Gale: "They just want a good show, that's all they want."
Katniss: "There's 24 of us Gale, only one comes out."
The Hunger Games certainly gives us a good show as the big screen adaptation of the novel by Suzanne Collins of the same name. In both book and film, every year tributes from each of the twelve districts of the nation of Panem, a futuristic America, are forced to fight to death on live television, while the rest of the nation is forced to watch, until a sole victor remains. Teenagers Katniss and Peeta are the chosen tributes from District 12 who must band together to stay alive.
Full disclosure: It’s very hard to write a review of a movie that is based on a book you have read. You notice every change. You notice every omission. You notice every addition. You notice every difference.
This is, of course, unfair to the film. It wasn’t made to be a carbon copy of the book, but rather an interpretation of it. The film should be judged on its own merits and not as a comparison to the original work.
That being said, as a big fan of literature I find such an objective perspective is nearly impossible to adopt. When you truly dig into a book, invest in the characters, cherish the nuances, you cannot help but die a little inside when filmmakers fail to match the intricate detail and deep emotion which has developed in your imagination as you journeyed through those thousands of pages.
Katniss: "There's 24 of us Gale, only one comes out."
The Hunger Games certainly gives us a good show as the big screen adaptation of the novel by Suzanne Collins of the same name. In both book and film, every year tributes from each of the twelve districts of the nation of Panem, a futuristic America, are forced to fight to death on live television, while the rest of the nation is forced to watch, until a sole victor remains. Teenagers Katniss and Peeta are the chosen tributes from District 12 who must band together to stay alive.
Full disclosure: It’s very hard to write a review of a movie that is based on a book you have read. You notice every change. You notice every omission. You notice every addition. You notice every difference.
This is, of course, unfair to the film. It wasn’t made to be a carbon copy of the book, but rather an interpretation of it. The film should be judged on its own merits and not as a comparison to the original work.
That being said, as a big fan of literature I find such an objective perspective is nearly impossible to adopt. When you truly dig into a book, invest in the characters, cherish the nuances, you cannot help but die a little inside when filmmakers fail to match the intricate detail and deep emotion which has developed in your imagination as you journeyed through those thousands of pages.
Such a bias is not fair, but its reality.
Now, all of that being said, The Hunger Games is a film that replicates the tone of the book with an exciting final act in the games, but does feels a bit drawn out for a few reasons.
Now, all of that being said, The Hunger Games is a film that replicates the tone of the book with an exciting final act in the games, but does feels a bit drawn out for a few reasons.
First things first, the most ingenious decision director Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) made was to bring the book’s author in to co-write the screenplay. The involvement of Collins ensured that the film stayed true to the atmosphere of the original work. We see the impoverishment of the districts (although I always saw it as being more drastic in my mind). We understand the frivolity of the Capitol. We feel the danger of the games.
The themes found in the book are sensational and thought-provoking parables for our generation. The name of the country, Panem, comes from the ancient Roman phrase, “panem et circenses.” If I may yet again quote the legendary critic Roger Ebert, this phrase “summarized the Roman formula for creating a docile population: Give them bread and circuses. A vision of present-day America is summoned up, its citizenry glutted with fast food and distracted by reality TV. How is the population expected to accept the violent sacrifice of 24 young lives a year? How many have died in our recent wars?” Culture has so consumed and distracted us that we fail to recognize real problems in the world. We fail to realize that the version of truth culture gives us is just that, only a singular perspective of a multifaceted reality.
The themes found in the book are sensational and thought-provoking parables for our generation. The name of the country, Panem, comes from the ancient Roman phrase, “panem et circenses.” If I may yet again quote the legendary critic Roger Ebert, this phrase “summarized the Roman formula for creating a docile population: Give them bread and circuses. A vision of present-day America is summoned up, its citizenry glutted with fast food and distracted by reality TV. How is the population expected to accept the violent sacrifice of 24 young lives a year? How many have died in our recent wars?” Culture has so consumed and distracted us that we fail to recognize real problems in the world. We fail to realize that the version of truth culture gives us is just that, only a singular perspective of a multifaceted reality.
These themes are effectively carried from book to film and are complicated even further. Gale suggests that by watching the games, the people give power to the Capitol. Well, there you and I also sit, watching the games. Who are we giving power to? Do we realize how we are being influenced by what we watch? As a movie buff, it’s something I think about far too little. As a culture, it’s something we think about even less.
Peeta suggests finding a way to show the Capitol that they don’t “own” him. It’s a great idea. But to return to the actual review, Peeta’s words hold little weight for audience members since the actors who portrayed Peeta and Katniss, Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are Alright) and Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone), have little to no chemistry. Katniss guides this movie and if she doesn’t seem to care about Peeta, then neither do we. Yes, it’s a complicated relationship, but a relationship nonetheless, and in the film it needed a stronger connection between the actors.
The only other major problem with the film is how slow the first act in District 12 and second act in the Capitol felt. Sure, there was a ton more details from the book they could have added, but there was more they could have cut too. I don’t mind a 2 & ½ hour run-time, but not when it feels like 4 hours. Let the games have major focus; that’s what we paid to see anyways. (Yikes, I sound like a blood-thirsty viewer from the Capitol!)
When we do get to the games, they are exciting and visceral, not letting the PG-13 rating hold them down too much. And letting the audience go behind the scenes to watch the game-makers at work was a great addition. I will say, I would have liked a bit more reactions from the commentators, played by Toby Jones (Captain America) and a particularly splendid Stanley Tucci (who was also in Captain America), and the rest of Panem, since this is something everyone across the country is forced to watch.
My last, and minor, grievances are the handling of the concept of sponsorship and the score. Sponsorship is explained, but we never really experience it happening. Either take it out, or show us more. As for the music, it’s a much more subdued composition from James Newton Howard (The Dark Knight), which doesn’t take full advantage of opportunities to really move or excite us.
In terms of acting, Jennifer Lawrence proves she has the talents to headline a major blockbuster film, Woody Harrelson (Zombieland) cleverly creates the mentor Haymitch, Donald Sutherland (The Italian Job) is subtly menacing as President Snow, and Elizabeth Banks (Man on a Ledge) is wonderfully annoying as the chipper Effie. Meanwhile, Thor's little brother, Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song), as Gale, and Josh Hutcherson shuffle through their roles, but aren’t terrible. They’re somewhere in between the disaster of the acting in Twilight and the perfection in Harry Potter.
Ultimately, The Hunger Games is kinda long and a few of the characters lack chemistry. However, they’ve got time to work on it in the sequels which will most certainly be green-lit since the film’s intriguing themes, carefully balanced tone, and nail-biting action, not to mention a rabid fan-base, have already earned this film critical acclaim and made bank at the box office.
The Final Word: Go read the book! … And then go buy a ticket.
YOU'RE CRAZY, IT WAS PERFECT!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe film doesn’t really get going until they actually do get to The Hunger Games, but when it does get started up its entertaining, tense, unpredictable, and very well executed from Gary Ross. I also couldn't believe that this was his 3rd film after other flicks such as Seabiscuit and Pleasantville, which are both good but are different from this one. Still though, great jobs from everybody involved and I cannot wait for the sequel. Good review Ethan.
ReplyDeletelol Kev
ReplyDeleteThanks DanO!