by: Morgan Guess
Staff Reporter
Over the past several months The Hunger Games trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins, has become a worldwide phenomenon. The Hunger Games was published in September of 2008 and became popular among young adult readers.
The story is set in the ruins of future America that has been divided into districts. Due to the past rebellious acts against the government by the districts, the Capitol hosts an annual Hunger Games event in which one boy and one girl from each district must compete for their lives in an arena created by the evil masterminds of the Capitol. The event is viewed on national television and serves as punishment and as a constant reminder of past rebellious acts, their consequences, and the Capitol’s sovereignty in its citizens’ lives.
The story follows a survivalist girl named Katniss Everdeen through the rough conditions of the games after she volunteered to take the place of her younger sister, Prim. Katniss struggles for her life, and even love, throughout the trilogy. The movie adaptation of the first book in the series brought The Hunger Games to life on the big screen on March 23. The film sold $152.5 million on opening weekend across America, making it the third largest grossing movie ever on an opening weekend.
The actors chosen to play the main characters of The Hunger Games really stepped up to the plate. Jennifer Lawrence, a no-nonsense Kentucky native, brought raw emotion and a type of intensity to the screen that embodied the heroine Katniss Everdeen in every way. Experienced actor Josh Hutcherson portrays her fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta Mellark, the local baker’s son. Katniss’s best friend, Gale, is played by Australian actor Liam Hemsworth. The three actors’ chemistry is apparent on screen.
In comparison to the best-selling book, the film was almost spot-on, missing only a few minor details. The movie’s magnitude brought the terrifying games to reality just as the book did. Despite its two and a half hour mark, the movie never dragged but kept the anticipation and constant action rolling. The Hunger Games not only addresses the female audience through romance but the male audience as well in action.
When compared to other young adult novels such as the popular Twilight saga, The Hunger Games appeals to a much broader audience and has something for everyone. The Hunger Games is a must-read book and must-see movie (in that order) for men and women of all ages.
