The Hunger Games
Well, anybody who's interested in the box office will realise what a success this film has become, and there was no less than two articles in today's Saturday Times attempting to offer an explanation behind the teenage fascination with this new franchise. To say, therefore, that expectations are high, would be an understatement.
First off, as a stand-alone film: If you have no knowledge of The Hunger Games, then this film is simply fascinating, as well as slightly creepy and weird. The plot is simple enough but the whole scenario is just bizzare! The special effects to make the Capitol were brilliant! The costume department had simply outdone themselves throughout, and the stark contrast between rich and poor was brought across in a great manner. You could tell when their budget was being stretched as they avoided the opportunity to include some very impressive shots! There was also a distinct lack of gore-y violance as they tailor the film to a teenage audience and the 12A rating. Hence some of the fighting scenes were less impressive than they could have been, but that shouldn't have taken anything away from the entertainment factor of the film unless you were looking for it. The acting was top class, with a noticeable performance for Prim. The only possible other gripe is the poor explanation of some concepts and scenes which require at least some knowledge of the characters from the book.
However, if you have read the books, then the film sheds a whole new light. Many films that have been adapted from books have usually been a flop, but this is different. It's as if the book and the film complement each other. There are parts in the film which aren't in the book which are a welcome addition. Conversely, there are subtleties in the film which you will only pick up on if you have read the book. However, as a fan of the book, Rue was far far far scarce in screen time and the importance to Katniss was not truly conveyed in a satisfactory manner - this really annoyed me. There were other things that could be picked up on but I really do not want to spoil things. A well cast film with Katniss being portrayed perfectly by Jennifer Lawrence. The flash-overs to Gale were welcome, and there are certain precursors to the second book which pop up - Rue's District 11 and a Head Gamekeeper/President Snow combo without being more specific. The actual games were reasonably accurate and the control room was a masterful set. If you are truly a fan of the franchise, the Motion Picture Score is masterful and complements the film perfectly. The track Horn of Plenty being one of my favourites. Going further with the music and into Songs from District 12 and Beyond, noticeable performances by Taylor Swift, the actual style is completely different to the radio music of today, and so is slightly refreshing.
In summary, a great film and already looking forward to the sequel. Lionsgate have tripled there money so far on this film, and it's easy to understand why. All of the big franchises in the world of film better watch out, a new contender just entered the market.
If I was to sum up my favourite film type in one film, this will be it. There is tonnes of bias in this decision, but there's tonnes of bias in the world around us, so I don't particularly care:
The Hunger Games - 10/10.