The Hunger Games

[mancrew]

Enjoyed the film. Knew a lot of the storyline from all the trailers and hype. Didn't read the book beforehand because I didn't want to be disappointed as the book is usually better. Want to read the book now, and wouldn't mind seeing this again.

Saw this at Manchester Printworks. No checks for tickets or id. Just went straight in after asking a member of staff. Film started a little late and was about half full, but people streamed in slowly about 20 minutes later.

[McG]

As Yinster posted, it was almost a Scottish Fmuk night out at Braehead, being the only preview screening of HG. No mention of Amex cards. Surprisingly cinema not even half full.
I have to say I really enjoyed the film . . . I thought the pace was just right but could imagine the book would have given better background detail. I thought the acting was well done.
I did comment that the Hunger Games could be the next reality programme involving celebrities killing each other! . . . . we've had just about everything else!
[spoiler]Great to see that Disney filnms will still exist in the future . . . when Rue died she was laid out the same as Snow White after eating the apple Lying in a bed of flowers and flowers in her hand. Aaaah![/spoiler]
I suppose like others I am uncomfortable with the idea of children killing each other but this has already been explored in Lord of the Flies many years ago. Given the film has a 12 rating, violence is kept pretty low key though enough is shown to unsettle the viewer. It is certainly not comfortable to watch children hunting each other.
Would I watch the 2nd film . . .Yes! Would I be willing to p*y . . . Yes!

Marks 8.5/10

[superhero]

My friend walked out in disgust and said it should be 18 rated.

[McG]

My friend walked out in disgust and said it should be 18 rated.

Intertested to know what in particular your friend took exception to?

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

A bit tired again to write much after a double bill of films this evening (I had watched Act of Valour first).

Well I know the synopsis is similar to Battle Royale which I had seen twice, first time was on its limited release in the cinemas over a decade ago, and I literally stumbled out of the cinema after watching it. It was shocking, gory, hard core and ultimately brilliant. I dont expect Hunger Games to be anything on that level so I did go into this not expecting too much despite the incredible hype its getting. Good thing too because I actually didnt get that much.

The positives first though...and there are plenty. Ok I lied about not getting much, it just kinda flowed to say it from my previous sentence . The build up to the games was brilliant. Loved the exposition, my anticipation from the film's first half was rocketing. This was promising to be a great film. Jennifer Lawrence carries this movie superbly as the lead, I only seen her before as Mystique in X-men:First Class and she was great in that too. He transitioning motives and adapting to her circumstance was a joy to watch.

Unfortunately, the second half of the movie was somewhat underwhelming. Some of the action scenes was the worst executed I have seen for a long while, not sure if this was heightened by the fact that a couple hours earlier I had seen some of the best actions scenes in the film Act of Valor but the action in this film was an absolute mess. Worse, our protagonist literally proclaims that the finale has come, so naturally my expectations rise again, only to be completely dissipated by a finale that so ordinary and visually incomprehensible. Then the end of the movie comes and I just couldnt help feeling terribly unsatisfied. The story is also incomplete but I wont be too harsh on that as this is intended to be a multiple film story arc. It was the suddenness of the finale and the lack of any tension for it, plus worst of all, not knowing what the actual state of play was, until it was over. Such a shame it fell apart here. However, my emotional investment the leading protagonist never wavers, so thank god for jennifer Larence performance.

I know I seem to be emphasising more on the negatives but I did enjoy what there was to enjoy, the production, the well acted drama between the unfortunate kids, Woody Harrelson and Donald Sutherland giving some scenes much needed gravitas. I wonder to myself if I was expecting Battle Royale hence my disspointment in the action? Perhaps I'll go watch it again. In fact I enjoyed this enough to want to read the books before the sequels appear :)

7/10

PS I do not think there is any plagiarism of Battle Royale going on here. Perhaps it maybe inspired as with most modern fiction. Gladiators were doing this sort of thing over 1000 years ago anyway except not with kids.


Side note: This is not a criticism of the story but personally, I do have a problem seeing very little children being murdered on screen. When it happens it scars me a bit, most notably Assualt on Precint 13 (John Carpenter's version), and to a lesser extent Jaws and now this film (I only read Lord of the Flies but not seen any of the film adaptations). I didnt mention Battle Royale because the kids were I think 15-17 year olds, and thats different, teenagers I can stomach seeing slashed up in horror movies, in fact its fun, they're bratish at those ages . But here, the story allows under 10 year olds to be picked and I dont see a need for story structure to have society including say under 13 year olds in the draw. I dont see society ever stooping that low...though they did during the height of the Roman empire but I just dont see the possibility of that kind of society in the future. I know this is just a story and the child killing is for narrative impact but does this particular storyline need it to be little children? Lord of the Flies is different, that is a book that intelligently theorises how children may behave when stranded on an island, the child killing was integral to the dark messages of the book. Other exceptions I would also make are films depicting school bullying etc. Maybe it does, it just makes me uncomfortable, maybe I should just remind myself its just fiction. Perhaps the murder of very young children is what gives Hunger Games an impact, it just makes me uncomfortable, maybe I should just remind myself its just fiction and not be bother by it which most of you will probably roll your eyes and tell me "yes, you idiot, dont be bothered by it, its fiction".

[stuartboy]

Hey! I thought this rocked. Loved it. Did take some getting used to initially but soon sucked you in. I'll definitely be reading the books - add them to HP and LOTR that I am plodding through (all of which I am determined to finish before wtaching the movies - like for the first time ever!!)

Would definitely watch again too. Seemed very original to me (if an adaptation from a book can ever be "original".

8/10.

Great to see Yinster +OH and MG too.

[superhero]

I think most people who are disappointed with the film have either watched Battle Royale or seem to have gone in expecting a huge action blockbuster. I don't think when they started out, they thought this was going to be quite this huge, otherwise it would have gone to one of the bigger studios and not sold to Lionsgate who is just well known for specialising in low budget horror films like Saw.

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

I think most people who are disappointed with the film have either watched Battle Royale or seem to have gone in expecting a huge action blockbuster. I don't think when they started out, they thought this was going to be quite this huge, otherwise it would have gone to one of the bigger studios and not sold to Lionsgate who is just well known for specialising in low budget horror films like Saw.

Yeah, Sh, I am definitely in that BR category but I enjoyed it enough to watch it again and perhaps enjoy it more with a different perspective, oh and read the books too :)

[canadian_turtle]

Side note: This is not a criticism of the story but personally, I do have a problem seeing very little children being murdered on screen. When it happens it scars me a bit, most notably Assualt on Precint 13 (John Carpenter's version), and to a lesser extent Jaws and now this film (I only read Lord of the Flies but not seen any of the film adaptations). I didnt mention Battle Royale because the kids were I think 15-17 year olds, and thats different, teenagers I can stomach seeing slashed up in horror movies, in fact its fun, they're bratish at those ages . But here, the story allows under 10 year olds to be picked and I dont see a need for story structure to have society including say under 13 year olds in the draw.

They're 12-18 years old. Not under 10.

[funthing29]

I don't have much to add to what others have said. I liked it and intend to read the books. I agree that a 15 rating would have been more appropriate since it would have allowed the film to be more gritty and dark. The action and death scenes are a bit glossed over to suit the younger audience. Lawrence is excellent in the lead role. The build up to the games was achieved well even though the climax was underwhelming. 8/10.