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We hungry: ‘Hunger Games’ movie satisfies moviegoers

COLLEEN MARTIN ’12| Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

Unlike most movies based on a book series, “The Hunger Games” successfully captured the essence of the characters and the atmosphere that author Suzanne Collins intended. With only a few deviations from the book, the consistency of the movie thoroughly pleased those who read beforehand.

For those who have avoided reading the book thus far, disregard your preconceived notions. To the guys: this is not a simple romantic novel about a teenage girl struggling through adolescence. To the girls: do not let the adventurous and murderous scenes distract you, there is more to the novel than fighting to the death and surviving in the wilderness. Balance all these themes with the overriding struggle of characters vs. society and you have “The Hunger Games,” a modern dystopian novel on love, survival, power-struggle and morality.  

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen takes her sister’s place in the Hunger Games, an annual event that requires two tributes from each of the 12 Districts of Panem, a post-apocalyptic nation set in future North America. The Capitol, exerting its power over the districts, pits the 24 tributes against each other to fight to the death for the entertainment of its citizens. The weak and starving districts see the games as a death penalty for those unlucky enough to have their name chosen, while the wealthy citizens of the Capitol look forward and place bets on the games each year.

Peeta Mellark, the other tribute from District 12, joins Katniss in the games as they work to survive the wilderness as well as avoid their fellow human predators. With her emotions divided between Peeta and Gale, her close friend at home, Katniss is stuck in a triangle.  As the tributes fight each other, they also struggle to hold onto their morals; the need to survive vs. the atrocity of killing a fellow human being.

Still of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. Courtesy of IMDB

Although the book delved deeply into character developments and personal moral struggles, the movie lacked the explanations for the characters’ motivations. The meaning behind the exchanged looks and silent moments between characters could have easily been misinterpreted by those who have not read the book. The movie altered Katniss’s character slightly, giving her a more heroic quality, when in the novel her actions were more selfish and deceptive.

Most movie characters matched their base roles from the book almost perfectly. More depth of character would have benefitted the movie, although it is already almost two and a half hours long. The quiet, serene moments are balanced out by the fast action scenes full of swords and bow and arrows. Some criticized the film for its gruesome fights; however, this is merely staying true to the book’s violent nature. The overriding struggle is not about hunting down the fellow tributes, but about avenging the Capitol for its pitiless power over the districts and the games. 

This  movie certainly left onlookers hungry for more. If you have yet to read the addictive series, you are missing out on the true drama.  Just watch yourself- this is not turning into the next Twilight-level teen hit. There are no teams; no Team Gale, no Team Peeta, and let’s keep it that way. 

And, as Effie Trinket says during the reaping every year, “May the odds be ever in your favor” as you wait for the second Hunger Games movie to premiere on Nov. 22, 2013.

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