The lead character is Katniss Evergreen (played by Jennifer Lawrence, who got nominated for an Oscar for “Winter’s Bone” also as a daughter trying to save her family), who substitutes for her younger sister Primrose (Willow Shields). A poor girl living in a coal-mining village, she is given a make-over and becomes a TV star who then gets schooled in the art of killing her colleagues. She comes from District 12, along with her would-be love interest Peeta Melark (Josh Hutcherson).
As the heroine, we get to sympathize with Katniss, a selfless young woman who wants to protect her impoverished family from harm. You root for her as she tries to survive while trying to help out someone she cares about. The most moving moment in the involves her and a young black girl, Rue.
The story is also about class wars. The rich folks with weird hairstyles and makeup look down on the poor with disdain, like they’re lowly objects created for their own entertainment. The mentor of Katniss and Peeta, Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), and their adviser, Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks channelling in Tessa Prieto), initially have low regard for them. But as Katrniss displays remarkable skill and courage, she easily becomes a media and crowd favorite. Her feelings for Peeta develop but she also hasn’t forgotten the boy she left behind (Liam Hemsworth of “Last Song” as Gale Hawthorne). We just wish this love triangle was treated better in the movie.
The viewers who’d appreciate this movie more are those who have read the book. In fairness to Jennifer Lawrence (who looks so much like Sarah Lahbati from some angles), she gives a creditable portrayal of Katniss, making it a fully drawn character.
The basic plot is really not new since other films about reality shows where the contestants kill each other have been done before like in “The Condemned” with Steve Austin, “Death Race” with Jason Statham, and the acclaimed Japanese hit “Battle Royale” (2000) where a high school student is forced by the government to join a deadly contest where students kill each other.
The material is really about kids killing other kids so Director Gary Ross of “Hunger Games” has to tame down the kill or be killed scenes for them not to get an R rating that will immediately limit their market. The start of the games is meant to be a bloodbath where several contestants are immediately killed. But they have to depict such scenes in a controlled fashion so the violence factor is very much restrained. Those who expect more blood and gore would surely be disappointed. The action sequences are definitely watered down and make you expect for more.
Also, the script focuses solely on Katniss and we never get to know more of the other characters who appear like they’re just hanging out in the film’s periphery. Despite the limitations, the movie runs for an unjustified two hours and 20 minutes, making a number of parts quite tedious viewing you’d wish they’d quicken the pacing.
