The Hunger Games (2012)

tmdb87069603 June 5, 2012

★ 7.5/10

Very well made movie with quality writing, acting and cinematography. **Pros**: strong performance from the star. Technically excellent. **Cons**: Seems to me that the ending was premature but perhaps intentionally so - for a sequel? Character development is largely weak but there are a lot of characters and already a long movie so I suspect a lot was left on the cutting room floor. Despite some weakness, still a compelling movie worth a watch if not up to all of the hype.

ltcomdata September 15, 2012

★ 8/10

Stories about revolution can be quite good. But stories about why a revolution is needed are invariably great. The Hunger Games is such a story. The movie (for the most part), closely follows the book, and does a good job of it. It also sets up the next book/movie beautifully, even better than the book itself does. The premise, of course, is borrowed from Ancient Rome, when gladiators and/or criminals an/or people whom the emperor wanted killed were forced to fight each other to the death in a public arena for the entertainment of the general populace. And just as decadent as Rome was back then (only rescued from itself by the rise in prominence of The Christian sect), so the "Capitol" is now portrayed in the film/book---and the film portrayed the affluent decadence of the Capitol quite well. In this particular instance the "tributes" were chosen at random from among childre…

Dark Jedi August 26, 2014

★ 5/10

I had not really bothered to put this movie on my to-watch shelf since I felt it was not really my cup of tea but when my wife and oldest son wondered why we did not have it in our collection I thought, well, okay let us get it then. Actually I got the set with the two movies that have been released and yesterday we watched the first one. Well, as far as I am concerned, it is not a turkey, it is rather “okayish” but I certainly do not understand all the hype. It is really far from a great movie. But then, I am probably somewhat biased since, as I wrote above, I did not really think this movie was my cup of tea. Anyway, it starts of with a lot of scenes in “wobblycam”. I have not met any person outside of the movie industry and self-proclaimed so-called “critics” that actually likes it when the camera wobbles around, scenes are blurred and you generally get nauseous by watc…

Andres Gomez February 10, 2015

★ 5/10

I don't really know what's so special about this movie. I found "The Running Man" or "Total Recall" much more deep thought than this. Is it maybe that the main character is a female? Still, it is entertaining and, in this regard, it does its job.

DoryDarko February 21, 2017

★ 8/10

The Hunger Games is a new concept in a long line of post-apocalyptic future fantasies. Where other stories of the same genre often deal with technology and artificial intelligence as the main threat to human existence, Hunger Games actually takes us back to Roman times, with a revitalised version of "Panem et Circenses" or "Bread and Circuses". Simply put; human devastation as mass entertainment. Welcome to Panem: formally known as The United States of America, where every year, a young man and woman from each of the twelve districts are selected to fight each other to the death, with only one possible survivor. These Games are broadcasted on national television as a means to keep the people happy and submissive. Considering the fact that this film is based on a teen book series (written by Suzanne Collins), I can't help but feel this concept is pretty far out there, and actually it's…

CharlesTheBold November 9, 2017

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 to stay alive without losing her integrity. How can she keep herself and her friends alive in a fight when only one victim will be allowed to leave the arena intact, and an entire decadent empire is arrayed against her? This part was given to Jennifer Lawrence, who impressed audiences so well that she inspired numerous later acti…

CinemaSerf April 26, 2022

★ 6/10

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 over the top Stanley Tucci) and the equally flamboyant "Effie" (Elizabeth Banks) who both turn this murderous adventure into an "X-Factor" with bows and arrows, deadly wasps, landmines and plenty of life-saving sponsorship opportunities. Thought the story is not without jeopardy, the acting is by and large terrible. Lawrence and Hutcherson h…