Romance takes a backseat to issues of class, mass media, and a brave heroine.

Rating: 8/10 (15 January 2014)

The Harry Potter film franchise taught movie studios that a lot of money can be made from popular book-to-film adaptations. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Part 2 was released in 2011, but now it's the norm that every year there are several attempts at starting a new franchise. Some are successful and some are not successful. Of course these films are aimed mostly at a teenage audience. One of the most popular franchises has been The Hunger Games by Lionsgate Films. The studio managed to pile up $78 million for this first film, which was released in March of 2012. The budget isn't very large but the filmmakers managed to make a good film. At the box office the earnings amounted to an impressive $691 million. One of the reasons for the success was the casting of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. Chloe Moretz was supposed to get the part but she failed her auditions. Director Gary Ross said that he was most impressed with Jennifer Lawrence. Lawrence isn't the perfect fit for Katniss physically. Katniss is supposed to be shorter, thinner and have olive skin. Still, Lawrence has the good looks and the acting skills to make up for that. Her facial expressions capture Katniss' feelings without going over the top. She's especially good when it comes to the most important scenes. One example is when she grieves for Rue. Amandla Stenberg had to be persistent to get the part of Rue. Good thing she did because her scenes with Lawrence are some of the best in the film. Rue and Katniss talking in a sunlit forest was handled especially well by Gary Ross. The only real downside to Ross' direction is a lack of thrilling action. Was this due to the budget constraints? Or was this due to the attempt to maintain a PG-13 rating? Suzanne Collins' novel includes some sinister and violent parts that weren't in the film. In the excellent supporting cast Stanley Tucci's turn as Caesar Flickerman is especially memorable. Tucci is simply terrific. Elizabeth Banks and Woody Harrelson do a good job as Effie and Haymitch. Banks is most memorable during the Reaping scene. Josh Hutcherson, however, is rather bland as Peeta Mellark. Once Katniss and Peeta get on the train headed for the Capitol, Hutcherson mostly fails to provide his character with the necessary emotions. He does a better job in the second film though. James Newton Howard's music score for the film is admirably restrained. He doesn't fill it with intensity but provides a bittersweet elegiac experience. The end credits feature the sad lullaby Safe & Sound by Taylor Swift, who sings it with a reassuring warmth. Suzanne Collins was, of course, inspired by Greek and Roman history. The Capitol is like a futuristic Rome. The Hunger Games arena is like a futuristic colosseum. Slavery was a major institution in Greece and Rome, so it's not surprising that gladiators fought to the death in Classical society as entertainment and spectacle. In the Hunger Games tributes from each district fight to the death, and Katniss is a defiant teenage gladiator who challenges the power of the authoritarian Capitol. Despite the shortage of thrills the film provides viewers with a well-realized world, with its unique clothes, architecture and rules. It's a good beginning for a franchise. I recommend it.