In today's fast paced world Suzanne Collins takes the single idea of competition and twists it into a stunning metaphor for the battle for a place in society. Set in a fictional reality, the story tells of how in the early 22nd century America's economy collapsed and nearly 800.000 people were out of work, nearing 15% of the population. Seeing their chance, the students revolted against school and the system itself. Fearing the youth and the rise of teen violence, the adults along with the government passed the re-educational system also known as the BR Act. The story takes place approximately 5 years into the future after the Hunger Games act has been put in order, a group of rowdy ninth graders are chosen to play the Hunger Games. While the outer look of the Hunger Games may seem like a cheap excuse for pointless slaughter, the movie itself offers numerous views and critiques against the modern society in which we live in. From the opening scene with the stunning use of visual and audio techniques, when the winner of last years game is presented to the press, to the taunting instruction video in how to watch the hunger games movie online properly, the movie seems to take a bite at every aspect of the American and perhaps even the eastern culture. The elite hegemony taunts them sadistically once the game begins, the viewer is constantly kept aware of the situation in it, an almost deity like being informs the viewer every now and then of the contestants who have died in the brutal battle. Also a certain subconscious like text appears to the characters in times of need, this can be interpreted as the directors way of showing last thoughts that go through a dying contestants head before they finally die or the despair or motive of a contestant. The single scene in which a contestant that has been portrayed as a ruthless killer to the viewer dies, a single sentence makes the viewer re-think their opinion about her. Suzanne Collins is one of the most revered writers of so-called 'young adult' literature. Gary Ross directs her original story steadily without resorting into too many gimmicks of visual presentation and some scenes almost attain a film noir visuality. While certain moments are very Kubrick like, the movie is refreshingly different from the usual style of movie making, and perhaps in the hands of a younger director the movie possibly couldn't have made such valuable points that it now makes. In the US the movie received a mixed reception. While Ross wished that the movie would open for mostly all ages above 13, the censors believed that the brutality would not suit children that age and ordered a few light edits. Annoyed, Ross edited a new version of his film for he wished that younger audiences would see the movie for it's message, he succeeded and the movie opened then for audiences of 13 and above. What the censors did not see was that while Ross edited the movie so that many things were explained and made more understandable and the ending was changed to a more satisfying one, Ross actually added via computer technology more blood & flames into certain battles and some critics even consider that the edited version is even more brutal than the original. Ross uses surprisingly young actors unknown outside of The continental US to portray the out of control youths who are chosen to the game. This mainly is that he wanted to show the American youth that where being over competitive can lead to. Ross also uses veterans fromm Hollywood movies, Donald Sutherland portrays with unquestionable devotion the sadistic yet philosophic spirit of Snow, the president who oversees the Hunger Games programme. Sutherland's presentation rises well over the other actors mainly because of the talent that he has attained over the years of cinema and theatre, his other movie roles include the renowned 'M*A*S*H' and 'Oedipus the King' which he directed himself. Also the acting talents of the young rising star Jennifer Lawrence stand out of the crowd. The atmosphere in the movie can be compared even to the bleak and depressing image of George Orwell's '1984'. But while '1984' uses subtle yet depressing imagery to portray a society gone wrong, The Hunger Games focuses on shocking people into realizing the wrongs of the society that occupies our everyday lives, and while The Hunger Games may portray this in a surrealistic and over the top way, deep down it portrays a biting satire that really has something important to say.
