The Hunger Games

I hadn't been anticipating a movie's release since the last Harry Potter movie. These days, when it comes to box office releases, good flicks that are worthy of hype seem few and far between. (I think the next major release on my radar is the newest, and final, installment of Batman in July.)

I sheltered myself prior to seeing The Hunger Games, and other than hearing that it was pretty good, I hadn't heard much about the actual film walking into it.  I had seen the trailer about 7 times (a few for personal reasons, and I showed them to my classes throughout the week) so I knew that the costumes would be pretty true to the book's description.

And, were they ever. The costumes, and juxtaposition betweeen Katniss' home of District 12 and the citizens of the Capitol, were incredible. I loved the scene when Katniss and Peeta leered out of their train as they approached the Capitol and saw a rainbow of colored wardrobes and hairstyles.

Harrelson as Haymitch, slumps alongside Effie Trinket, played by Elizabeth Banks.

Likewise, I felt the casting was dead-on, save for maybe Donald Sutherland as President Snow. He just felt like too much of a familiar face, and not quite manipulative or vicious enough to be the same guy described in the books. I'm hoping that his development over the next three films is enough to change my opinion on him. Otherwise, Effie Trinket's character really popped off the screen, played by a nearly unrecognizable Elizabeth Banks. For me, though, the finest casting were three ancillary characters; Woody Harrelson as the drunken-yet-wise Haymitch; Lenny Kravitz as fashion designer Cinna; and gameskeeper Seneca Crane, played by Wes Benton and that unforgettable beard carving. Blue-haired TV host Caesar Flickerman, probable recipient of the award for creepiest smile of the year, was also pulled off excellently.

Sweetest beard ever? He must use the new Gillette Fusion razor.

As for the story, a few liberties were taken by director Gary Ross. I didn't necessarily care for how many of the important basic details were pulled or glossed over from the beginning of the film. You never really get a good idea of what it meant for Katniss' mother to "tune out," which was rather thoroughly explained in the book. Also, the Avox girl had a 1-second part on the silver screen, but otherwise comprised a pretty important part of the first, and ensuing, Hunger Games books. And disappointingly, the "muttations" that forced the tributes' hands in the end of the competition were nothing like described in the book. However, at a solid 2.5 hours, I can see why Ross chose to omit some of these finer details.

And, for a film that length, it really didn't drag. As a viewer, you're definitely ready for the games to start about halfway through, but you don't get lost in the introductory hour of backstories, explanations, and set-ups. I was most excited for the competition scenes themselves, as any indication or hint of how they would look were hidden in the trailers. Every part of the film did a great job at matching with the mental imagery created by Suzanne Collins in the book. I think my two favorite scenes were the initial rush for supplies at the Cornucopia, and the scene where Katniss meets Rue, who motions and mimics to her to cut down a branch with a tracker-jacker nest to attack a group of tributes sleeping on the ground below.

Casting and the fact that the film stuck pretty closely to the original storyline made the movie. The only thing I notably disliked was the overuse of shaky, hand-held camera footage, which made too many of the action scenes tough to follow. I've heard many reviews claim that that type of footage adds to the quick action and ferocity of the competition, but I think it was a cop-out by directors and producers to hide the overt violence of the competition. After all, if parents hear that the film is overtly gory and violent, that means less box office revenue. As an adult, I say "BRING ON THE BLOOD!"

But, I liked it so much I'm likely to see it again in theaters. Great start to a promising new franchise of films.