By: Marina Yang

The first ‘Hunger Games’ movie was created in 2012, and directed by Gary Ross who helped co-write the screenplay with author Suzanne Collins and Billy Ray. It was produced by Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik. The main cast of the movie being Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence), Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), and other lesser characters like Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson), and more.

The movie first plays out with the main character Katniss Everdeen, who is in one of the many districts who are made to play these games for rewards/resources from the Capitol. How the Hunger Games work is that a messenger from the Capitol comes to each district to draw two opposite gender entrants for the games, being luck-based. You then have to fight against other people who are all there for the same thing, to win for their districts. It’ll often end with one winner (besides in this movie where it had two) who brings back victory for their district. However, Katniss name was not drawn in the start, but it was her sister instead who has only just turned the age eligible to be in the drawing. Fear overtakes Katniss and makes her volunteer in place of her sister as she fears the death of her sister who is yet so young and inexperienced. Then the second name drawn is Peeta Mellark’s, to be the second person to enter in the hunger games accompanying Katniss.

The Hunger Games is just a big game of survival and deaths and kills to survive up to victory. Though, occasionally the game will add in challenges to make the game more difficult for the players alongside the secret alliances and battles amongst the tributes. This game really shows the true natures of some people, showing their greed to win, what they view as honor to keep the title of a “winner”, kindness in a dangerous environment, weak to and strong, etc.

At moments of the movie I found myself conflicted especially with Peeta switching up every once in a while with his act and who he was to who he wanted to be. Plus, the touch of romance didn’t really fit right with me either, I mean outside of this I’d find it normal, but I felt kind of unsure especially since Katniss and Peeta’s interactions before the Hunger Games weren’t really mentioned nor seemed very important in the movie. I just felt like Peeta’s love interest was just added for a touch of humanity but it still but felt sort of unnecessary to the story.

Overall, not a bad movie but not my regular watch nor favorite so I’d say a 3.8/5. Not sure if it’s too low or high, but I think it’s not really my thing but it definitely wasn’t bad.

You can watch the movie through streaming sites that require subscriptions or purchasing the film.