The Hunger Games

What makes a victor in The Hunger Games? The ability to survive a merciless world without succumbing to the immense levels of disgust, dishonesty, and pain.

In what seems to be something of a post-apocalyptic world, in what could be thought of as our civilization's future, there exists a sick game that started out as a punishment, but is now put on for the entertainment of the society's elite.  From an evolution of our world, where the wealthy watched as gladiators were ripped to shreds by beasts in ancient Roman arenas, to the picnics that bystanders set up along the sidelines of the Civil War, it is no surprise that people enjoy a fight to the death, no matter how ashamed we may be when questioned about it.  This is precisely why The Hunger Games is so brilliant.  It shines a mirror on the flaws of society, whilst telling an amazing story of extreme trial, excitement, terror, love and friendship.

This film, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Stanley Tucci grossed nearly $20 million on its opening night, which is more than any non-sequel midnight opening thus far in movie history (despite the fact that it had a tiny advertising budget, unlike Disney's recent release, John Carter).  And all of this success is not without good reasoning.  

Laurence's portrayal of Katniss Everdeen, a raw, strong, and brave young woman who volunteers to take part as tribune in the Hunger Games in the place of her younger sister, is positively astonishing.  This story demands an almost unimaginable amount determination from Katniss and Laurence's portrayal of the character features an absolutely flawless range of emotions.   Her acting was complemented impeccably by the performance of Josh Hutcherson, who was cast in the role of Peeta Mellark, who was also sent to the Hunger Games as tribune to fight for his life and attempt to bring pride to their shared District 12.  Together, they win their disturbed audience's affection by becoming "star-crossed lovers," putting on a show much like Romeo and Juliette, yet by the end of the film, one may wonder how much was real and how much was just to survive under the cruel eyes of their society.  Serving as the star commentator of the Hunger Games, the talented and versatile Stanly Tucci expertly plays Caesar Flickerman, the favorite television host of the rich and elite, who pushes for the romance between Katniss and Peeta. 

It is not without such powerful acting from these three, as well as every other tribune and "game keeper," that this film earned such amazing believability.  The realm of Panem suspends disbelief as it captures everything that a post-apocalyptic world could be, with an absurd concentration of wealth concentrated in the Capitol, juxtaposed with its twelve districts, many of which are filled with extreme poverty and despair.  The representation of the scarred society is awe-inspiring, as it progresses from a parade of the twenty-four tribunes (two from each district, none from the Capitol) to the blood-bath that occurs, all for the entertainment of the rich and influential beings who enjoy this show in the regression of the values we like to think we have today. 

All around, this film is brilliant, outstanding, and above all, compelling.

(This work is credited to Maria NeCastro (me), for future reference.)