Review: 'The Hunger Games' is good nod to reality TV as dystopia

Review: "The Hunger Games" PG 13
Gary Ross directs the movie adaptation of the popular Suzanne Collins teen series, The Hunger Games. (I have not yet read the books). This dystopian society that comes about following a world war features the formation of 13 city states in what was North America, now called Panem, where the Capital controls the other 12 and forces two teens from each one to compete in an annual gladiatorial Roman type fight to the death. The twist is they're teenagers and that they are on an island like structure. The capital apparently has a late 21st century society where they are sufficiently advanced such as medical salves, although incredibly barbaric considering they kill children in gladiator blood sports. When the girl from 12 is chosen, her older sister, Katriss, and a boy from the same, are picked in her place, to serve in the 74th games. The rich production company/evil societymakes like Roman and Greek myth in the reality TV vein, pitting the teens in a battle to the death. They also set up the guy second string as the love interest. The story should be true to the book as the author was a consultant. It's a good story if not similar to others. It's a genre thing.

The movie seems to be a good blend of American reality TV, Lord of the Flies, George Orwell's 1984, and a number of older dystopian stories that probably aren't even known to the teenagers reading the books. Now that they are, go read them also. Also there is a series and movie based on a book called Battle Royale, although the producers deny they knew anything about that one. Ha. Anyway, the idea is similar but the execution is not. The premise is that the North America has been destroyed and rebuilt as a central capitol city and 12 districts, the lesser of which appear to be set back into the early Industrial time period depicted in the TV series the Waltons. (Another series these kids have never seen). But to take the TV theme farther, other districts have different themes, such as the 11 one having a lot more cameras and stages and looks like Universal Studios, looks like WW2, cowboy stuff and modern stuff, like concert stages and concrete bunker things, and cops running around in white suits, a little. The capital is a highly advanced city state with mag-lev trains, even though ti does resemble an advanced Washington DC crossed with the New Hollywood in Blade Runner. It looks a lot like Blade Runner. They even have a few nods to Death Race 2000, the original, and it is highly influenced by American Idol, Fox news colors, and the Survivor series, including an island complex with millions of cameras. The similarities to other stuff doesn't ruin it though because the source material is different enough that it isn't distracting.

The story is recommended.

Review by Adam Browne