介绍:
Despite the popularity of the film "The Hunger Games" in North America, I had low expectations. Because when it comes to man-killing-man survival movies, there is nothing that Gary Ross could have done to outsmart Japanese director Kinji Fukasaku in his thriller "Battle Royale." And the truth is Ross didn't even try.
Instead, he went easy on the stage blood and made a PG-13 movie, with sequels yet to come. The arrangement seems fitting, because like "Twilight," "The Hunger Games" is the first of a series of young-adult novels that command a sizeable readership. And judging from its performance in North America and China, I'll say Ross is on the right track for a fortune.
Like all novel-based movies, "The Hunger Games" is challenged by the adaptation work. The novel's author Suzanne Collins offered her help by working with screenwriter Billy Ray, but I guess the challenge was just too huge. As a serial opener, the movie has to lay all the groundwork for the ensuing sequels, so the major activity of this film – the game – is postponed until after the movie is half way through. And since the movie targets a rather young audience, the battle scenes are mild and short. So the grown-ups who have been lured to the cinema for the action will most likely remain hungry for some real thrills, but they won't get any.
Another serious drawback is also caused by the adaptation. I haven't read the novel, but from watching the movie, I guess the author must have been generous and diligent in the portrayal of certain characters. Because some characters in the movie make an excellent impression upon first appearance, including the Lady Gaga-styled Effie Trinket, played by Elizabeth Banks. But as the story moves forward, they are simply cast away, giving the time to stories that aren't necessarily interesting.
The acting is decent. The novel and the movie adopt a first person narrative, so we've seen too much of the lead actress Jennifer Lawrence frowning and crying and thinking deep thoughts the audience can never expect to find out. The result is that other interesting characters are not given enough exposure. Honestly, I'd rather see more of the male lead Josh Hutcherson cracking jokes and putting up shows in a struggle to survive, and Woody Harrelson trying everything he can to get help from the Game Sponsors. But no, the movie has your eyes fixed on the pale face of Lawrence, who practically stays away from the fighting throughout the film.
Perhaps "The Hunger Games" is popular because of promotion and the novel's large readership. The serial opener in itself is obviously not satisfying. We'll wait for the sequels and see if things will improve. On a scale from one to 10, I give "The Hunger Games" a four.
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