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Man’s perennial appetite for blood keeps surfacing from time to time in the form of blood and thunder sports, like, for example, throwing the Christians to the lions at the height of the Roman Empire. In The Hunger Games, it is given a futuristic twist but the basics are the same, however way you look at it, an uneasy blend of sadism and violence. Set in more than 100 years in the future and after the destruction of North America, there has risen from the ashes a land called Panem but they are no different from our primitive ancestors, and sacrifice is still alive and kicking to appease the powers that be.
The Hunger Games are an annual reminder of the 12 districts of the Capitol’s authority and the punishment of their rebellion over 70 years ago in which the 13th district was supposedly destroyed. Each of the 12 districts is to choose a boy and girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to compete in the games, which are as unpredictable as they are complicated because the hierarchy headed by President Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland) and emcee Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) make ad-lib changes to suit their own whims and fancies. Games-fixing! Drawn by lots, called “the Reaping,” the youths are selected but our attention is focussed on Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) from district 12. Actually Katniss is to replace her sister Primrose (Willow Shields) whom the lot falls on. Katniss is a bit wild with a reputation of hunting beyond her boundaries and with Gale (Liam Hemsworth). Heymitch (Woody Harrelson) is the eccentric coach of district 12 and the most rounded character in this sea of caricatures. Based on a novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins, director Gary Ross makes a promising start with the establishing shots. The rustic setting also contributes to the ambience but the plot is weak and by the halfway mark, the fare is tolerable. Then, it meanders rather agonisingly and though gore is avoided in the initial killings, the open wounds are gut-wrenching.
Sultry newcomer Jennifer Lawrence is very convincing and seems to grow with every frame but Josh Hutcherson merely goes through the motions and Amanda Stenberg as Rue is rather cute. But the others merely flit in an out of the frame like moths. The second half is just painful like a never-ending story and it ends with a whimper. A sorry, sorry sci-fi offering fails to amuse or entertain.
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