It's the 74th Annual Hunger Games and 'Girl on Fire' Katniss Everdeen (a superb Jennifer Lawrence in her star making role) has volunteered to take her younger sister Primrose's place. [Primrose, Willow Shields]
The games exist to keep 12 districts in line after they rose up against the vicious, affluent Capitol in regards to their poor living conditions and lack of food. The Capitol is headed by the menacing, President Coriolanus Snow, a terrific Donald Sutherland. Each year, a boy and girl is chosen from each district (24 in total), to fight to the death in a gladiatorial competition. There can only be one victor!
A strong cast includes Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, Katniss confidant inside the games, Elizabeth Banks as (their togged up escort) Effie Trinket, and Woody Harrelson as former District 12 Hunger Games winner and now alcoholic, Haymitch Abernathy. Liam Hemsworth is Katniss' potential love interest back home, and Stanley Tucci excels as the over excited, blue haired Capitol television host Caesar Flickerman.
Reminiscent of both Battle Royale (2000) and The Running Man (1987), this is an excellent film (with a haunting memorable score) that is well shot. Unnerving, captivating and thrilling.
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OTHER CAST: Wes Bentley, Lenny Kravitz. DIRECTED BY: Gary Ross. SCREENPLAY BY: Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins, Billy Ray. BASED ON: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. RUNNING TIME: 142 minutes. CERTIFICATE: 12A (Extended version, 15) / PG-13. USA.
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