The Truman Show meets Battle Royale? I had hoped so.

Rating: 6/10 (25 March 2012)

Genre : Scifi/Action Big Names : Jennifer Lawrence Synopsis: The Hunger Games is based on the eponymous novel, the first of a trilogy penned by Suzanne Collins.
Post apocalypse North America, now known as Panem, is now ruled by the autocratic President Snow, who each year conducts a gladiatorial combat contest where 2 teens, called 'tributes', from each of the 12 remaining 'districts' battle it out to death in front of all of Panem. The Truman Show meets Battle Royale? I had hoped so.
Disclaimer: I had read the novel before watching the movie. As a result, comparisons to the book are inevitable. I have also watched The Truman Show and Battle Royale, which this movie remixed and gurgled out, inadequately.
What's good: The novel was the first that I had been able to read cover to cover within 24 hours, in a really long time. While the concept of children killing each other in a scenario of complete societal breakdown is not new (Lord of the Flies), Collins did manage to put a decent spin on it and make it an interesting read. Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist, is a strong character and an ace archer and when she volunteers to take her little sister's place in the morbid contest, its hard to not root for her.
Played by the gorgeous and fast-rising Jennifer Lawrence, Katniss genuinely comes across as a do-gooder and one who doesn't take things lying down. She is assisted in her conquest by the other tribute from District 12 -Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), who for me was one of the better actors in the movie.
Stanley Tucci as the MC was entertaining. The only stand-out performer for me was Woody Harrelson who plays the District 12 mentor.
What's not: Okay so I really did not enjoy the movie. Several reasons. The screenplay was highly unimaginative. With a fine crop of actors, I could not understand how the director managed to get such wooden performances out of everyone! In spite of its $100 million budget, the special effects looked shoddy and very 90s. The camera work was appalling – it was always too dark or too shaky. When you film two people going for each other's throat, you must film from a distance, not from 2 feet away! The editing was very off – several scenes just did not flow from the previous one.
But the worst part was, the setting just could not match the imagery of Panem that I had in mind. It didn't even come close. But I guess, very few movies can do justice to the book. I hated the Harry Potter movies as well (No Emma Watson, I still do love you!).
I think this movie just didn't know what it's target audience was. You want 2 dozen kids' throats to be brutally slit and you want to get a PG rating for the movie?! Even Harry Potter was much more adventurous in spite of its audience being 11-year olds.
Verdict: The script may come across as inventive to people. Heck, I think a lot of people will actually really love this movie. But then I recommend watching The Truman Show and Battle Royale and reconsider your rating for this movie.
My rating: 6/10