Worthwhile dystopian adventure

Rating: 7/10 (5 June 2012)

Released to theaters in March, 2012, "The Hunger Games" is a post-apocalyptic film based on Suzanne Collins' popular book. A new nation, Panem, exists in North America where Capitol is the seat of Panem's wealthy, eccentric populace and cruel totalitarian government, which hosts the 'hunger games' annually, a brutal reality show featuring 24 contestants from Panem's 12 subjugated districts. The contestants, called "tributes," range from ages 12-18 and there can only be one winner since it's a survival fight to the death!
The first thing that impressed me was the realistic air and overall ambiance of the film, as well as the entire dystopian concept and story set-up.
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, as the two "tributes" from District 12, Katniss and Peeta, are quality protagonists and I like the ambiguity of their feelings – are they for real or for show.
Lenny Kravitz stands out as one of the few caring characters from the Capitol, while Woody Harrelson is effective as the drunken adviser to the tributes, a past victor of the hunger games. Also on hand are Elizabeth banks, as the creepy but sorta winsome host of the District 12 tributes; Donald Sutherland as Panem's dictatorial president; and Wes Bentley as his right-hand man with a beard Satan himself would covet.
For me, the weak point of the film is the long third act, which constitutes the hunger games themselves, a fight-to-the-death in the forested wilderness (shot in the mountains of Western North Carolina). I anticipated this to be the best part, especially since I love survival stories and the wilderness, but it just wasn't as suspenseful or thrilling as it could have been. At the same time, it wasn't bad. The additions of the dubious "mockingjay" sequence and artificial horror-dogs who for some strange reason can't overtake the protagonists mar the film.
I thought the name of the nation -- Panem -- was really strange, until I discovered that 'Panem' means "bread" in Latin, as in the popular phrase "bread and circuses" (panem et circenses), which is figurative of superficial appeasement to pacify the masses. In the film, President Snow said something to this effect to Seneca Crane (Bentley). On top of this, the film shows flashbacks of Peeta intentionally burning literal bread and throwing it to the starving Katniss, which saves her. The bread motif appears elsewhere as well: as a parachute offering to Katniss from District 11 to show her their gratitude for her kindness to Rue (Amandla Stenberg) and the bread parachutes given to the tributes that communicated covert information.
I was a bit bewildered by the ending, since it left some things up in the air, but I suppose it leaves room for sequels.
When the credits began to role a song came on that just blew my mind; my wife motioned to leave, but I couldn't leave my chair while this awe-inspiring tune played. It's "Abraham's Daughter" by Arcade Fire, an incredible piece. Check it out on youtube.
FINAL WORD: If the long third act were better I wouldn't hesitate to give "The Hunger Games" an A-level rating. As it is, it's a good dystopian adventure with some excellent aspects, like the entire set-up, the protagonists and closing song.
The film runs 2 hours and 22 minutes.
GRADE: B