The Hunger Games

We’re nearly there!  On March 23, 2012 we’ll finally get to see Katniss and Peeta fight to the death in the film version of The Hunger Games.  The Hunger Games, published in 2008, is the first book of the trilogy by Suzanne Collins, the next two are called Catching Fire and Mockingjay.

In the film adaptation of the book, Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence - who also starred in the film Winter’s Bone that was set here in southern Missouri, makes a decision that changes her life forever.  Every year the twelve districts in the dystopian society of Panem, located in the ruins of North America, are forced to send two children, one boy and one girl, between the ages of twelve to eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games where they must fight to the death.  Katniss is faced with the life or death decision when she takes the place as Tribute for her twelve year old sister, Primrose. 

Katniss and the male Tribute from District Twelve, Peeta Mellark, played by Josh Hutcherson, are brought to the Capitol of Panem where they are groomed till deemed presentable and are paraded through the streets of the Capitol as if being chosen as Tribute is a privilege when it is in fact a death sentence.

The twenty-four total Tributes are trained and readied for the upcoming games (which everyone in all of the districts must watch).  The tributes are fed well and treated like royalty.  That is, until they are brought up in a tube that circles a cornucopia filled with weaponry, food and other supplies.  Then, the game is on and they must fight to the death.

Many big names will appear in this film, such as Woody Harrelson as Haymitch.  Also to appear in the film is; Elizabeth Banks as Effie, Stanley Tucci as Ceasar Flickerman (the Ryan Seacrest of the games…), Liam Hemsworth as Gale, Lenny Kravitz as Cinna and Donald Sutherland as President Snow.

Gale and Peeta

Although the movie is set to hit theaters in twenty-three days, a rating has yet to be chosen.  The film promises several violent scenes not suitable for those who are young.  Odds are the film will be rated PG-13 to satisfy all fans of the young adult fiction, but it leaves me to wonder, will they truly be able to catch the true nature of the book without a little blood and gore?  The book is tastefully written and leaves much of the violence to the imagination, but it will be interesting to see how director, Gary Ross, portrays the violence on screen.

The Hunger Games film will not only capture audiences both young and adult, but both male and female as well, which is a nice break from movies such as the Twilight series that caters to delusional girls and moms alike.  If the film does well in theaters, odds are they will continue on will the film adaptations of the trilogy – fingers crossed!!

May the odds be ever in your favor!