The teen movie of 2012. Katniss refuses to go down without a fight. This phenomenal movie and book trilogy has critics, readers, and movie lovers raving about The Hunger Games. And I am Team Gale all the way :)
Review
I absolutely love The Hunger Games! It is definitely the best teen movie of 2012 in my opinion. I went on March 23 to see it and the theater was packed! I was just amazed by the whole movie all together. The cast and crew did such a phenomenal job capturing the essence of the book and transforming it on the screen. Everything looked like it was brought to life. The actors and actresses fit the characters in the book perfectly. Personally, the people's personalities in the Capitol and the way they dressed was the most mind blowing to me. Their hair, clothes, and make up just took my breath away. Hats off to the make up stylists for that! The setting in the arena was spot on. I really liked how the Gamemakers could just drag whatever they wanted into the arena and it magically burst into existence. I wish that type of technology existed in real life. I honestly can't give the book justice with words, because I'm speechless. You could really sympathize with Katniss because of the heart breaking predicament she is placed in when she volunteers as tribute to save her 12 year old sister, Prim. Katniss as a character and person is very likable. She is bold, brave, caring, and lives by her set own set of rules to protect her family. One thing I like about her: Katniss doesn't pretend to believe the lies they are fed from Peacekeepers and the President, because at the end of the day, she and her family don't have enough food to eat and scrape by with bare essentials. Katniss fends for herself and sticks up for what she believes in. I rate The Hunger Games 5/5 stars!
Summary
Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen hates the world she is forced to live in. Panem basically exists of 12 districts-The Capitol, and 11 other districts that each specialize in something. In district 12, one of the poorest districts, everyone makes do with what little they have. Katniss' dad passed away during a coal mine accident and her mom is still in depression. Katniss is a very talented archer and goes every day into the woods and hunts food for her family to eat with her best friend Gale. Together, they somehow manage to get a little food to run their family. Annually, one male tribute and one female tribute between the age of 12-18 is taken from every district to participate in the Hunger Games. Every year, one slip is entered for each child between the age of 12-18. With the exception that the names can be entered multiple times in exchange for portions of food. The 24 participants are placed in an arena to kill each other and only one winner comes out. A series of obstacles and challenges are thrown at the contestants by the Gamemakers, who design the arena. This merciless competition shows people the price to living in Panem and makes sure that everyone stays under the Presidents control. The day of the Reaping, or when the contestants are chosen for each district, Prim nervously gets ready for her first Hunger Games. Katniss reassures her because Prim's name is only entered once. When Effie, the Capital's representative, reads out four letters for district 12's girl, Katniss' heart stops beating. Prim. Katniss immediately volunteers as tribute to save her little sister. Will she be able to survive? Watch the movie to find out! It is already on DVD :)!
Lessons Learned
The Hunger Games has many lessons behind it, but this is one that I learned. This movie taught me to be responsible with the stuff I use in everyday life that most people take for granted; because somewhere else in a poorer place people had to work to provide the resources. For example, paper towels. I know for a fact that in many households, kids and adults unknowingly go through a lot of paper towels in one day. Especially in the United States. Honestly, I'm one of them. To make that paper towel that people use so effortlessly, somewhere else in the world someone had to cut down a tree for the buyer to wipe their hands once and throw it into the dustbin. How does this relate to The Hunger Games? Well, to understand that you have to think a little deeper. All of the 12 districts specialize in something: medicine, technology, fishing, scientific research, lumber, textiles, transportation, power, livestock, grain, agriculture, and coal mining. Because of all of these items and facilities provided, the people who live in the Capitol have a comfortable life filled of luxury. This is similar to how our world works. The job that one person does is taken for granted by someone with more money. We can stop this by cutting back, using an alternative resource that is more abundant, and give back to the environment. For every paper towel that a person uses, they can plant two trees. All of these baby steps will add up and make a change.