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Jennifer Lawrence stars as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games
- Murray Close Lionsgate |
When it comes to most big-screen adaptations of a popular book series, it seems that the brilliance gets lost in translation, but did the highly anticipated Hunger Games film meet expectations?
It’s no doubt that fans couldn’t wait to see for themselves how director Gary Ross would bring the first film installment of the series to life. Advanced movie selling website, Fandango.com, reported that over 2,000 showings of the new film sold out across the country days before its premiere, racking up over $15 million in advance ticket sales.
Fandango’s Spokesman Harry Medved stated that he is surprised by the hysteria surrounding the film, being that it is the first film of the franchise. He explains that not only the success of the books, but the advanced advertising of the film have brought new fans, and the action-packed feature has led to an equal number of males and females purchasing the tickets.
At some theaters across the country, the midnight premiere of the Hunger Games brought long lines of fans camped out, sometimes even dressed as their favorite character. Some Katniss look-a-likes even brought bows-and-arrows, the main character’s signature weapon.
The film’s opening weekend grossed $155 million in domestic theaters, making its debut the third-best of all time falling short of only Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2 and The Dark Knight.
The story takes place in the post-apocalyptic country of Panem, in which the government and its wealthy citizens reside in the Capitol and the rest of its citizens reside in its twelve districts. The people in the districts face poverty, hunger, and oppression by the government.
As a form of entertainment for the citizens of the Capitol and as punishment for a district rebelling in the past, each district must sacrifice a boy and a girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen for the annual Hunger Games in which these 24 teenagers are put together in an arena where only one can survive and all the citizens must watch. For the one lucky survivor, victory means fame and wealth, so to each of the contests they say, “May the odds be ever in your favor...”
Jennifer Lawrence stars as protagonist Katniss Everdeen, a role that could launch her to stardom. The heroine finds herself a part of the Hunger Games when she sacrifices herself to take her sisters place. The challenge of the role is that not only does she have to prove herself on screen, but off, as well, if she wants to be Hollywood’s next big star.
Casting of the part was extremely difficult, being that the character is stubborn, determined, and independent, as well as, sentimental. Lawrence magnificently expresses Katniss’ complex thoughts and emotions through her silent transparency. While still as the skilled heroine, she appears tough and aggressive.
It’s hardest not to question the use of Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark, ‘the baker’s boy’ from District 12 who declares his love for Katniss before entering the arena as her competitor. In the book, Peeta is kind and sweet, but Collins repeatedly causes readers to question his motives, and his time with Katniss in the arena is tender and romantic.
However, on screen the character is made simply into the traditional good guy and Hutcherson and Lawrence seem awkward together. As for Katniss’ hunting partner and apparent soul mate Gale, played by Liam Hemsworth, barely appears on screen, despite his role in the novel as the third side to the love triangle with Katniss and Peeta.
The star-powered supporting cast features Stanley Tucci as spirited TV host Caesar Flickerman, Donald Sutherland as evil President Snow, Wes Bentley as Head Gamemaker Seneca Crane, and Woody Harrelson as drunken former Games victor and mentor Haymitch Abernathy, and Lenny Kravitz as Katniss’ stylist and friend.
In the film, the capital and its people are more colorful and extravagant than can be conveyed through words, while the districts people are successfully plain and pitiable. The arena is fitting to the story without any over-the-top additions to distract from action.
It’s when the film tries to stay within the confines of its PG-13 rating that the film becomes choppy and less captivating than the vivid book. During violent scenes, the camera shakes, leaving the action unclimactic and confusing.
How did DC students react to the blockbuster film? For a few enthusiasts of the book series, going to see the midnight premiere of the movie was a no brainer. Their general reception: ‘good but not great.’ Taking a 400-page book with unavoidable violence and turning it into a two-and-a-half hour film with a PG-13 rating isn’t that easy. So is the Hunger Games worth seeing, and how high should your expectations of the Hunger Games be?
Whether you’ve read the books or not, The Hunger Games is definitely worth seeing. If you’ve read the series, you’ll probably find that the film isn’t as thrilling as the novel and understandably details had to be left, but you won’t be disappointed with director Gary Ross’ visual interpretation of the engrossing story. So “Let the Hunger Games begin!”
