The Hunger Games

Plot: In a distopian future nation, rebellious districts send two kids each to fight to the death as a punishment for their failed revolution. The bloody battle is shown on TV as a reality show. Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) leaves boyfriend Gale (Liam Hemsworth) and goes to the arena with Peeta (Josh Hutcherson,) whom she pretends to love and maybe really does love. Once in the arena, its like Survivor where kids kill the people they want to vote off the island. link to imdb   Photos

Review: This is the rare movie that is better than the book. I am a big fan of the Hunger Games, and this movie is everything I wanted it to be. I wish Girl with the Dragon Tattoo had cast Jennifer Lawrence.

The fake reality show playing againt the political oppression and the deadly consequences provides so much natural drama and opportunity for satire.  I loved the giant faces of Ceasar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) on the TV set as he mugged for the cameras.  I especially liked the master control room full of Gamemakers pulling the strings in the background -- another great allegory.

The actual arena battle was more like hunting and being hunted -- a deadly hide and seek. It was suspenseful and not too violent. 

I thought the story in the movie was better than in the book. I liked the added scenes with Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) arguing with Seneca (Wes Bentley.) I thought the politics was clear without taking up too much time. 

Jennifer Lawerence was nicely restrained. In her situation, screaming and crying would have been appropriate almost continuously, but you can't have that all the time. She handled the emerging love triangle with nice ambiguity.

Top notch art direction and costumes. Realistic special effects.  The music in the movie isn't much. The soundtrack album has two good songs that aren't actually in the movie. I endorse Arcade Fire's Abraham's Daughter and One Engine from the Decemberists. 

Cast: Jennifer Lawerence, Josh Hutcherson, Stanley Tucci, 

Directed by: Gary Ross; based on the book by Suzanne Collins

Rating:   3.5+ stars: Really fun to watch. Full of clever ideas.  For an action movie, it is about the best there is: better than last year's Harry Potter or Hanna -- almost as good Inception, but not as good as Avatar. 

More: Seneca's beard! That was outrageous.  

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