The Hunger Games (*** out of ****)

A truly entertaining blockbuster normally contains elements of action, romance, strong characters, suspense, deep lore and perhaps above all else a sense of personal adventure. The Hunger Games works so well because it can properly utilizes each individually. People rewatch films, reread books and play through old video games because in some ways it's like visiting old friends. It's like sitting down with people you haven't spoke to in a while and even if the world and your life changes, they'll always be the same people that will never leave our hearts. The characters and story in this film are special in the way they engage the mind and take us on a roller coster of emotions. The Hunger Games is worth diving in head first with out any regrets.

Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) lives in District 12, an outlying settlement in service of an advanced capital city. To control the districts after a failed revolt, the capitol created "The Hunger Games". It is a brutal competition where 24 tributes (two form each district) are collected to fight to the death until one emerges victorious (however haunting that victory is). All of which is televised throughout the country However instead of strong and grounded adults, the competition calls for the tributes to be through the ages of 12-18. Katniss volunteers for "The Games" to save her sister and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) is selected as well. Off to the capitol they reluctantly go.

The districts are ruled in dystopian society. The capital is a ... interesting place. The districts are bland and mostly colorless but in the capitol everything is as flamboyant as possible. Class differences in films often deal with the manner in how everyone is dressed, The Hunger Games has taken that theory to a wondrous extreme. The capitol brings with it interesting and diverse personalities. Effrie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) is  Kabuki like guide who shows Peeta and Katniss where to go and what to do. She believe treating these commoners to lavish areas is worth the price of being a tribute. Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) acts as a mentor since he has actually won in the past. He drinks heavily, some it must be due to the guilt that he lived when so many others died. The rest of the reason to drink must come from guiding these young souls only to likely lead them to a horrible death. The tributes must collect sponsors (who will provide gifts in "The Games"), Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) acts a stylist to make Katniss and Peeta stand out in everyway possible. Standing out also means being interviewed by the king of flamboyant Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci). The competition is run by Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley) with a beard that The Devil might even where. All of these people operate under an iron gaze from President Snow (Donald Sutherland). The reason for listing most of these characters (There's Gale played Liam Hemsowrth too but he's all too vacant in this first installment)  is the story would seem empty without them. They collectively work to make a strong story all the better. 

"The Games" of course are brutal, violent, and probably to many viewers bought to watch. This all under a PG-13 rating. Let's be honest the film could work better with less restrictions. A bit more violence could have really driven home the message of the terror this competition is, but the point is still decently made and doesn't really need an R rating. Gary Ross the director knows what he's doing with creating a story, but it feels the action is lost on him a tad. A rather shaky camera makes it hard to follow certain scenes, not enough to the point of being absolute confusion, but distracting none the less. There is some romance between Katniss and Peeta, storyline wise it has great potential but it feels a tad lost on the film. (Spoilers Coming) If there is a romance fine, the film does well there. However there is themes in the story to make seem as these "star crossed lovers" actually play some of their own games with each other. This romance will attract sponsors, so why not play the angle? The question is where one ends and the other begins. In the film however the romance strand is much longer and dwarfs that of sponsor. Maybe that theory is just personal and shouldn't be reflected on the film.

The Hunger Games can bring audiences of all ages. The target market of the books was for young adults but the dystopian, sci-fi and philosophy will attract many who heard rumors of another love triangle and will now line up for the film instead of running way. Jennifer Lawrence really is the perfect actress right now. She can command a strong willed character in a blockbuster or indie film (Winter's Bone). You can even see her range in films such as Like Crazy and The Beaver. She easily commands the screen and is the film's biggest asset. The Hunger Games will have you shy away but wanting more at the same time.

*** out of ****

Two Notes: 1.) The three stars means this is a very good movie but could improve. I was very tempted to give it ***1/2 out of ****. It certainly was good enough in some areas, but I just couldn't in the end. So don't take the stars here too seriously, just know it has a big stamp of approval no matter what.

2.) Yes I've seen Battle Royal, The Truman Show, The Running Man. The Hunger Games has elements of all but there's a lot of talk that this is a rip off. Look just cause the last craze was Twilight and both films have two young males going after the same girl doesn't mean their the same. Let's judge The Hunger Games based on basic story structures and not other films.