I am not very familiar with the products of popular culture, so I didn't know what to expect. I also don't like film series, where a series of books is made into a series of films - in the manner of Harry Potter e.g. With these precautions I started to watch the first delivery from 2012.
So The Hunger Games is a dystopian film with elements from the fantasy genre. In some distant future young people from various districts have to fight to death. The winner will bring to the district sufficient food supplies. That regime is obviously using hunger as an efficient method to control the people. The battles are televised and popular entertainment for desensitized audiences.
The film focuses on Katniss and Peeta from District 12. Most of the film is young people killing each other until only Katniss and Peeta are left. Instead of fighting each other they are about to commit suicide, but are then allowed to be shared winners of the Hunger Games.
If the movie has a point, it is tough to figure out which one. The dystopian theme is mentioned, but we don't get an idea how this society is structured. There is an acerbic side kick at reality shows where people can make a fool of themselves, here layed out as death-match. Yes, there is a sleazy presenter, as those shows need to have, but also this thread leads to nothing. Katniss is a female action hero, but also this potential is left unused.
Some critics suggest that this film is inferior to the book. This may be. However, this film didn't give me motivation to read the book. As The Hunger Games appear now, they are exciting entertainment, but the suspense is gone as soon as the film is over. I think there is nothing more.
I wonder though if the Japanese original is as poor as this version.
5/10
So The Hunger Games is a dystopian film with elements from the fantasy genre. In some distant future young people from various districts have to fight to death. The winner will bring to the district sufficient food supplies. That regime is obviously using hunger as an efficient method to control the people. The battles are televised and popular entertainment for desensitized audiences.
The film focuses on Katniss and Peeta from District 12. Most of the film is young people killing each other until only Katniss and Peeta are left. Instead of fighting each other they are about to commit suicide, but are then allowed to be shared winners of the Hunger Games.
If the movie has a point, it is tough to figure out which one. The dystopian theme is mentioned, but we don't get an idea how this society is structured. There is an acerbic side kick at reality shows where people can make a fool of themselves, here layed out as death-match. Yes, there is a sleazy presenter, as those shows need to have, but also this thread leads to nothing. Katniss is a female action hero, but also this potential is left unused.
Some critics suggest that this film is inferior to the book. This may be. However, this film didn't give me motivation to read the book. As The Hunger Games appear now, they are exciting entertainment, but the suspense is gone as soon as the film is over. I think there is nothing more.
I wonder though if the Japanese original is as poor as this version.
5/10
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| The Hunger Games aim at nothing |
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