
The tributes are chosen via a name out of a hat style lottery, one girl and one boy between the ages of 12 & 18, from each of the districts. When Katniss's younger sister Primrose Everdeen (Willow Shields) is called as the first tribute of district twelve by the Capitol's Marketing Director Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks), a bizarrely coloured and costumed character that believes wholeheartedly that what she is doing is right. Katniss then volunteers to take her sister's place as tribute, in a surprising turn beau Gale does not come forward as the male tribute. That honour is thrust upon Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson).
From the stark, barren, colourless wastelands of the districts we are hurtled, upon a high- speed hover-train towards the Capitol City of Panem. Where the general populace is more concerned with appearance than where their resources come from, which is what the districts supply.
The architecture of the Capitol is reminiscent of ancient Rome with vast open spaces and columns. However, for all it's splendour and decadency it does not take too long to see that this is just a sugar coating on a rotten core, a festering cancer that is joyously fed and worshiped by the baying hordes of cosmetically perfect swine. While the combatants are in training we are introduced to the surreal "Games" host Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci), who reminds me of David Dickinson (Bargain Hunt) with that deep tan that is achieved for by long hard hours, working out doors and the rich spend millions attempting to emulate, and unnaturally white teeth. Once the games commence however, is really when one starts to question ones own moral fibre, to be thrust into a kill or be killed situation, also to be the spectator, if there is no audience then there is no show.
With the plethora of hidden cameras and other surveillance equipment within the arena that The Hunger Games take place in and is broadcast live 24hrs, and the people of the Capitol place bets on which one of the 24 candidates will survive or die. Essentially this film is a dark satire of the whole reality TV plague that is consuming the airwaves, stifling any and all original thought and creativity with weapons of mass distraction.
When one reads a news story about a man who was suicidal, threatening to jump off of a building, being encouraged to jump by the people watching at street level. It does not take to much imagination to wonder how long it will be until Takeshi's Castle start using real bullets, or when some one is voted off The X Factor they are executed live on air.
Gary Ross has done a wonderful job with this film, with such rich source material. I was concerned that the violent nature of the subject matter would be the driving force of the film and in so doing ruin the complicated structure that Suzanne Collins envisioned when she wrote the story.
With that said the violence is superbly choreographed, blood thirsty, and even heart wrenching at times. However, it is not the be all and end all of this story. This film will appeal to those that like a story with bloodshed instead of a story about bloodshed. Oh and keep an eye out for a spark of romance