WOOHOO!!! HUNGER GAMES! HUNGER GAMES! HUNGER GAMES! Woah! Wait Tyler! You're a movie reviewer now. You can't give biased reviews. Let's do this professionally................... WHO AM I KIDDING?! DISTRICT 12! GO KATNISS!!! Okay, now that I've gotten that out of my system, The Hunger Games. Directed by Gary Ross. Based on the novel by Suzanne Collins. Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth. Rated PG-13 with a running time of 142 minutes. Given a 7.7/10 on IMDB.com and certified 85% Fresh on Rottentomatoes.com.
"Set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place for the latest match."
Now, going into this you might be like 99% of our sad excuse of a species saying "Kids killing kids? Why would I want to see that?" or "Isn't this America's sad excuse at copying Battle Royale?" or my personal favorite "Two boys and one girl? A love triangle? This is Twilight!"
If you're one of those people, please stop wasting the limited space we currently have left on this forsaken planet and if you don't have the guts to do that, keep it in your pants. I'd rather not have my children running around with a bunch of inbred fools. Here we have The Hunger Games. If you haven't already guessed, I'm a huge fan of both the books and this film adaptation, but I'll honestly try to keep my fangirling out of this for now on.
Let's start with the cast, shall we? A+!
We have the academy award nominated, beautiful, and sexy Jennifer Lawrence as our heroine Katniss Everdeen. Lawrence does more than an amazing portrayal. She embodies the character in a stunning light and honestly could carry the entire film on her shoulders if needed. I agree with the legend, Donald Sutherland, when I say she may be one the greatest actresses of our generation. Girl deserves ALL the Oscars! I definitely can't say enough about her. If you're unsure that she's too attractive for Katniss, or too old, or are even the slightest bit doubtful, make sure to check out what landed her the nomination, Winter's Bone, and see how brilliant she is.
Then we have Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark, the sweet and innocent baker's son. Although Hutcherson started as what some would call a mediocre child actor, He's never ceased to entertain me. With his very moving films such as Bridge to Tarabithia and The Kids are Alright, JOSH HUTCHERSON IS PEETA MELLARK! His chemistry with Jennifer is inspirational and every scene he's in really pokes at them ole' heartstrings. I think he's going to go far after this.
Liam Hemsworth as the hunky boy from back home, Gale Hawthorn. Originally I wasn't too fond of Hemsworth. I mean come on! The guys dating Miley Cyrus! How intelligent can he possibly be? But I had the chance to watch some interviews and actually meet him at a Hunger Games event and he's actually a very fun and down-to-Earth guy! He masters the American accent in this film and you really believe he is a completely different person. Liam becomes Gale and I'm very impressed considering this is the first film I've seen him in.
Who else is worth a mention? Lenny Kravitz in his first big film as Katniss' Stylist, Cinna. At first I thought he might make me want to 'Fly Away'. I felt like asking him "Are You Gonna Go My Way'. But he said 'It Aint Over Til' It's Over' and now 'I Can't Get You Off My Mind' :P Too much?
So I guess that pretty much sums up my thoughts on him. Kravitz completely blue my expectations out of the water.
Stanley Tucci! The man who does every role he's ever been given perfectly. No surprise in this film. He plays the announcer for the games, Caesar Flickerman. Blue hair, ridiculous outfit and demeanor and a silly grin. Just amazing! Tucci man, Tucci.
Wes Bentley's beard in this film! Bentley gives life to a character barely mentioned in the books. He does this so well that one of the scenes he's in is my favorite and as an extremely dedicated fan (9 HG posters in my bedroom thank you very much), that's saying a lot considering it's not in the books.
Elizabeth banks plays the bubbly Effie Trinket, Katniss and Peeta's mentor from the Capitol. I was really not into her playing this character but every second of screentime she had excited me. You can't even tell it's Elizabeth with the amount of fanominal makeup that's in this movie.
Donald Sutherland...DONALD BLOODY SUTHERLAND! THE MAN HIMSELF! Sutherland plays the tyrant himself, the man in charge of all the disgusting Hunger Games and poverty and starvation in the Districts, President Snow! Oh my god! Genius. This man gets about three minutes and he is so memorable that words can't even begin to praise him. Just Wow!
Lastly, We have Woody Harrelson as himself... Harrelson plays Haymitch Abernathy, Katniss' mentor and only lifeline in the Arena. He's drunk, sarcastic, and lazy. I love it! Woody was perfect for the role to begin with. He makes it believable and serious. Just enough drunk too work. The character isn't silly and comical. He's dark, he understands what it is like to be in Katniss' shoes etc. Woody Harrelson makes all of this believable and so much more. Nicely done, dude!
What a cast we have here!
I think I've written so much at this point that you'd rather be put up against 23 kids and fight to the death then even go on for another second.
Too bad.
Making $58.5 Million at the box office as of writing this review, this movie speaks for itself. Truly something you've never seen before. No stereotypical movie cliches, it's done in such an unrecognizable fashion by Ross, but it works! Hunger Games is the type of story that I personally believe everyone should taste. Wink Wink.
It shows us how easy we will give up everything, our intelligence, our bodies, our rights, as long as we are fed and enteratined. Even if that means killing out children. Once again I'm going to quote Whitney Houston.
What a woman!
Children are the future, man! Where are we if we kill our children? The scariest thing about this story is we really are not as far from this as you think. Look at how we treat celebrities as gods or the corrupt way our government is currently. Dark Days are upon us. With a movie that's almost two and a half hours, you are never bored. It keeps moving, it's full of action, it's got a real message to get across and it makes you feel. Them heartstrings bein' plucked, yo. Don't miss out on such an extraordinarily entertaining film. Adults and Teens alike will love the experience, I guarantee it. Romance, Action, Love, Tragedy, Sci-Fi, A strong Heroine, An A-list cast, remarkable cinematography, makeup, and costumes, Leprechauns, Gypseys, Pokemon, Digimon, Llamas, Adrian Brody, Batman, Walt Disney, Simply Unforgettable! I can't say enough about how good this movie is. Watch it! The Hunger Games. The Movie On Fire!
~Tyler
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