Hunger Games Review

Ok, so I never really write movie reviews....  But just felt compelled to do so.....  I mean I never write movie reviews for blockbusters, or supposed action flicks.

Here's what I tthought. I went in with having kinda read the books, i mean I knew what was going to happen. But I really had not expected what I was going to see. Of course, the film speaks volumes about our society as a whole. It is social commentary, eg totalitarian governments, dictatorships, classism, and our very real fascination with Reality TV and the desensitization to violence, cos I had not realised until I watched the movie i that it was really, a group of teenagers forced to kill each other for public entertainment.I guess that is where the cruelty lies and how it is portrayed so vividly in the film, well at least from my perspective. 

Of course, it doesn;t completely follow the book, there are a few changes here and there which probably wouldn't please the most hardcore fans who will whine that it doesn't follow the book completely and feels rushed. Like the katniss/rue relationship wasn't fully developed.

It is not really much of a romance flick either....

Anyway, I guess the thing that had the biggest emotional impact was this, at first it seemed like these kids were treated and glorified like Olympic athletes, but this all comes to a crashing halt in the scenes leading up them being realized into the wilderness to "fight to the death" The scene where the kids are being flown to the location and are microchipped , you don't see glory or anticipation you see fear and apprehension. The scene where katniss meets here mentor for the last time, its like someone walking to their own execution! ( well in some ways) Probably one of the most intense moments.

Or the bloodshed scene when all the kids are realised and may either grab supplies or run to the woods, thats kinda well the violence start and kids start slashing each other. It may not have been done in a truly, completely-portraying-it way, but still.  It still has it;s impact I feel ( maybe others don't) in anycase, it is a commentary on how desensitized you get to violence.   The moment hit home was when rue was trapped in a net, thats when you realize, that hey this isn't fun and games anymore, it's a KID genuinely being scared! 
Yeah, really looking at it, there IS a ton of violence in this film, it is essentially kids killing kids, just done in a more pg-13 way. However there are a lot of lessons to be drawn from it, it is social commentary and does reflect some aspects of our society. If this book or movie could be used as a talking or discussion point with kids, in educating about injustice or inequalities in society I think that would be excellent, or just as a jump-off point to get kids to start reading, I think it fulfills its purpose.

As for entertainment value, it does a great job. Camerawork is a little shaky and annoying at times, and it may not completely 100% follow the book which may annoy hardcore fans. I think this movie is more suited for those 11 and up.

12:12 PM ·