Hunger Games

Today was the day! Hunger Games day, that is. I trudged through a monsoon of a downpour up a hill covered in watery sidewalks and got splashed by puddles because of a bus, but it was all worth it to see the movie. I loved the novels, especially the first two, and I wanted to see the film version as soon as I possibly could, severe thunderstorm or not.

Hunger Games is about the future and the world has become one country called Panem, which is split up into 12 different districts and controlled by the Capitol. Each year, a reaping is held and one boy and one girl, between the ages of 12 and 18, is chosen from each district in order to compete in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is a sick form of entertainment and government control, televised throughout all of Panem, forcing these children to compete against each other and kill each other off, until there is only one tribute left. All of Panem's citizens are required to watch the games. This year's games becomes different quickly, after Primrose Everdeen is selected from District 12 to compete and her older sister, 16-year-old Katniss, volunteers to take her place in the competition.

Thankfully, the movie lived up to my expectations. The acting is superb and the film was loyal to the book version. Of course, it didn't include everything from the book, but I do not expect a movie to do that, it's a different medium. The film is emotional and focuses on the important topic of what happens when a government becomes too corrupt. Forcing children to kill each other off just because you have the power to make them and it can be shown as some sort of sick reality television show is absolutely disgusting. I like that Katniss, Peeta, Gale, Haymitch, and others, such as Cinna and all of District 11 end up showing where their true loyalty lies and it isn't to the Capitol's twisted system.

Don't worry, the film isn't all focused on being depressing. It is funny at times too and there is a little romance in it that lightens the mood a bit.