The Hunger Games (12A) *****

The Hunger Games (12A) *****

Dir: Gary Ross

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson.

Synopsis: Based on the cult book trilogy, Hunger Games is set in a dystopian future where the rich live in the Capitol, and the poor live in outlying ‘Districts’. Each year a boy and girl from each of the 12 poverty stricken districts are chosen to compete in a fight to the death on live TV. This year, Katniss (Lawrence) becomes the first to volunteer herself in order to save her sister.

Verdict: Adapted from Suzanne Collins’ book, and plans for the trilogy to turn into four films, the inspirations behind this sci-fi epic are plain to see. With the likes of Battle Royale, Robin Hood, V for Vendetta and The Handmaids Tale each lending certain aspects to the overall of the story, Collins’ couldn’t go wrong with the series, and the film looks set to be just as big a hit.

The film is hugely emotional straight from the onset; when we’re presented with Katniss (Lawrence) comforting her sister Primrose (Willow Shields) who is having nightmares of being chosen for the Hunger Games, through to a particularly heart wrenching scene once the games have begun. However, don’t expect to be bawling throughout, the action sequences once the event begins are brilliant. I particularly enjoyed the shaky quick cut camera work at the very start of the games, although the whistling after an explosion to show damage to someone’s hearing is a tad cliché now.

The plot does everything right, with a good build up before the action kicks off, and a believable juxtaposition between rich and poor - highlighted by the dystopia and the Robin Hood-esque sense of inspiring revolution by beating the regime at its own game. Even not having read the books you can see where the next films are going go. And, having not read the books, I was deceived a few times by Ross in his editing of the film into thinking it would end towards earlier than it did – something to poke fun at those who see the film before reading the series.

One of the best sci-fi action films of the year, The Hunger Games came out yesterday in the UK.