The Hunger Games

For those of you who have read the books, you know why this series has become the new talk of the town, and for those who haven’t…well, lets just say you are missing out on something that will forever be one of the worlds greatest franchise’s. The writing, the themes, the characters, the actors, and the cinematography are only a few credible aspects of the film that makes it so appealing and such a universal phenomenon.

Themes

I’ve heard many people talk about the horrible message that The Hunger Games represents. They complain that it is setting a bad example for society and showing kids that it is okay to kill each one another. However, every time I hear someone say this, I can’t help but want to turn around and show them the other great, empowering things we see in these stories.  As well as point out the fact that they are books/movies and, like any other action based movies, they are based on tragedy in which we conquer and look past through the sympathy and actions of the heroic character (in this case Katniss). It’s what makes a great movie a GREAT movie. Without a set back or type of devastation or conflict, there wouldn’t be much of a film entertainment business, if any at all.  So lets push that aside and look deeper into the story and look at the more meaningful and relative themes that bring much more meaning to the story.

Beating The Odds- This, in its own, entails several themes. First is, poverty. Panem, which is described as the United States divided up into twelve districts in a post apocalyptic world, with each district based on wealth, starting from District 1/ The Capital who are extremely rich, to District 12 who are almost unbearably poor. Katniss and Peeta live in District twelve and not only struggle to find enough food to feed themselves and their families, they are at the largest disadvantage within the hierarchy since they have they option to exchange an extra ballad with their name in the ballad of potential tributes of the games for a trade of food and essentials for their loved ones.   And not only that, they are weaker and not as privileged as the other Districts who can afford food and useful weapons, yet they come out stronger and most experienced than the others because of their unprivileged situations at home where they had to fight for there food and go over and under to make ends meet.

Another is Individualism. The tragic and stressful situations each tribute is put under to save their own life, let alone take the life of another to do so is enough to draw one out of their right mind.  Yet, Peeta is determined to not let the temptations take over who he really is. He wont let the Capitals influence of murder and betrayal become his new identity. Instead he dies the opposite. He states that he doesn’t want to die as anyone but himself within the games. He doesn’t want to be a murderer, he would rather die true to himself than live as a different person.

These themes alone relate so much to real life and can be taken into context of our own lives.

Love/ Compassion- Whether real or not, love is a major theme in the story. Later in the story we find out that Peeta, unbeknownst to Katniss, is in love with her.  The results of this love façade played a major role in the life of the characters, literally and figuratively, especially with them both winning the games.  Also, we see the compassion that pours out from many of the tributes, such as Rue and Katniss who made a pact to protect eachother, and did until their fate made them part.

Characters/ Actors

Katniss/ Jennifer Lawrence- It is inevitable to say that Jennifer Lawrence is going to be the new Meryl Streep of our generation. She has already won two awards, a Golden Globe and an Oscar before the age of 25, and has captured the world with her profound talent and likable personality.  It is arguable that her role as Katniss is what sparked her career, but it is fair to say that it did and forever will be the role that made us remember who she was.    Katniss is a very strong- headed upper teenaged girl who has sacrificed her life for her sister to participate in the annual Hunger Games.  From the beginning we see her struggle on the brink of death and continue to do so throughout the movie.  She is fierce and hungry for life, yet vulnerable and very compassionate.  This, as you could imagine creates its own conflicts and Jennifer Lawrence undeniably does an amazing job with displaying both of those characteristics in a way that is believable and realistic.

Peeta/ Josh Hutcherson-  Peeta is also very compassionate yet doesn’t possess the same urge for survival as Katniss. He is more of a follower and hides from danger instead of facing it.  Josh Hutcherson also embodies his character so well and brings the character to life through his great acting and chemistry between him and Jennifer Lawrence. 

Besides Katniss and Peeta, the cast is filled with many unique and important characters. There is Gail (Liam Hemsworth), who is Katniss’ best friend and sort-of love interest that also taught her much of what she knows about hunting. Then there is Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks), the escort of the tributes. And then of course the tributes themselves. All are tremendously talented and make this story come alive.

Cinematography

Directed by Gary Ross with cinematographer Tom Stern, The Hunger Games  broke records in the box office and left the audience talking. Though, unfortunately it didn’t get the best rep. as many complained about the changes they made to the story by not following the book and the unfavorable layout of the arena, the film was still very visually appealing.  Gary Ross did a great job telling the story, and Tom Stern did a wonderful job in creatively capturing all of the elements of the story.

Catching Fire has finally hit theatres and I cant wait to see what masterpiece they have created now. I expect that they kept  to the original story based on the backlash of The Hunger Games, as well as will blow all the competition out of the water, like it did the first time too!  Good luck getting a ticket, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

Catching Fire

Last year I finished all three books in the series “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins. When I was reading the books I couldn’t put a single one of them down for a single second. Like most teenagers, I became completely enthralled in the 12 districts that made up the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem. So last night, when I went to see “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, the second movie in the series, I had extremely high expectations about how I wanted the movie to play out. In the end, I was more than satisfied.

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, from Lionsgate, opens with a scenic view of the heroine, Katniss Everdeen played by our favorite actress, Jennifer Lawrence. One of the reasons why this movie is so successful is because of the amazing and publically appealing cast involved. To start, Jennifer Lawrence is a successful Academy Award-winning actress who has appealed to many young adults with her witty speeches and her love for food and drinking before interviews. Most importantly, her ability to act as a cunning, selfless fighter has been spot on, to say the least.

The movie begins with Katniss crouching in a bush hunting for animals in the forbidden part of her district. This opening scene reminds us that Katniss is just as bad-ass as she was in the first movie. That is, until her best friend Gale (Lian Hemswirth), startles her into a nervous breakdown. Then, we see her for what she has become since the first Hunger Games, a complete emotional wreck. But what else would you expect from a girl who had been dropped into an arena forced to kill the surrounding 23 people in order to continue living?

The Hunger Games might be directed towards young adults due to it’s superficial, cliché romantic theme of a girl constantly flip-flopping between two boys, each from a different world. However, the plot itself is complex and thoughtful, including references to past films and literature as well as universal themes including government, oppression and justice. In the first “Hunger Games” we meet Katniss, who resides in District 12, 1 of the 12 Districts that now makes up what is left of the world after a revolution destroyed most of North America. In order to make the people understand and regret their actions of revolting the president, currently President Snow, holds an event known as “The Hunger Games”. “The Hunger Games” is a broadcasted event in which two tributes from each district are chosen to fight each other to the death until there is one lone victor who receives fame, wealth for themselves, wealth for their district and the ability to continue living. In the first movie, Katniss and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), are chosen to be tributes in order to participate in dramatic, horrifying, gladiatorial extremes.

The second movie tells the story of a new game that took place on an island set up as a clock to reveal a different lethal event with each new hour. The idea itself is intriguing, but on the screen it was completely engrossing. The poisoning fog, killer monkeys, raining blood, threatening lighting and more was exciting for any age.

Catching Fire has a different director than the first. This time around, Francis Lawrence replaced Gary Ross. When Ross directed the first movie, it was done in the hesitance and fear that usually fuels the adaption of a popular book onto the movie screen. But with the surprising popularity and success that followed the first movie, Lawrence was given more free range. Lawrence is known for previously directing the well-received films, “Constantine” and “I Am Legend”. There were also other details that made this movie so fascinating including the amazing costumes, designed by Trish Summerville, that were absolutely breathtaking. Other aspects that made the details of this film so detail oriented include the director of photography, Jo Willems, music by James Newton Howard, production design by Phillip Messina and producers Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik.

The ending may have been disappointing, but it is hard to criticize it since it had ended exactly as the book had. In fact, most of the movie had followed the book, but not in a negative or downgrading manner. Rather, the movie did not take away from the book but only expanded on its ability to tell such a fantastic and symbolic story. The script, written by Simon Beaufot and Michael DeBruyn completed the difficult feat of adapting such a popular book. Typically, movie adaptations fail at properly adapting a popular book. However, this was not the case with this big-studio, beautifully visual adaptation. Although the ending was a chest, overdone concept of displaying the main character’s facial expression as she realized the consequences to her action, the scene did fill me with anticipation and excitement for the next two movies to come.