As many of the movies released nowadays are bastardizations of old TV shows or children’s books, there are few adaptations less irritating than the refreshingly well–constructed The Hunger Games. Based on the sensational novel about a post–apocalyptic America where children fight to the death in grandiose gladiatorial tournaments, this movie doesn’t try to set itself apart from the book.
Unlike many adaptations, The Hunger Games humbly translates author Suzanne Collins’s beloved characters and gritty tone to the big screen without re–interpreting aesthetics or re–imagining plot. The wobbly handheld shots and cinema verite–ish style may infringe on these pure intentions and clash with the big–budget special effects, but overall the film is a calculated and exhilarating retelling that will leave zealots and newcomers alike hungry (sorry!) for more.
