A very pleasant surprise

Rating: 8/10 (11 July 2013)

This is a movie I never thought I'd see, let alone right a favorable review on. I'm one of the only Teens in the world who hasn't read the books, and was only watching because of the talented Jennifer Lawrence, for whom I have a great deal of respect. It turned out to be one of the best films I've seen all year, and one of the best surprises I've ever seen.
The plot is pretty universally known (even I was familiar with the core concept) Teens fighting each other on T.V for the worlds entertainment. Not too original, but well executed. The visuals and scenarios were really well done, and I almost felt sucked into the world. The contrasts from the poor world of district 12 to the wealthy, colorful cities was awesome.
The Film is lead by the lovely Jennifer Lawrence, who plays the part of Katniss Everdeen wonderfully. Katniss was the first volunteer tribute from district 12, and she was to go to the Hunger Games along with Peeta Mellark (played by Josh Hutcherson) Although not friends, they become romantically linked, and develop a bit of a love throughout the film which is used to gain interest from viewers. Despite the good acting, the romance did seem a little far fetched, and it is doubtful that any man could turn down the role of Peeta if only to snuggle with Jennifer Lawrence. Woody Harrelson, a favorite of mine, played their mentor, a former winner of the Hunger Games. He is a bit of an alcoholic, but very likable. The rest of the cast was good, but aside from the two A? listers, no performances stood out.
I really liked this movie. I have some complaints, but nothing that ruined this nice experience. I would recommend it to people looking for a visually striking film with a strong female lead. Jennifer Lawrence was the highlight for me; I personally thought that she created a great character with tons of depth. Strong film, I might even go see the sequel in theaters.