The Hunger Games

A slightly above average film that could have been more. Maybe it's because I haven't read the books, but I kept feeling like I needed to know more about the world in which The Hunger Games takes place in order to believe that such a thing was really possible. That's why I had trouble accepting the idea that there's been a killing contest for 74 years, the purpose of which is, among other things, to pacify the population, and that people have accepted it and somehow it works. Sci-fi or not, the world in which a story takes place should simply be believable. However, I have to give The Hunger Games credit for its fine cast (except that the main antagonist should not have been such a similar type as the main male protagonist, I kept getting them mixed up), the nice pacing that made the two hours and something pass pretty quickly, and James Newton Howard's score. Directionally, however, it was no miracle, and I don't think I'll remember any of the scenes – hopefully the next installments will turn out better in that respect at least, since Francis Lawrence has been placed at the helm. (08/02/2020)

The only thing worth anything in this film, its theme, has already been filmed in an original, energetic way as a provocative satire in Battle Royale. The American version, striving to be a serious and riveting thriller with a romantic storyline, is indigestibly lengthy, clichéd and uses makeup and costumes like from "2001: A Space Travesty 2" with Adam Sandler. I’m giving it the second star for the pleasantly sober acting of the two main characters, who are the only elements of the film that don’t seem like a bad joke. (03/23/2012)

Twilight for fifteen year-old intellectuals, and I don’t mean it as bad as it may sound. Hunger Games is for the same age group as that other rubbish, but at least it tries (and in the book maybe successfully, I don’t know, can’t judge, didn’t read it) to deliver some social criticism, it’s also about a lot more than whether some unstable idiot will take a vampire or a werewolf as her lover, and the motivations of the protagonists are much deeper. As an undemanding blockbuster, it’s pretty good, it looks quite nice (given the low budget), and the art design of the Capitol and its inhabitants was captivating. The most interesting themes, though, are only sketched out, but maybe the upcoming sequels will manage to complete them, I’m curious. What bothered me the most was the unrealistic behaviour of the characters in the Arena and the fact that I didn’t understand at all how the institution of the Hunger Games is supposed to help the Capitol rule the other regions. The film is not great by any means, but it was decent fun. Jennifer Lawrence is brilliant. 7/10 (03/28/2012)

The idea for the book just spontaneously came to the author’s mind and most certainly wasn’t inspired by the Japanese Batoru rowaiaru (2000). Well, let's just say I’m not buying it. I'm going to rudely assume it was a standard American rip-off, just with added bombast, a play on emotions, and a moronic plot. Even if the Americans had set fire to all twenty-four athletes, they couldn't have put together a pair of characters that would entertain me as much as the Japanese duo, Pot lid and Binoculars. Those of you who know something about me must have known that I wasn’t going to be happy with the casting of the lead. Jennifer Lawrence does have something going for her; after all, she is one of the world's top actresses regarding "leaked" photos and videos. There’s no denying that. I just think she should take up poker instead of acting. Her constant unreadable expression can compete even with the likes of Ben Affleck or Mickey Rourke. However, the latter helped himself to it surgically, which disqualifies him in my eyes. The film didn’t start off looking entirely bad, but as time went on, my hopes started to fade, only to vanish completely. The film was made to look like it was about the right values, but actually, it just wasted over two hours on yet another story about a love triangle that teens and American housewives just can’t get enough of. / Lesson learned: Never eat alone and don’t be the first one to eat in a group. (09/08/2022)

The plot roller coaster, which greatly enhances the desire to read a book, but also works as a surprising teenage hit until the very last minute. The characters are precise, the actors amazing, the relationships believable, and despite several seemingly exaggerated scenes towards the end, it's actually hard for me to find any specific criticism. Perhaps if the second part goes deeper into the interaction between the main characters, I will be fully thrilled. Those who mock the partial resemblance to Orwell or Truman Show have not understood that there is a slightly different metaphor here. Katniss Everdeen for the win. P.S.: I became friends with the book practically instantly, and after reading the entire saga, I would give Suzanne Collins almost anything. Just for the record. (04/08/2012)