The Hunger Games (2012)

Evil "President Snow" (Donald Sutherland) has his own unique way of keeping order amongst his provinces. Once a year he draws a lottery of 12-18 year old boys and girls who must fight to the death for the entertainment of the viewing public on television. He doesn't reckon on the calibre of those in District 12, though - the resourceful "Katniss" (Jennifer Lawrence) and her pretty, but weedy, pal "Peeta" (James Caan's childlike stunt-double - Josh Hutcherson). Easily the highlights here are the contributions of television host "Flickerman" (an hugely…

A powerful movie that crosses several genres. From various post-apocalyptic movies we are shown the world after a worldwide disaster that has destroyed our civilization and left a more brutal one. From Spartacus the idea of gladiator games, with the added horror that these "fighters" are children who are presumably too naive to put up any resistance to the regime. From 1984 we have futuristic technology which can monitor anything the victims do, giving them no privacy in their last moments. But the originality is in the heroine -- a tomboy determined…

Check out my full review @ Rating: B+ Revisiting THE HUNGER GAMES ahead of the new film almost felt like a first watch. Jennifer Lawrence is magnetic as Katniss, Stanley Tucci is a hysterically sinister host, and the world-building is rich and full of sociopolitical weight, especially in a gripping first half. The shaky cam and choppy editing have aged badly, though, and the toned-down violence keeps most of the horror out of view, while the Games end on a flat note. Still, as a