Inconsistent design and context

Rating: 4/10 (31 March 2012)

First of all, I was highly prejudiced before seeing this movie. I knew it was a take on another recent book series, most of them I don't appreciate, neither even read. But, apparently it was important to see it, and well, gave it a shot. Likewise, I've heard about Battle Royale, mostly negative opinions, but haven't watched it personally.
For the first part, and the part I was personally interested, the visual design of the cities and sci-fi proposal was just inconsistent. Apparently, the art designer wasn't sure if it wanted to portray a classic ancient Rome with electricity and flying trains, or actually wanted a more sleek, high tech environment. So, just mixed them both, and the result is rather unpleasant. For the look of the games, apparently didn't knew if they wanted them to be some sort of fashion show, a pageant like Miss Universe; an exaggeration of the modern Olympic games; or just a brutal televised blood bath. So, decided to try them three, and it definitely doesn't work. All of the anxiety they were expecting to create is completely vanished when they try to make it repulsive by placing it in front of a TV camera. Character development, terrible. Its impossible to feel any kind of sympathy for any of the characters. Rue's death and mourning is just overreacted, and the relationship between Katniss and Peeta is completely artificial and cheesy. In short. Not disappointing, true, because I wasn't expecting much in the first place. Entertaining, yes. The dystopia we were promised? The social critique? The horror? Nope, none of those. Just a cheesy forced story in a poorly constructed dystopian world.