I’ll start with an admission: I am a big Hunger Games fan. I read all three books more-or-less within a week, and was super-psyched for the film. So when I won tickets for the European Premiere, I was thrilled to a) see Jen, Josh, Liam and co. b) walk the red carpet, c) not have to queue for hours, and most importantly d) watch the film! It was great to see many of the trilogy’s extremely dedicated fans (some had started queuing at 6am!) take to London’s o2 arena with banners and books and very loud screams.
Before I actually review the film, I have to mention that all the cast are so down-to-earth and lovely; despite seriously cold temperatures and much of the press/interviews taking place outside, they braved the cold for over 45 minutes meeting and greeting as many fans as they could. (And how gorgeous were Elizabeth and Jennifers’ dresses!?). Security was immensely tight and all possible recording equipment were taken before entering the screen (cameras, phones, iPods, younameit); according to the Daily Mail “celebrities” like Katie Price refused to watch the film because they couldn’t be parted from their phones! (Their. Loss.) Anyway, just before the film started, the cast came in for to introduce it, and then soon it was time for The Hunger Games to begin!
The director’s representation of Panem, District 12 and the Capitol was, in my opinion, quite accurate. The music, special effects, costume and make-up capture your attention immediately. I never pictured the Capitol to be as colourful as it was, but it really gave the film a very authentic non-21st century atmosphere. Since everyone who reads the book will have a different idea of what Panem should look like, the film people sure do make sure it pleases as many readers as it can. As a futuristic film, the hi-tech stuff and general craziness makes you go “ooooh” and “aaah”. Oh, and the fiery dress really does impress the eye so look out for that.
Acting-wise, it was really great – Jennifer Lawrence delivers a flawless portrayal of Katniss; a role so iconic needs a very capable actress and she does not disappoint. From the motherly role she plays to her little sister Prim (and then Rue), to the stubbornness, to the girl on fire with the bow and arrow, to Peeta’s girl. Of course, however, she’s nobody’s girl – which makes her even more like Katniss! Josh Hutcherson is a close-to-perfect Peeta. He’s exactly how I wanted Peeta to be – especially with the puppy dog eyes, and he will undoubtedly be one of Hollywood’s leading men for many years to come. (One of my personal favourite moments of the film is his camouflage - you'll see what I mean.) Liam Hemsworth’s Gale provides an appropriate dose of eye candy, but a lot of his acting is done through his facial expressions as poor Gale doesn’t really get much screen time at all. But of what is there, it is very good. Supporting characters like Effie, Haymitch, Cinna, Rue and the other teenage tributes were cast really well and brought my mental image of The Hunger Games to life seamlessly. I’ll be honest: I wasn’t expecting them to be as good as they were!
The Hunger Games is an action book and therefore an action film, and boy was there action! Being chased by flames, (slightly bloody) fight scenes, CGI and stunts…pretty cool stuff. I’ll warn you now that some images are grim/brutal/a tad distressing so know that you can and should look away. There’s also one second that WILL make you jump. Promise! For a bunch of teenagers killing each other, it has the accessibility action-wise to appeal to adults as well.
One minor criticism I have is that some scenes felt rather short. Something significant would happen, and then it would quickly transition to the next scene. Don’t get me wrong – the overall film is almost 2 and a half hours so it’s not exactly short – but it felt a tiny bit rushed in places. Speaking of the running length, any film over 2 hours is considered quite lengthy; however it was definitely necessary in order to stay true to the incredibly action-packed book. Part of me would have liked elongated scenes, but that would have made the film 3+ hours and I’m not sure how non-original-fans would react!
There are also some slight elements (and characters!) of the novel which have been cut. They’ll be incredibly obvious to fans, but I can understand that they saved a lot of time and explanation by doing so…for simplicity’s sake. For example – SPOILER ALERT FOR FANS HERE – mayor’s daughter Madge is absent, and the whole Avox concept is slightly wasted. On the other hand, there are some additional elements to it, like – SPOILER ALERT FOR FANS HERE – loose commentary for those who haven’t a clue what’s going on, insider access to the Gameskeeper room, and President Snow gets a bit more face time too. I also felt that the book’s well known Katniss + Peeta “star-crossed lovers” theme is one that I felt needed perhaps a bit more detail/attention.
So, if you couldn’t be bothered to read the whole review (I know, it’s almost as long as the film!) here’s a quick summary: the acting and whole general atmosphere are excellent and Gary Ross’s film will really take you on a journey. It appeals best for those who have read the book. And no, it doesn’t feel like the plot is ruined at all. The beauty of having the mental picture of The Hunger Games translated onto the big screen is what will make the film memorable and fresh in my head for years to come. Because, as you remember, I am a big Hunger Games fan!
I’m genuinely excited for all of you to see it, but PLEASE PLEASE (I am pleading here) read the book before you watch the film. There’s little point in reading it afterwards because the beauty of the film adaptation is that it goes perfectly with what you envisage in your head. You can’t reverse that; once you see the film, you’ll be reading the book in a different light. And there’s still one week for you to do it! Read the book, book your tickets, and enjoy! (Trust me, YOU WILL.)
