Film Review: THE HUNGER GAMES
"Theatrical and fun, not a dull moment, I highly recommend it" Naomi Rossdeutscher
A dusty, hot Tuesday night at the Australian Premier and a full house. Just settled after some serious seat hopping, we are trying to sit behind the shortest, quietest person, while still getting the perfect balance of sound. Stocked up with heavily salted popcorn and a glass of bubbly, I'm ready and waiting, when an entire row of kids arrive - all boys. I notice I'm not the only one concerned about their creative popcorn stunts and hyperactivity, there's some serious movie buffs here... this could go badly. But the Australian supermodel sitting in a tiny miniskirt next to me is smiling and calm, so I hold it together.
It's time, they roll the reel and we get a "hello" from a few of the young actors who couldn't make it to the premier... it's okay, no probs, I don't feel jilted, I'm here for the film.
...and off we go, no messing around now and I'm glad of it. I don't remember what hooked me and took me out of my real world and into theirs, because it happened so fast. Thankfully, the entire audience seemed to be silently riveted right to the end, especially the row of hyper-boys - nice marketing.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
Each year a boy and a girl from twelve districts are forced to compete in the Hunger Games, a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains.
Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen has to rely on her sharp instincts when she’s pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives. If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
MY THOUGHTS...
I love futuristic films because they give me something to think about. I can imagine the human race doing something as diabolical as this.
The costumes were fun and creative, with a possible hint of THE FIFTH ELEMENT, the cast were extremely easy on the eye and there was never a dull moment.
I left with a smile on my face and hungry for more, excited to see what happens next and hopefully a lot more of actor Liam Hemsworth, understandably hot property in hollywood.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR
One of my favourite musicians, a star on the rock-god stage, Lenny Kravitz, has sexy screen presence, he's done a few cameo's over the years and is much appreciated here. Would like to see him play a bad guy one day.
Stanley Tucci is always entertaining - he strangely looked a little like Al Pacino in this, maybe it's the teeth.
WATCH WITH
Anyone old enough to go. This film is an all-rounder... share with dates, family or just a mate.
WHO'S IN IT
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland and many others
A FEW OF THE FILM MAKERS
WRITERS: Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins and Billy Ray
PRODUCERS: Nina Jacobson Jon Kilik
DIRECTOR: Gary Ross
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Tom Stern, AFC, ASC
PRODUCTION DESIGN: Philip Messina
EDITOR: Stephen Mirrione, A.C.E, Juliette Welfling
COSTUME DESIGN: Judianna Makovsky
SOUND DESIGN: Lon Bender
MUSIC: James Newton Howard
FACTS
Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel, the first in a trilogy published by Scholastic that has over 26 million copies in print in the United States alone, has developed a massive global following. It has spent more than 180 consecutive weeks/more than three consecutive years to date on The New York Times bestseller list since its publication in September 2008, and has also appeared consistently on USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists.
IT'S A WRAP
I'm betting this Trilogy will be a crowd pleaser and I doubt the fans of the books will be disappointed. There's romance, action, futuristic elements and a great story. The only miserable, angst ridden part of the night was I missed my train home by 60 seconds and had to wait another hour for the next one. Fortunately I had coffee, twitter, facebook, a friend to jabber with and a book about Robert Downey Junior to fill in the time... and I'm thankful.