Great entertainment!

Rating: 7/10 (27 July 2013)

Many people compare this movie to Battle Royal, I am not going to. I like this movie for what it is in itself. It's dark, it's exciting and it's breathtaking.
Katniss Everdeen is trying to survive a life of poverty in District twelve. She lives there with her little sister and mother struggling to be the breadwinner in the family when the worst thing that could happen, happens - her sister is being randomly picked to fight till death in the 74. annual Hunger Games, a game of which only one out of 24 young kids can survive. She enters the games and from there on out it really is "game on".
This move is critical to our society, were we use and abuse the less fortunate to be able to live our luxury lives in the western, modern world. And if your thoughts about that subject reaches further down than a thimble you will also see that connection.
I like the way they have portrayed The Capitol (the city that runs everything), it is a superficial world where appearance is on top of the list. There are a few sci-fi elements, and that is because the filmmakers wants to make a point out of the fact that this is a setting in the near future. Some of the scenes are majestic, and makes you hold your breath. The cast is very good, although I hope I get to see Jennifer Lawrence, who plays Katniss, relaxes into her role a bit more in the sequel. And that is also why I gave 7 out of 10. It could have been and eight if she was a little better at portraying Katniss Everdeen, but in that case it really helps that the very talented Woody Harrelson plays one of the characters closest to Katniss as her coach.
All in all, it's great entertainment on a Saturday night tucked under the blankets with some chips and coke to nibble and sip on. Enjoy!