Review of The Hunger Games (2012) by Aaron H — 28 Apr 2015

As the camera is very jerky the tension increases until the sides of the seat cease to form a dust in your hand. Fast but slow, over-acted but under-acted, science fiction but thriller, spoon-fed nothing from the start but the instincts that are left to guide you as you are thrown in like one of the characters into a deep and dark world with glitter pouring out of every side to cover up colossal despair. After seeing it twice, first time deciding on whether I found Jennifer Lawrence actually attractive or not, the experience on how clever it really is dawns on you after you have left the screening and may keep you tossing and turning in your sleep for a few nights.

You are instantly chucked into a hateful world with little love left, with that of a mother-like teenager (Lawrence) to her younger sister of 12, and the greatest example of love by replacing what could be her death as she volunteers for the Hunger Games along with another lad from their district (Hutcherson). Talking a teenager flick with an adult and deeply darkened theme hence the classification issues in the UK. 7 seconds of replacement cuts and blood darkening were replaced to give the film a desired 12A, even so pushing the boundary to the limit with its theme alone in the palm of the audiences hand.

Its slow because it lets you care for the characters. It is in a sense a teen/adult movie and whilst your sitting trying to get comfortable for over 2 hours you need to be emotionally connected with the main characters and disconnected from those it is obvious you may lose. The first hour is mainly spent in the background of their individual district, background therefore following training and a lot of dialogue. This time is essential to the care of the two main characters (Lawrence) and (Hutcherson), and afterwards you want them to succeed. In fact the two actors play the part so well, as soon as you see their faces you want them to win, and this drives you into deep emotions that leave a tensed feel running through your neck into your spine, particularly in the most calm environments where the characters do nothing but say yet again nothing.

The second hour-and-a-bit follows of course the actual games themselves with an opening of a complete silent, violent, jerky and incredibly intense beginning as the teenagers sprint to the open weapons to kill at sight if they can. As Lawrence is seen making her way past a backpack and throwing knifes she runs into the wilderness whilst the violent mess continues the south of her, often seen slaughtering is the ex-champion of the games, villain (Ludwig).

It is also without a doubt incredibly unusual and different in almost every way. With a budget of only 78 million dollars, practically nothing for Hollywood (hence a cast of not well-known actors) except Banks and Tucci, the money was incredibly well spent because it looks bloody expensive. Particularly when the science fiction elements are really introduced and explored it looks like a new Avatar and it begs the question of how they managed to explore such an exotic story and genre without out bidding the new 'John Carter'. The answer is that the film-makers are clever and have a bung of intelligence further of Michael Bay or Zack Snyder and know how to achieve an incredible hollywood film without giving the banks a run for their money.

The soundtrack as well marks real beauty, emotion and love throughout the film despite the darkening and tear-wiping moments it gives the film glory. James Newton Howard (under-rated) composer of King Kong brings a lot of emotion and without him there would be a very dry film with something to go by but not as much by a long-shot, particularly two thirds through the film of a tragic death by one of the younger characters, the build of fantastic acting, the use of diegetic silence and beautiful score does bring a tear or two to the glued eyes that cannot blink at the screen.

Its deep, dark, twisted, powerful and strangely beautiful and will remain to be without a doubt one of the most engaging fantasy thrillers of the year. I think Lawrence is actually quite attractive, a show of three fingers?