Do popular movies reflect the world we live in? If they do then
our existence could be sadly disintegrating, obviously more so in the middle
east, where civil wars tear their ancient society’s apart, than thankfully in
the so called civilised west. What we get on the big screen are ‘worlds full of cowed populations, tyrannical governments, post-nuclear,
pollution-devastated, war-torn landscapes, corrupt elites, weaponised viruses
and other assorted horrors’ [1] is this what future
generations have to look forward too?
Two
films I have watched recently highlight this dystopian world, not for adults
but for children! The first was Kevin Macdonald’s How
I Live Now
(2013) based on a book for ‘young adults’ by Meg Rosoff. The second was The
Hunger Games (2012) a film I would have like to have kicked up a fuss
about along the lines of being not suitable for the young audience its meant
for: but I can’t do that! I really could not believe how good this Gary Ross
directed film actually was. Admittedly I have come late to this franchise with a
sequel already released and two more films planned, the first in November 2014
and the second a year after. And I would suspect that most cinemagoers would
already know the story but in case I’ll give you this brief synopsis:
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| Katniss Everdeen from District 12. |
Every year in the ruins of
what was once North America, the capitol of the nation Panem forces each of its
twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to complete in the Hunger Games.
Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen volunteers in her younger sisters place and
must rely upon her sharp instincts when she’s pitted against highly trained
Tributes who have prepared for these games their entire lives. If she is ever
to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the
arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.[2]
 |
| The big brother house. |
The
best way to describe this film is a cross between the big brother house where
people are brought to enjoy being a sacrificial lamb for TV ratings in luxury
surroundings with top-notch food and given to believe they are the equivalent
of rock stars or premier division footballers for a short period, and the 2000
Japanese action thriller Battle Royal
directed by Kinji Fukasaku which tells the story of how teenage students are
forced by the government to complete in a deadly game where each must kill the
other until there is one person left alive. An underlying thread in Suzanne Collins
bestselling novel is how the rich and powerful demean and persecute the lower
classes hoping that this grand TV spectacular where children are killed for
ente
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| The PR exercise. |
It
sounds a dreadful premise I know, and although its about violence and death it
has been subjected to cuts and dumbing down to make it ‘suitable’ for its
targeted audience, although that’s probable a matter of opinion, reality TV has
a lot to answer for. But as I said
before I can’t believe how good this film is. The story line is totally
absorbing, the film itself is mesmerising and the whole production beggars
belief. The acting goes a long way to make the movie completely convincing with
a stand out performance from Jennifer Lawrence who always makes any role she
performs her own as she did in Winters
Bone
(2010) and Silver
Linings Playbook (2012). If you have not seen this film I would suggest you put
that right which will make The Hunger
Games: Catching Fire (2013) essential viewing.
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| Only one child will return home alive!!! |
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