The Hunger Games

This is one of my ‘must-see’ flicks for 2012. Having recently read the novel by Suzanne Collins, I was more than ready to race down to the cinema to gorge on what I hoped was going to be an action feast.

Set in the future where the capital of the nation of Panem selects a boy and a girl known as tributes from the 12 districts to fight to the death on live television in the Hunger Games.

In District 12, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers to take her younger sister’s place for the latest match. Along with her is her male counterpart Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). And so begins the road for these two unfortunate souls who must play the Hunger Games in order to survive.

Pitted against other highly trained tributes who have prepared for these games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely on her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson). If she’s to return home, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

The Hunger Games is one of those films that deserves the hype. At more than two hours long, it delivers on action, emotion, drama and intelligent filmmaking.

Jennifer Lawrence is truly setting herself up to be an actress deserving of accolades and Josh Hutcherson delivers a character who is both fraught with emotion and sensitivity and confidence in trying to maintain his identity no matter the cost.

There is nothing more to say about this film besides go and see it. Take mates, take dates, take your parents. This film deserves the 4 out of 5 I am giving it.

142 mins
PG-13 rating
Director: Gary Ross
Screenplay: Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins and Billy Ray
Based on the novel by: Suzanne Collins
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz and Donald Sutherland

INFO: Kylan Luke-McKeen is a Star Observer contributor. His website is at www.kylanmckeen.com