By Johanna Yee and Samantha Carter
Round Table reporters
The bond of sisterhood is said to be stronger than anything, stronger than one’s will to live. Katniss Everdeen demonstrates the intensity of sisterly love when she volunteers in place of her little sister to fight to the death in an arena with 23 other children. Let the Games begin.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. The Capitol, which rules over the 12 districts, expresses its authority each year with the Hunger Games. Each district is required to choose a boy and girl, called tributes, to represent that district in the Games. However, only one tribute can be the victor; only one tribute can live.
The main character, Katniss Everdeen, is a 16-year-old girl from District 12. After Katniss’ father died, it fell upon her shoulders to support her family and, most importantly, to protect her little sister, Primrose. Katniss seems to have failed, though, when Primrose is picked as a tribute. As her last act of guardianship, Katniss volunteers herself in place of her sister. Now she must fight to survive the Hunger Games.
This book is the definition of a page-turner. There is never a moment without suspense or action. The author includes both combat and romance to create the perfect combination.
Despite the setting and the plot being completely unrealistic, readers are able to easily envision the characters, becoming attached to some and repulsed by others.
Katniss, “the girl on fire,” is one character with whom many fans fell in love. She fronts a hard exterior, but underneath she is compassionate and caring. Katniss’ independence and courage makes her the perfect role model for young women.
Peeta, the boy tribute from her district, and Gale, her close friend from home, create a feeling of safety for Katniss, resulting in her growing fondness for both guys. The love triangle that forms between the three characters has readers choosing between Peeta and Gale, reminiscent of “Team Edward” and “Team Jacob” in The Twilight Saga.
According to BBC, The Hunger Games series appeals to a broad audience; men, women, and young adults all enjoy these novels. However, both the books and the movies in The Twilight Saga are widely considered as “chick flicks,” with the main audience consisting of young women.
The Hunger Games premiered on March 23 and broke box office records with $19.7 million for the midnight showing. It sold out nearly 2,000 theaters for opening night. The success of this movie is in part dependent on the publicity that both the book and the movie have received. The cast went on a nationwide mall tour and the movie has a nail polish line, tee shirts, and other various merchandise to help boost sales and excitement.
The movie is on track to continue to shatter records; according to the Huffington Post, official forecasters are predicting the movie to make around “$85 million dollars but studio insiders are privately saying the number could rise to as much as $130-140 million.” This profit would surpass the $138.1 million that Breaking Dawn: Part 1 made.
Unlike most movie adaptations in which parts of the book are excluded, The Hunger Games does justice to the book. Although minute details are left out, the movie provides additional details for clarification, which is especially necessary for those who hadn’t read the books.
Jennifer Lawrence portrays the role of Katniss Everdeen. Capturing the intense emotions described in the book, Lawrence doesn’t just play the part of Katniss, but rather becomes the hunter from the seam that we all fell in love with while reading the books.
Rue’s character and actions in the movie match perfectly to the book. The actress, Amandla Stenberg, is petite and gliding in her motions. Stenberg is the ideal person to play Rue, exhibiting innocence as well as maturity.
Peeta, “the boy with the bread,” is played by Josh Hutcherson, who does a fantastic job of being the boy in love.
Liam Hemsworth plays the role of Gale. In both demeanor and physical appearance, Hemsworth definitely fits the part as described by the book.
The director, Gary Ross, keeps everyone on the edge of their seats with nearly two and a half hours of heart-pounding anticipation.
The filmography takes a different approach than normal, but the shaky cameras and blurred screens only add to the suspense of the film.
The plot twists and turns in directions that even the readers certainly do not expect; even for those who have read the books, there are still a few surprises that the movie has to offer.
Fans’ anticipation may have created high expectations, but the film delivers, leaving fans eager for more. This movie is a must-see, for both those who have read the books and for those who have not; The Hunger Games is sure to be everyone’s new favorite.
Catching Fire, the second book in the trilogy, is said to begin shooting in July.
“Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor.”
