Director: Gary Ross
Producers:
| Diana Alvarez | .... | co-producer |
| Robin Bissell | .... | executive producer |
| Suzanne Collins | .... | executive producer |
| Chantal Feghali | .... | co-executive producer |
| Nina Jacobson | .... | producer |
| Jon Kilik | .... | producer |
| Louis Phillips | .... | co-producer |
| Aldric La'auli Porter | .... | co-producer |
| Louise Rosner | .... | executive producer |
| .... | Plot Synopsis: Set in futuristic times, teens are sent from all districts of America to fight in the Hunger games - a survival game that lasts . . . to the death and til the last man is standing. Who Would Like It Anyone who is a fan of the adult actors involved, like Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci and Elizabeth Banks. Woody Harrelson, who I thought seemed like he was a former competitor in the games, from the same district as Katniss, and his job was to help guide her through. I thought his mixture of nonchalance in the beginning and later on he began to root for her, I thought that was nice. Who Might Not Like It People who are not fans of teenager on teenager violence. This movie made Menace to Society look like Nickelodeon programming. It doesn't start right away but when it does it is brutal and frequent! With the comparison of Menace to Society, one nice thing about this movie, which was mostly white (maybe because the protagonists were from West Virginia), but the two black characters in the movie were NOT the first to go, as is the case in most action/adventure/horror movies in the eighties and nineties. In fact, it's such a strong theme that there was a joke about it in the movie Canadian Bacon. Not that the black characters in this movie were very developped, but at least they didn't die right away. Highlights Jennifer Lawrence, who is a rare beauty. I read she was cast in "Winter's Bone", which i think put her on the map as an actress, because she didn't have to say anything and could just look at the camera and tell the whole story with her eyes. Well, that same stoicism is put to good use in this movie as Katniss, her character, eventually wins over not only Woody Harrelson's character, but also the "sponsors" who help her along the way and then of course the audience at home watching the games from the comforts of their proletariat work camps. Also, Lenny Kravitz as the effeminate hair dresser and set designer for Katniss, who is just a good ole girl from the 12th district and who would no likely have been kicked out of the stores on Rodeo Drive initially if she had lived in our time - just like Pretty Woman. In fact, in one scene one of the people in charge of cleaning and preparing the contestants to the Hunger Games suggests that they "wash (Katniss) twice". Lenny Kravitz' character serves as an immediate friend and confidant for Katniss during dark times, but he also gives her one hot outfit . . literally! Is she going to your way, Lenny. Not in this movie Lenny, but that's what makes you guys such good buddies! Anyway, suffice it to say that Kravitz' character was just a bigger part of a very accomplished and dilligent art team that brought this strange novel to life. This review comes well after the Hunger Games' glory days at the American Box office, but just in time for you to watch it right before the Olympic games start and to see which style you prefer, battle to the death or simply battle until the finish line   | |