First why we all will watch this movie
Latest photos of The Hunger Games Berlin premiere
The non stop action.
The futuristic style and fashion.
Hunger Games Costumes
Katniss Everdeen
The stunning landscapes.
The well picked cast
The love story.
Wow-Hunger Games' star Jennifer Lawrence discovered by talent scout walking in Union Square
Wow-Hunger Games' star Jennifer Lawrence discovered by talent scout walking in Union Square
Teenage girls are going to love this film — so much so that I wouldn’t mind betting it will be the first in a very profitable franchise. It’s a science-fiction action-adventure for girls, with a fiery teenage huntress battling to overcome a corrupt, male-dominated system. But it’s no feminist tract. As in Twilight, there are two hunky guys willing to scrap over the heroine.
We’re in the future, where decadent rulers in the Capitol (ruled by a fake-avuncular Donald Sutherland, with Wes Bentley as his Mephistophelean sidekick) pick one girl and boy from each of 12 districts to fight to the death on live television, in a more lethal, and much more high-tech version of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! The talented Jennifer Lawrence essentially reprises the country-girl role that won her an Oscar nomination for winter’s Bone, as novelist Suzanne Collins’s heroine, Katniss Everdeen. Katniss’s frail younger sister is chosen to represent District 12, but Katniss volunteers in her stead. Katniss is handy with a bow and arrow, and she hopes this will enable her to survive, and return to the handsome local youth (Liam Hemsworth) who is tentatively wooing her. Her only allies are a drunk who once won the competition for her district (Woody Harrelson) and a lad (Josh Hutcherson) who has long worshipped Katniss from afar, but never dared tell her. He’s also competing on behalf of District 12, but the rules demand that the winner will be the last person standing, which means either he or Katniss must die.
There’s much to admire here. The make-up, costumes and environment of the decadent ruling class are spectacular, while Gary Ross directs competently, though this is nowhere near as heartfelt a project as his last film, Seabiscuit. I was left in some doubt as to the point of it all. Is it to satirise the sadism of some reality game shows? To dramatise the uncaring way teenagers are treated by their elders? Those ideas are scarcely developed. Perhaps they will be in future films. But I have no doubt this is the first blockbuster hit of the year.
It's being called the new Twilight and reports are even saying its box office openings worldwide will rival the likes of Harry Potter. For the European premiere, held at London's O2 arena, fans screamed and flocked from around the world to meet the stars. But why the big hype? And what's it all about?Fret not, here are at MSN Movies we've put together all the vital info you need to make you a strong contender to become a pro on The Hunger Games.The movie is based on a trilogy of books written by Suzanne Collins. The first novel, The Hunger Games, is followed by Catching Fire and the last instalment, Mockingjay.So, meet the main character (pictured here) Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence.
It's being called the new Twilight and reports are even saying its box office openings worldwide will rival the likes of Harry Potter. For the European premiere, held at London's O2 arena, fans screamed and flocked from around the world to meet the stars. But why the big hype? And what's it all about?Fret not, here are at MSN Movies we've put together all the vital info you need to make you a strong contender to become a pro on The Hunger Games.The movie is based on a trilogy of books written by Suzanne Collins. The first novel, The Hunger Games, is followed by Catching Fire and the last instalment, Mockingjay.So, meet the main character (pictured here) Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence.
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The story unfolds in post-apocolyptic America, which has been replaced by Panem - a country that is divided into the Capitol and it's 12 Districts. Every year, teenagers between the age of 12 and 18 from each District are entered in a lottery - a male and female are then picked, forcing them to participate in The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are televised event (a reality TV show, basically), so the public watch as the 24 contenders battle it out and kill each other in a bid to become the sole winner.
The selection process for the games is called the Reaping. And it's during the selection for the 74th Hunger Games that Katniss steps up to the plate.
Katniss' younger sister (pictured here) Prim, is selected and in a bid to save her life, Katniss volunteers to enter the games on her behalf.
Carrying Prim is Gale (played by Liam Hemsworth), Katniss' best friend from District 12, who vows to look after her family for her while she's gone.
What you don't see in the movie is the back story to Katniss' complicated family life, in which we learn her father was killed years ago in a mining accident (every District has a production speciality, and District 12's is coal mining). Katniss is left to fend for her family as her mother, a natural healer by profession, sinks into major depression.
Gale's character has a relatively small part in the first movie, but he's central in the second and third books. So fans, worry not if you felt you didn't see enough of him in the first movie.
Meet Peeta Mellark (played by Josh Hutcherson), who is the son of the town baker in District 12. His name is drawn as the male tribute for the Hunger Games, and he becomes Katniss' biggest ally in the competition.
It's no secret that there's a complicated love triangle between Gale, Peeta and Katniss. But that's about all we can say about that for now. If you want more details, you'll have to see the movie and read the books! An interesting back story that's hinted at in the movie is the time Peeta once gave a starving Katniss some bread, despite getting a beating from his mother for doing so. We learn he burnt a loaf to give to Katniss, who was in the grips of starvation. The two don't speak again after that earlier incident, and so their being thrown together in The Hunger Games makes for interesting viewing... after all, only one of them can survive.
Don't be fooled by Seneca Crane's (played by Wes Bentley) seemingly non-terrifying appearance. He's the Head Gamemaker - the person responsible for creating the arena in which the Hunger Games take place. As the games proceed, the theme of the star-crossed lovers (Peeta and Katniss) becomes his main focus. A clever tactic, since there can be only one winner.
Another central character is Haymitch Abernathy, played by Woody Harrelson. He's the mentor for the District 12 tributes (Katniss and Peeta) - but we soon discover he's not much help as he's a raging alcoholic.
We learn that he is also victor of the Hunger Games - he won them when he was 16. And it's now his job to mentor and help prepare other tributes every year.
One of our favourite characters is Cinna, and yes that is Lenny Kravitz! The Hunger Games are not just about fighting to the death: it's also about the drama surrounding them. And a big part of this is the 'promo' tour beforehand which includes interviews and the like in the classy Capitol, a world apart from the grubby District 12 Peeta and Katniss have come from. Cinna is Katniss and Peeta's designer - and boy does he create some spectacular outfits for them.
A slightly comic character, we meet Caesar Flickerman, the TV presenter who interviews the tributes and does the on-air commentary during the games. Think of him as the Dermot O'Leary of The Hunger Games!
Here's an example of one of the eye-catching outfits Cinna designs for Katniss. This one in particular leads to her being called the Girl On Fire. As to exactly why that is, you'll have to see the movie...
Another important symbol from the movie and book is a pin given to Katniss; a Mockinjay pin - a bird encased in a golden circle. The story as to how she obtains the pin is different in the movie, but it becomes a central theme as we learn that the Mockingjay is a genetically enhanced bird, a combination of a Jabberjay and Mockingbird, created by the Capitol many years ago. It's an anti-Capitol symbol and Katniss wears hers with definance to prove that they can never have complete control over her.
The tributes train for two weeks before they hit the Hunger Games arena. They're also given the chance to show off their various strengths to sponsors, who can then bid on them to win and provide them with valuable help in the arena, by sending them parcels of food or medicine, or weapons, if they want to.
The more likeable the tributes are, the more sponsors they'lll get and the more help you'll get in the arena. Katniss has to learn to be 'likeable', something she finds difficult.
Here's a snap of some of the other tributes who Katniss and Peeta go up against, including the evil Cato, a Career tribute. He's been training for this moment his whole life, unlike Katniss and Peeta.
The slightly zany character sitting next to Woody Harrelson is Effie Trinket, brilliantly played by Elizabeth Banks. She's the contestant co-ordinator slash PA slash PR person for the District 12 tributes. With her zany hair and outfits, she's the epitome of style in the Capitol - where anything goes, expect blandness.
Before we forget, you should also remember the name President Snow (Donald Sutherland). He's the benevolentl ruler of the Capitol and not someone you want to tick off. And so, we'll leave you with this shot of Katniss in the woods during the Hunger Games. Just who will win?
We can't say! We'll end on the parting words and iconic catchphrase of the Hunger Games: 'Happy Hunger Games, may the odds be ever in your favour...'.
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