Fanatical Film Spotlight: The Hunger Games

As the official trailer is released tomorrow I thought it only best to do a feature on the upcoming Hunger Games film and give my thoughts.


Now I admit I am not particularly an avid reader but when I heard about The Hunger Games Trilogy and upcoming plans of movies I couldn't help but want to read the first book before the first film's release next year. Having finally finished book one I am immensely looking forward to the film but there are some slight qualms I have after reading various reports on the film. Check out what I think below.


Firstly, if you are not familiar with the premise of The Hunger Games then let me divulge.


North America is now known as the nation Panem, the Capitol, with 12 districts surrounding it. Each year a competition known as The Hunger Games is forced upon these districts by the Capitol with one boy and one girl, aged between 12 and 18 chosen to represent their district in a fight to the death.


We follow the journey of sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) who forces herself into the Games to replace her younger sister. She is a natural hunter, roaming beyond the walls of District 12 with her best friend Gale (Liam Hemsworth) to find food for their families.


But this is a whole new test for Katniss' hunting skills. She has to kill or be killed in the annual event which brings the people of the Capitol together for the biggest event of the calendar. Will Katniss' skills with a bow and knowledge of the forest aid her or will she fall victim to the competitors from the other districts?


With a premise that promises both excitement and emotion, The Hunger Games is a perfect book to be adapted to screen. I do however have a few reservations about the film.


Firstly, the decision to make it a 12a slightly baffles me. A book which contains some rather graphic violence deserves to be reflected thoroughly in the movie, after all this is a tournament where killing is the only way to win. Extreme violence is not necessary but to get the audience immersed into the seriousness of the events unfolding it would only make sense but to immerse us into a Games with utter realism.

Additionally with the decision of a younger audience being reached it could turn out that the Hunger Games may result in shifting gears down the Twilight route with a love triangle representing two districts, this may mar a potentially good film. 


On the plus side the cast seems almost perfectly assembled with the possibility of great things to come. Up-and-coming Jennifer Lawrence looks the part as Katniss and the likes of Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci and Elizabeth Banks supporting help to give extra bang for your buck. 


Whatever happens there can be no doubt that The Hunger Games will draw in the crowds and let's hope that after a very vague teaser trailer we get a fantastic one to whet one's appetite tomorrow.


Stay tuned to Fanatical Film tomorrow for the new trailer.