The Hunger Games- Lively, Engaging, Violent- First real blockbuster of the year!

Rating: 9/10 (25 March 2012)

Hungry for an excellent dystopian tale? How about a future where subjugated folks have to commit a ritual sacrifice, and teens kill each other off on prime time TV? How about a world where a totalitarian regime induces massive divide of resources? And how about an underdog story, where a 16 year old girl is able to beat the odds stacked against her and emerge as the new hope for the downtrodden.
Based on the first part of Suzy Collins' trilogy, it introduces us to a version of the world where the ruling nation is Panem, built on the ruins of war torn North America, which exerts total control over its 12 impoverished districts. Capitol, Panem's central city, is home to a wealthy, decadent elite, whose comfort is supported by the labor of those districts. The 12 districts had rebelled, ever since the rebellion was quelled, Panem conducts an annual event to drive home the notion of their dominion. In this annual event, a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen from each district by means of an annual lottery to engage in a battle for survival in a huge arena with cameras capture and transmit live to an audience, every move, every detail and of course, every gory death. The idea of domination through this gladiatorial display is intriguing, but as Donald Sutherland's cynical and twisted President Snow remarks – "Hope, it is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective, a lot of hope is dangerous" – the games give control over the 12 districts not only through fear but also through the hope that Panem will allow one to live.
The movie is long at 144 minutes, but not a single minute feels needless or unimportant, even though the fighting starts post interval. Right at the outset, we are introduced to the central character, Katniss Everdeen, a 16 year old who volunteers to participate in the "games" in place of her sister. Jennifer Lawrence plays Katniss with a rare combination of beauty, vulnerability, resourcefulness and steel. Katniss develops skills such as getting people to like her, and her god gifted abilities of being able to hunt, to survive the bloodbath. In the process, she makes friends, unites people, and wins hearts. And she comes out with more than her life intact, she also finds love.
Hunger Games targets the same audience as the Twilight series- female teens, features lethal kids, a love triangle, creative imagination and violence. But as a movie it leaves the vampire tales way behind in its effectiveness and involvement. The pace is brisk, there is plenty of shaky cam shots, the sound is often drowned out in the ultra violent scenes which gives it a surreal effect, but also helps the movie get a PG13 rating. The deaths are quickly done without much heart rendering, and the cinematography is simply awesome- Director Gary Ross who gave us Seabiscuit 10 years back, literally transports the audience into this dark and desolate jungle, where you can feel the hopelessness of Katniss through his signature close up shots. Blue haired TV host Ceasar, played by Stanley Tucci exemplifies the citizens of the Capitol who display the aesthetic cues of sci-fi fascism- fluorescent hairdos, crazy fashion, garish furniture, gaudy costumes and an excess of everything.
Watching Hunger Games, i couldn't resist drawing parallel to the modern Japanese classic- Battle Royale, with a similar story, but with a lot more gore, and with the children there actually enjoying the killing as compared to the more refined sensibilities of this version. But then, do i root for Katniss? But doesn't that mean i wish for the other children to butcher themselves? Is'nt it immoral?
All is fair when it comes to entertainment though, and Hunger Games is outstanding when it comes to that. We have a heroine who can make us cry for her, dishing out a layered performance and cementing her position as one of the leading young actresses of Hollywood. There is plenty of drama and romance, un-inhibited action, and some understated but superbly effective special effects. This has edge of the seat excitement, and intense drama, and i finally get the feeling that summer is on- this is the first summer blockbuster of the year! As the tagline goes- The World Will Be Watching- will you?
May the odds always remain in its favour- 9/10