Let's Begin...
PLOT
In the future, North America has been all but destroyed and replaced by an all powerful Capital and 12 districts. After a failed uprising by the districts, the Capital has decided that the best punishment is to hold the Hunger Games. A reality gladiator show held every year where one girl and one boy from each district between the ages of 12 and 18 are randomly chosen to fight to the death. Cut to years later where we follow 16 year old Katniss Everdeen. Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place. The other boy is Peeta. The Games have begun, who will win when all the world is watching.
PROS
I can not overstate the amazing acting abilities of Jennifer Lawrence. She pulls off the character of Katniss flawlessly, she's a cold loner but attractive and desirable. One scene that really hit home for me is when the games are just 30 sec. from starting, and her cheeks are shaking. I know that she'll become one of the biggest stars out there.
The movie decides to go for a more slow feel. It's a smart choice and and proves you can keep teenagers' interest if you're good enough.
The movie is certainly more violent than any PG-13 movie I've seen. It really is a mystery how this got that rating, and that's a good thing.
This movie follows the book very well, changing things around for the better, at least most of the time it's for the better.
They find some very good ways to explain what was used as inner dialogue in the book. One way that was very fun were the commentators. I just wish they used a lot more.
CONS
Slowness is a double-edged sword in this movie. While yes it gives it more time, they don't use that time effectively. Little things are over explained, while large factors and character motives are overlooked. One big emotional scene, that if you've read the book you know what I'm talking about, has no emotional residence if you've never read the book. I only felt bad when Jennifer Lawrence came in with her amazing performance.
The action scenes are filmed WAY too close and shake worse than Cloverfield. It makes death scenes less effective and impossible to tell what's going on during some of the more important action scenes. I can see the reasoning behind it (the big one probably being getting that PG-13 rating), but this is just unacceptable
CONCLUSION
This movie was very underwhelming. While it's not terrible, which it really is not, it doesn't have the same impact as the book. While I know they had to tone down the violence and it's easier to do first-person perspective through a book, I just feel they could have done better. Now if you've read the book and have not seen this yet, go see it, you'll like it. And if you've never read the book, you'll probably love this even more. Let's just hope they learn from their mistakes in the sequel!
RATING
WALK TO
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