The Hunger Games was one of those book phenomenoms wherein I didn't know anybody who was reading or who had read the novels written by Suzanne Collins, but if I sat on a bus a train or a pedalo I could be nigh on guaranteed to be within gazing distance of about two hundred copies. Now, as if it to cement its popularity, the book has emerged from its literary cocoon as a cinematic butterfly and swallowed up all the money in the world.

I was naive, I knew very little about the stories beyond their synopsis, which takes in obvious influences such as The Running Man and Battle Royale, plonking them into a dystopian future where post-war America has seen the rich poor divide increase dramatically. In an askew slant on H.G. Wells' The Time Machine the beleagured poor do all the work and are occasionally snatched up by the rich to die in the annual titular Games. There can be only one victor, one survivor.

Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is forced to volunteer for the Games when her younger sister's name is picked out. Katniss is bundled off with Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) to the Capitol in order to be trained and marketed to the audience prior to battling to the death with the 22 other contestants.

The film smartly takes its time with the set-up, around half the running time feels like it takes place in the Capitol and the other half in the arena, these early scenes develop an interesting world laced with satire - take a bow Stanley Tucci as TV host Caesar - and camp costumes that wouldn't feel out of place in Flash Gordon. When we get into the Games themselves the style is scruffier, handheld cameras shaking erratically, intercut with the behind-the-scenes of the event set in a control room that recalls both Minority Report and The Truman Show.

What makes the film work though is the performance of Jennifer Lawrence, she carries the entire production on her shoulders, whenever the design gets muddled, the style wavers, the violence flubs its impact or the narrative sags, she picks up its lumbering body and heaves it along toward the finish line, her performance full of honesty, warmth and determination.

However she is let down by a lack of motivation or desire, yes, she wants to keep her sister out of the Games and once she replaces her Katniss is extremely passive, once out in the arena she makes for the forest and seems to have a lovely time of it sleeping up trees. Occasionally someone comes along to try and kill her, but it's not long before she's rid of them again. It wasn't until discussing the film with friends afterwards that I learned the conditions of the Games - and of the Districts in general - seems to have been softened by the film, indeed, the title refers to people starving and yet everyone seems to be ok, when Katniss and Peeta are presented with dinner they're not overcome with the sight of the food, nor are they advised not to eat slowly else they'll make themselves sick. Likewise, the behind the scenes team can control the forest arena, and, in the books, the days are hot and the nights are freezing, which would at least increase the danger and continued struggle for survival felt by Katniss on those - as it stands - cosy nights up a tree.

The only real reason we want Katniss to win is because she's the only one with much of a character, Peeta is a bit too dour, there are hints of a more interesting arc here and there, but it's ultimately abandoned. In one scene Katniss' actions provoke a riot in one of the districts and this is the start of a storyline that really excited me, it gave the events of the film some weight and purpose, but perhaps this is there for the sequels - a frustrating decision and one that reminded me of City Of Ember, a recent kid's flick with a far more wild and wacky premise (and both films have a small role for Toby Jones), City Of Ember had so much potential, but it squandered it in the hopes of sequels which poor box office nullified. Luckily for The Hunger Games it'll get a chance to continue the story, but it's a pity that the narrative strand that seemed the most worthwhile within the entire film is one that's not resolved, or even really touched upon again outside of that one scene.

Ultimately the film is ok, a few interesting ideas pepper the script, primarily involving the world outside of the Games, but nothing is resolved, learnt or settled within the context of this story, of this film, that you couldn't figure out just from the basic synopsis. A reasonable film made stronger by a commanding lead performance by Jennifer Lawrence.

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Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here