May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor.

Aaaaaaaaand we're BACK!

Heads up! Changes are coming. We have dusted off the mugs, and re-open the cafe. My cohorts and I will be recording a new episode of the podcast this week. The website should see some significant changes as well as a relocation in the next few months. We also have some cool ideas and surprises in store for the future. NOW, back to business.

The buzz surrounding the release of The Hunger Games was unique. It seemed to fuel itself on word of mouth. While there certainly were ads and even a free iOS game to raise awareness; people were already excited about the flick when it was announced. Even I was cautiously intrigued by the movie.

For those who don't know, the Hunger Games is the story of a girl living in a distopian society where every year children are selected to fight to the death in an arena until only one remains. This premise is made even more perverse by treating the Children as celebrities for the brief time between when they are selected to compete and thrust into the arena. This celebrity treatment is what makes the story unique. At times it was as though I was watching a perverse American idol. What hooked me was the contrast between the televised interviews and the opulence of the Capitol along side the sick violence of the 'Games' themselves.

Now, this is a film based on a young adult book; thus it must cater to a younger audience. As a result the movie is good, but cannot explore the disturbing themes as deeply as an adult film (gotta keep that PG-13 rating). However, it is important to know your audience, as The Hunger Games clearly does. Also, DO NOT sit in the front row, you may suffer a violent reaction to the EXTREMELY shaky camera work.

Aside from the movie being limited by it's audience, it is a very competent work. Since the book is told from a limited point of view, it is great the film makers were able to tell the story so well. It is a very loyal adaptation of the source material in spirit. What I mean by this is that the same messages and information are conveyed to the audience through different means (due to the strengths and limitations of the film medium vs. the written word).

The only criticisms I have heard is that the character development is limited/non-existent. While that is not evident in the film, the only way you would know what she is going through is to know her thoughts. What I mean by this is that Katniss is a stoic and cold character in the book, the only way we know what she is going through is because we are reading her thoughts. In the film the actress Jennifer Lawrence does an excellent job playing her exactly as she was in the book. I would expect her to have a deeper character arc as the trilogy continues and she accepts her role as a patriot. In this first chapter she is simply a survivor by necessity, unaware of the repercussions some of her actions are having across Panem. Instead the draw of this film is the perverse society, the Games themselves, and seeing all the pieces fall into place for the coming sequels.

The supporting cast is great (especially Stanley Tucci and Woody Harrelson). The direction also helps convey the violence of the film without gore, it reminds me of a documentary. That said, it is difficult to tell what is happening during some of the action sequences because of the shaking camera.

I was entertained through the entire film. Even if it isn't a perfect, or excellent movie, it is certainly worth seeing on the big screen. I am absolutely looking forward to the sequels and am excited to watch some of the young actors mature over the course of the franchise. Happy Hunger Games!