Rainier E.

Mendoza
2013 - 38229

A Reaction to the movie The Hunger Games

Earning a worldwide gross of 686 533 290 US Dollars, The Hunger Games ranks 13 th as the
highest-grossing film in North America. Being one of the most talked about movies in 2012, it gained a
lot of positive reviews from film critics and became a box office hit all around the globe. Millions of
people all over the world went crazy over it and had opted to spread the good news in social media.
Blogs, tweets and Facebook posts regarding the movie had been a common sight in the internet during
the time when it is still out in the cinemas. Because of this, The Hunger Games had been a big question
mark to me. What is with The Hunger Games that makes it a very good movie that suits the taste of a
lot of people even Filipinos? To answer this question, I went out to see the movie for myself and after
watching it in the big screen, I cannot agree more with all those Hunger Games fanatics. Indeed, in my
own opinion, The Hunger Games is a must be watched film because aside from the thrill that it gives its
viewers, it also offers a very interesting story about love, struggle, sacrifice and survival that tackles
social as well as political issues like totalitarian government and reality shows.
The Hunger Games was the film adaptation of the novel written by Suzane Collins having the
same title as the movie that was published on 2008. It was all about a post-apocalyptic country called
Panem which was divided into 12 districts and a Capitol that rules over these districts cruelly. Because
of the failed uprising of the districts, the Capitol has mandated that every year each district must send
one young man and woman, between 12 18 years old, who will have to fight each other to death until
one of them remains and becomes the victor. This is called the Hunger Games. The story revolved
around Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12, who has volunteered to play in the games in order to
spare her sister's life. It has centred on Katniss's adventure as a tribute and the effects of her rebellious
actions in the arena.
Being a movie counterpart of a book, I think The Hunger Games has been very successful in
projecting the story on the screen. What you imagine when you read the book is what you will really
see in the movie unlike in other movies whose stories were altered and became very different from its
book counterpart. Those violent and grotesque scenes like the battle at the cornucopia however was
edited for young viewers since it involves teens viciously killing each other with deadly weapons like
spears, swords, axes and knives. Despite this editing, the flow of the story was not affected as well as
1

Rainier E. Mendoza
2013 - 38229
its overall impact. It only made the movie a bit more child friendly. Another thing about The Hunger
Games that makes it better compared to those other book-based films is that there is no required
reading for you to understand the story. The movie itself is sufficient to make you understand what is
going on. It never failed in letting its audience comprehend what it is talking about.
Meanwhile, the plot of the movie and its appropriateness to its genre is also praise worthy. As
an action and adventure film, it thrilled the viewers and has put the excitement in the air. Fight scenes
were well executed. The part in the movie where Rue, the District 11 girl, died was not only dramatic
but also intense. It was the scene where Katniss fought Marvel, the District 1 guy, and killed him with
her bow and arrows. Another scene that I really like was the one when Katniss went to the cornucopia
to get a medicine for Peeta where she was ambushed by Clove, the District 2 tribute. That scene was
full of suspense and it made my heart beat faster. For me that is something that an action adventure film
must offer its audience. Moreover, the cast seemed to have mastery of the weapons they used in the
film and I think this is very impressive. Clove's knife-throwing skill was really astonishing while
Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss) has trained in archery before the movie was shoot. This is an additional
spice to the movie because it makes the scenes more realistic.
In terms of costume and special effects, The Hunger Games will also never be left behind. The
setting of the story was the North America after some serious disaster hundreds of years from now. This
means that it is trying to give us an idea of a futuristic world. And the movie's setting and special
effects was a very convincing one on my point of view. Since its futuristic, advanced forms of
technology would be expected and that was depicted in the film by those ultra-modern transportation
vehicles like the Hover Craft that looks like a spaceship and that Maglev Train that travels with a speed
of 200 miles per hour. It was also seen in the use of holographic figures as a form of communication
and as tools for manipulation in the Capitol. Furthermore, the way that the game makers can control
everything inside the Hunger Games arena also shows how progressive their technology is during that
time. And when I say everything, it includes the weather, the natural environment, occurrence of day
and night and even natural catastrophes like floods, storms, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
The costumes on the other hand depicted the social inequality in the movie accurately. It divided
the Panem society into two: the haves and the have-nots. Those living in the Capitol wore weird but
elegant outfits together with their hair colored with different bright hues. Proving only that they enjoy
2

Rainier E. Mendoza
2013 - 38229
living a very luxurious life. On the other hand, those who live in the districts were left with no choice
but to wear old tattered clothes because that is all they have. It justifies their pathetic condition as
slaves of the capitol.
Both costume and special effects are very important elements of a good and effective movie.
They help the viewers visualize the situation especially if the story includes supernatural activities.
Also, special effects contribute to the amusement the movie could give. As for The Hunger Games, it
certainly did amuse me with its costume and special effects. I really loved it when Katniss and Peeta
wore fire in their costume and I was really fascinated with Capitol's very advanced technology.
Most importantly, I think The Hunger Games would never really be a fascinating movie without
tackling very interesting issues that underlie its themes. First, is the totalitarian government and its
absolute power over its people. We can say that in most totalitarian governments, people are being
abused. They are being deprived of their rights and they are not given the chance to fight for it. In the
movie, the people in the districts are being forced to work for the Capitol and they cannot complain
because every year, the Hunger Games is being held to remind them that the Capitol holds their life and
they can do nothing about it. Second, the Hunger Game itself is a reality show being broadcast live
across Panem. However, even if it is a reality show, still external factors affect what is going on inside
the arena because the game makers are manipulating the games. Similarly we can never say that reality
shows are indeed for real because there is the director plus his staff and crew that might dictate what
will happen next. For short, the idea of reality here seems fake.
No wonder The Hunger Games gained accolades and became popular to people. Everybody
would love such a very wonderful movie. Personally, I was able to understand why almost everyone is
loving it just like the way I do. It was able to expose the story to the audience very well. Its plot was
very appropriate to its genre which is action adventure and the portrayal of characters by the actors and
actresses were good. The costumes and special effects highlighted the setting of the story and amused
me. Most importantly, it revolves around issues that are relevant to our lives.