Great stage setter with deeper themes of resilience, sacrifice, despotism and defiance

Rating: 8/10 (10 April 2012)

Excessive shaky-cam and some choppy editing ultimately takes little away from this modern masterpiece of political and social commentary. In this film, 1984 meets The Truman Show and explores deeper themes of class inequality, totalitarian government and society's insatiable consumption of reality entertainment.
Initially seeming nothing more than a sadistic exploration of human depravity, the film instead resolves into an unpredictable, gripping drama of resilience, sacrifice, loss and the expediency of love. Outstanding casting places Jennifer Lawrence as our defiant heroine whose mesmerizing portrayal of Katniss Everdeen sets the scene for a mighty confrontation (in future episodes) between a fat, tyrannical political class and the simmering masses. She is one cute rebel you don't want to miss!