Film Review: The Hunger Games

Genre: 
Dystopian Fiction, Book-to-film

Interest Level:
Ages 11 and up

Rating
PG-13

Theme:
Survival, Rebellion, Dystopian Society

 Films with Similar Themes: 
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Brave

Bibliographic Information:
Rosner-Meyer, L. (Producer), Bissell, R. (Producer), Collins, S. (Producer) & Ross, G. (Director). (2009). The Hunger Games [Motion Picture]. United States: Lions Gate Home Entertainment.

Film Website
http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com/index.html

Plot:  
Set in the future in a dystopian society called Panem, The Hunger Games is a film based on the novel of the same name about sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), a talented hunter and archer. She lives with her mother (Paula Malcomsom) and younger sister Primrose (Willow Shields). Each year the Capitol, which leads Panem with an iron fist, puts on a reality show called the Hunger Games in which two adolescents from each district are selected to fight to the death, and the lone victor goes home to a life of security. Primrose is selected as one of the tributes from District 12, and Katniss volunteers to take her place in order to save her life. Katniss and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) travel to the Capitol where they are prepared for the Hunger Games. It's revealed that Peeta is in love with Katniss. Katniss and Peeta are released into the area and the bloodbath begins. Eventually they team up to survive, but in the end there can only be one victor.


Review:  
The Hunger Games is a faced-paced film that successfully follow the book while also adding a few elements to the story, such as the evil President Snow's (Donald Sutherland) desire to get rid of Katniss, and Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley) and his team's control over the arena. Like the book the film deals with themes like independence, family loyalty, friendship, and love. The love between Katniss and Primrose is beautifully acted by Lawrence and Shields. Katniss' brief friendship with District 11 tribute Rue (Amandla Stenberg) is also well-acted and very touching. Though rated PG-13 the film is actually less graphic and bloody than the book, but does still includes the fighting and killing. Tweens who are fans of the novel The Hunger Games and also those who are not familiar with the book will love this movie for it's action, adventure, young romance, and much more!