"The Hunger Games" series is unlike any other, a mixture of dramatic romance, mysterious political crime and survival of the fittest. When reading the book you are captured by Katniss Everdeen and her will to take care of herself and her family, you learn where her priorities in life stand when you see her merely hunt and trade with people in her District, District 12. You see, there are Districts beneath the all powerful anarchy of the Capitol. Every district is limited by the Capitol, and at the expense of those districts the people of the Capitol get their gain. Therefore, Katniss and her hunting partner Gale provide for themselves by breaking rules and going out to get there own gain in the forbidden forests surrounding their district.
The Capitol has an annual tradition of taking two tributes from every district, randomly chosen, and putting them in a arena to fight to the death. This is for entertainment, and ultimately to remind all the districts that they are not in control of there own lives, and to encourage them to rely only on the Capitol, or be punished.
The movie and book capture you in the intensity of rebellion against the Capitol and Districts. There is an unsettling feeling that something is wrong with the government here. So when it is Katniss and the baker's boy Peeta who are the tributes from District 12 this particular Hunger Games you know there will be ultimate changes to take part.
The character who plays Katniss in the 2012 film is breathtakingly beautiful, and in all reality a perfect match. She's brave and yet sentimental, and plays the part of a subtle rebel very well. But Peeta, ahhh Peeta, he is a masterpiece in the book and not quite right in the production. You see, he becomes the voice of the rebellion with his wit and charm with the crowd, and its apparent right away in the book, but the movie shrugs off that aspect and instead portrays him as just a boy who is in love with Katniss. (and even that isn't played to the fullest)
The book is more political than a romantic story, Peeta is a perfect example of what a brave citizen under immoral rule would react. He uses word to persuade the people of the importance of a rebellion, he encourages and uplifts Katniss, though she neglects his wise counsel, and he faces the harshest of penalties in the end. Something even Katniss wouldn't survive. I believe the movie surpassed his greatness which is unfortunate. In fact, by not including certain dialogue in the movie that was in the book, it leaves the audience confused about a lot of the characters, therefore making it less appealing.
Leaving that negativity behind, there is a very positive aspect of this film, and that is the "feel" of the movie itself. It's as if we've rewound to the depression, or perhaps fast forwarded to the future of a demolished government. There is a sorrow in the scenes, a feeling that something corrupt is happening with no way of stopping it. The Hunger Games themselves, with silence in the woods and ruthless killings by haunting children, are spectacularly medieval. Katniss takes you along her side as she survives, you jump when she jumps, you're running as she is running, you feel the fear of the moment as she is hiding from the brutal contestants hunting her down. That is something I've never had happen to be in a movie, something that only a book has had the effect on my mind so far. You get into her head and begin to think like she does when she does. Of course, I may be bias because I know what she was thinking because I had read the book, but it was incredible from my standpoint.
I expect the trilogy to be a success at the end of all the films, just as the books have been. But I would definitely recommend the book before viewing the movie or you won't be able to make sense of it all unfortunately.
