The Hunger Games - 3.5 Stars

Rating: 7/10 (5 April 2012)

As the early minutes of the movie unfolded, it seemed to me that its principal premise was assembled by prominent ideas that came before it. When the story reveals to us that young men and women would have to slaughter each other for survival's sake, we cannot help but be reminded of the infamous Japanese cult classic, "Battle Royale". And later, when we learn that the bloodshed is to be controlled and televised by a game master, "The Truman Show" comes to mind. We can sit here and try to draw parallels between these different worlds, but no. Any discussions regarding the film's possible influences would end in useless futility. "The Hunger Games" is independent in its desires and ambitions. It has a life of its own.
This adaptation of Suzanne Collins's bestseller takes us to a dystopian future where the North America of today has become, in a word, kaput. Wars have destroyed democracy, and out of their wreckages the nation of Panem comes into being. The poor and powerless are distributed in the destitute 12 Districts while all the douchebags and oddballs can be found in the thriving, dominating Capitol. I like how the movie ignores the common vision of how people in the future dress in bland costumes. The citizens of Capitol have fascinating taste; their daily lives are spent with hairstyles and clothing that would startle cosplay addicts. The fashion trend there is so perplexing that if Lady Ga Ga lived during that era, she would easily blend in.