The Hunger Games (2012)
- IMDb page: The Hunger Games (2012)
- Rate: 7.6/10 total 121,274 votes
- Genre: Action | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller
- Release Date: 23 March 2012 (USA)
- Runtime: 142 min
- Filming Location: Barnardsville, North Carolina, USA
- Budget: $78,000,000(estimated)
- Gross: $372,019,021(USA)(29 April 2012)
- Director: Gary Ross
- Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth
- Original Music By: James Newton Howard
- Soundtrack: Safe & Sound
- Sound Mix: Dolby Digital | Datasat | SDDS
- Plot Keyword: Future | Volunteer | 16 Year Old | Fight | Fight To The Death
Writing Credits By:
- Gary Ross (screenplay) and
- Suzanne Collins (screenplay) and
- Billy Ray (screenplay)
- Suzanne Collins (novel)
Known Trivia
- First part of a Trilogy series of young adult books by Suzanne Collins: ‘The Hunger Games’, ‘Catching Fire’, ‘Mockingjay’.
- ChloĂ« Grace Moretz, Mary Mouser, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Lyndsy Fonseca, ‘Jodelle Ferland’, Saoirse Ronan, Emma Roberts, Kaya Scodelario, Emily Browning and Shailene Woodley were considered to play Katniss.
- Alex Pettyfer, Josh Hutcherson, Lucas Till, Nico Tortorella, Alexander Ludwig, Evan Peters and Hunter Parrish were considered to play Peeta Mellark. Hutcherson was eventually cast, although Ludwig was later cast in the role of Cato.
- Chris Massoglia, David Henrie, Robbie Amell and Drew Roy were considered to play Gale.
- Jennifer Lawrence was initially cast as the lead in Savages, but dropped out to do this film instead.
- Liam Hemsworth and Jennifer Lawrence, both natural blondes, dyed their hair brown for their roles in the film while Josh Hutcherson, naturally dark-haired, dyed his hair blond for his part.
- Composer Danny Elfman left the film due to a scheduling conflict and was replaced by James Newton Howard.
- Despite its high popularity with teenagers and adults, Lionsgate has admitted that the chances of Catching Fire and Mockingjay being converted into films all depend on the money that ‘The Hunger Games’ makes.
- On February 22nd, four weeks before The Hunger Games’ release, Lionsgate began selling advance tickets. Not only did the ticket sales break the one-day record originally held by The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, but also accounted for 83% of the ticket sales of the day.
- The name of the main character, Katniss, is derived from the name of a group of edible plant species, genus “Sagittaria”, commonly known as “arrowhead”. This is a reference to the character’s archery skills.
Goofs: Continuity: In the training hall, when Peeta is going to throw a weight, Clove, Cato and Marvel are standing together watching. But after he throws the weight, Glimmer, Cato and Marvel are watching.
Plot: Set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place for the latest match. Full summary » »
Story: In a dystopian future, the totalitarian nation of Panem is divided between 12 districts and the Capitol. Each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal retribution for a past rebellion, the televised games are broadcast throughout Panem. The 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors while the citizens of Panem are required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives.Written by Suzanne Collins
Synopsis
Synopsis: The nation of Panem, formed in a post-apocalyptic North America, consists of a wealthy Capitol and 12 poorer surrounding districts. As punishment for an earlier rebellion by the districts towards the Capitol, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district are selected in an annual lottery known as the Reaping. The couples that are chosen must participate in The Hunger Games, an event run and controlled by the Capitol in an arena and must fight to the death. Only one ‘tribute’ may survive.
Katniss Everdeen [(link=nm2225369]) is a 16 year old girl from District 12, the coal-mining region of District 12 (also the poorest district of Panem). This year is the 74th annual Hunger Games and during the Reaping, Katniss’ younger sister, Primrose (Willow Shields) is chosen to become a tribute. Refusing to let her sister be taken and knowing she’d never survive, Katniss volunteers herself instead therefore becoming District 12′s female tribute. The male tribute chosen is a baker’s son named Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) who is later seen giving bread to Katniss to prevent her family from starving. We learn through that Katniss is planning on making a new life for herself and her family ‘outside the fence’ with her friend, Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth). She tells him that she never wants children as she’s afraid they would end up in the games.
Katniss and Peeta are taken from their district by the gaudily dressed Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) and are now travelling to the Capitol. During their journey, the couple are fed rich food and treats but are disgusted by how much luxury is given to a simple train whilst they had to starve at home. On the train, they meet their ‘mentor’ and former winner of the Hunger Games, Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson). Having won his game by pure luck, he’s turned into a pessimistic drunk. He begins flattering Peeta whilst gradually winding Katniss up thus sensing what both of them are like in terms of personality. He warns them to watch the way the other tributes act and train, especially the ‘Careers’ who have been trained from birth to take part in the Games. When they arrive in a gleaming city by the Rockies, the train is greeted by a cheering crowd. Peeta is shown waving out the window to the resident whilst Katniss refuses to show herself. Haymitch warns her that she needs people to like her in order to get ‘sponsors’ or she may lose and die. They’re taken to the penthouse apartment to stay whilst they train.
Katniss meets their stylist, Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) who tells her that as tributes, they need to make an impression on the audience so they’re remembered. Katniss likes Cinna as he is more realistic and down-to-earth than most Capitol residents. Cinna promises to come up with a great costume for the Gala Entry Parade. Each pair of tributes wears a costume reflecting their district’s trade. Katniss and Peeta wear black costumes with artificial fire to symbolise the coal-mining district they reside from. As Cinna said, they make an impression on the audience.
The tributes under-go basic weaponry and combat training including the use of knives, swords and bows. Another tribute named Cato (Alexander Ludwig) is hot-headed, imposing and clearly a threat. Peeta is shown to be bullied by the other older tributes so Katniss suggests he shows his strength by throwing a large weight across the room. Peeta takes her advice, launching the weight across the room and gains a small amount of respect from the other tributes. Later, each tribute must show off to the game makers especially Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley). Katniss is up and decides to show off her shooting skills she’s learnt back at home. Unfortunately, she misses badly with her first shot therefore losing what little attention she had from the game makers. Despite her next shot being perfect, she doesn’t regain the attention. Angered and disgusted by the game makers’ attitude towards the tributes, Katniss fires an arrow straight through an apple in a roasted pig’s mouth, just inside the makers’ room. Katniss sarcastically thanks them for their consideration and leaves. President Snow (Donald Sutherland) warns Crane to keep control of the tributes after hearing of this rebellious incident.
The scores from the training sessions are rated from 0-12 and are shown on TV. Many of the tributes are shown with scores of 9 and 10, including Careers Cato and Clove (Isabelle Fuhrman). Peeta is shown to have an 8 out of 12 and Katniss scores an 11 out of 12, the highest and most impressive of all the tributes.
On the extravagant Hunger Games TV chat show, each tribute is introduced individually and interviewed by flamboyant host, Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci). Katniss manages to scrape by with being a bit of a martyr and a ‘sweet young girl’ whereas Peeta eats the audience up, getting them to laugh. It is then that he announces his crush on Katniss, something which angers her intensely. Backstage, Katniss pins Peeta to the wall, believing his revelation to be a way of gaining sponsors or to make her feel guilty for taking the food from him that was shown in her flashback. Haymitch starts to focus his attention on Katniss as he believes she could win the Games on skills alone and not personality. He warns her to avoid the bloodbath at the beginning and search for water and high ground therefore leaving behind the bow and arrow that she knows she’s good with. Katniss says goodbye to Cinna who tells her if he was allowed to bet, he would bet on her winning. The tributes are all injected with a tracking device in their arms as they travel on a helicopter to the arena. The tributes are lifted into a meadow surrounding the cornucopia of weapons and backpacks. As the horn sounds, the tributes rush for the weapons, brutally beating and killing each other. Katniss grabs a pack and barely escapes Clove, who embeds a spear in her backpack.
Katniss escapes and inside her backpack, she finds a rope, an empty canteen and a coat. She takes Haymitch’s advice and finds water in a nearby stream. She ties herself high up in a tree for the night and attempts to get some sleep. Loud bangs indicate the deaths of tributes and we learn that half of them were killed in the first 8 hours of the Games. While exploring the next day, Katniss gets too close to the outer regions of the arena. The game controllers decide to start a forest fire to lure Katniss further in to the arena. She barely manages to escape but does receives a nasty burn on her thigh, causing her to limp. She is then spotted by Cato and 4 other tributes, including Clove and Glimmer (Leven Rambin) who’ve made their own Career team. We learn that ‘Careers’ are tributes who illegally train to become volunteers for the Hunger Games. Districts 1, 2 and 4 always have them. The group chase Katniss who escapes by climbing up a tree. Cato tries to chase her up the tree but is unsuccessful. This is when we find out Peeta has formed an alliance with the Career team, seemingly betraying Katniss. He suggests the group wait Katniss out as she has to come down eventually for food and water. The group settle for the night underneath the tree whilst Katniss once again ties herself to the tree. She’s woken up later in the night by a parachute sent by Haymitch containing much needed medicine for Katniss’ wounded leg. She applies it and her burn appears to clear up as if nothing had happened. Her attention is then caught by a Rue (
Going back to find Rue, Katniss uses the bird call system but gets no response. A scared voice screams through the forest, calling for Katniss to help her. Rue is trapped underneath a net. Katniss manages to set her free. Just as they begin to escape, they’re attacked by a male tribute - Marvel ([link=nm4425051″>Amandla Stenberg) from District 1 - who throws a spear. Katniss retaliates by shooting an arrow and hitting him in the chest, killing him. Thinking they’ve escaped Katniss realises that the spear thrown hit Rue in the chest. Distraught, Katniss tries to calm Rue down and sings a lullaby to send her to sleep peacefully. She gathers flowers from the forest and makes Rue a part of the earth before she’s taken back to her district.
Back in District 11 (Rue’s home), her father (George McPherson) is shown distraught and angered by his daughter’s death and begins a riot against the Hunger Games. His district follows his rebellious rampage, destroying the stage showing the Games. As Katniss makes her peace gesture to the camera, the Peace Keepers of District 11 arrive and proceed to shoot Rue’s father dead.
President Snow is enraged at the rebellion in District 11 and wants to change the Game’s rules and circumstances in order to kill Katniss. Haymitch pleads with Seneca to keep her alive, using the ploy of teen romance as a reason to save her. Using the speaker to the arena, Seneca announces that the rules of the Games have changed; there can be two winners of the Games as long as they belong to the same district.
Katniss sets out in search of Peeta, overhearing the remaining Careers saying they left him for dead by the river. She finds a trail of blood and follows the drops, fearing for Peeta’s death. She arrives at the river, finding Peeta badly wounded but camouflaged by the rocks. Katniss helps him to a cave where neither will be found. She tries to treat Peeta’s wound but realises he has blood poisoning, something that could only be cured with a special medicine. There would be no way Haymitch could send any as it would be way too expensive at this point. As if by magic, an announcement is made over the arena stating that there will be a feast at the cornucopia but instead of food, there will be something each tribute desperately needs. Peeta begs Katniss not to leave him and risk her life to save him but to instead stay with him in the cave. Katniss reluctantly agrees although the two share a brief kiss, a way to gain more audience sponsors. This also hits a nerve with Gale back home who is clearly sporting a crush on Katniss himself. Katniss waits until Peeta has fallen asleep before heading out to retrieve the medicine from the cornucopia. When she gets there, the female tribute Foxface from District 5 has sprinted out and grabbed her supplies; surprising the remaining tributes with her speed. Katniss decides to use the same strategy and sprints out to grab the medicine but is thrown off guard by a knife launched by Clove, Cato’s district partner. The two wrestle and fight before Clove gets the upperhand, holding a knife to Katniss’ throat. She teases her with bloodlust and about her teaming up with Rue, ‘the little monster from District 11′. Just as Clove is about to slit Katniss’ throat, she is lifted by Thresh (Dayo Okeniyi) and thrown against the cornucopia wall. He tells Katniss that she gets this one chance to escape as she helped Rue but after that, everything is fair game. He proceeds to smash Clove to death against the cornucopia wall.
Katniss returns to the cave with the medicine which also doubles as a great wound healer. In a more genuine romantic moment, the two cover their wounds with the cream and fall asleep in each others arms. The next day, the pair split up to find food; Peeta to search for berries and Katniss to hunt. During her hunt, Katniss hears the cannon - the signal for a tribute death. Panicking, Katniss rushes back to the site they split up at. Peeta is stood there, bewildered and holding a handful of berries. Katniss sees the corpse of Foxface, also holding the berries. Katniss, in a mix of anger and relief, slaps Peeta and tells him that the berries are Nightlock and are extremely poisonous. The pair wonder if Cato will fall for the same trap as Foxface did. They begin hiking through the woods but notice the sun is going down at mid-day. Panicked, the couple freeze at the sounds of the night; ready to attack. In the distance, they hear Thresh cry out followed by the cannon, signalling his death. They stop for a second before a giant mutated dog leaps out at them, vicious and the size of a polar bear only with much more speed and agility. Katniss and Peeta sprint through the forest whilst being chased by two more of the mutated dogs. They are chased to the cornucopia where Peeta helps Katniss on top of it, barely making it up himself. They sit back in relief thinking the dogs will kill Cato and they will be crowned the victors.
Cato, however, is also on top of the cornucopia and attacks Katniss, attempting to throw her to the dogs. The three attack and fight each other, trying to stay alive. Cato holds Katniss by the throat on the edge of the structure before Peeta manages to fight him off her. Cato gets the upper hand and gets Peeta in a choke hold to either break his neck, as seen before or throw him straight to the mutant dogs. Katniss has an arrow pointed at him, nervous as whether to shoot or not. Cato, dripping blood from bad wounds, laughs sadistically telling her that he knows what the Games are about now. That they’re all weapons; weapons to make death as painful and unneccesary as possible. He is still choking Peeta, who appears to be trying to tell Katniss something. Cato continues talking, telling her that if she shoots him then her ‘lover boy’ will go down with him. Katniss gets Peeta’s message and shoots Cato in the hand which makes him release Peeta in pain. Peeta then pushes him off the edge to be mauled by the dogs. Katniss and Peeta watch for a few moments as Cato is savagely torn apart by the mutants. Katniss puts him out of his misery by shooting him. The dogs disperse and the cannon goes off one last time. Realising they’ve won the Hunger Games, Peeta and Katniss embrace and wait for a helicopter to come and take the home however nothing comes.
An announcement tells them that the former rules of two victors being allowed has been revoked. It has been reverted back to only one, meaning one would have to kill the other as before. Katniss is seen thinking about shooting Peeta but decides against it. Peeta begs her to kill him as he wants to die for her. Katniss holds out the nightlock berries and pours some into Peeta’s hand too; telling him the Capitol would rather they had two victors than none at all. As they prepare for suicide, the speaker pleads them to stop and they were both the winners.
Back at the Capitol, Haymitch tells them how foolish they are to have shown up the Capitol like that and tells them to play up the lovesick couple at their final interview. They oblige but Haymitch also tells them it will never be enough.
We see Seneca Crane being led into a finely polished room. The door is locked behind him. A goblet is on a pedestal in front of him, containing nightlock. Although we do not see it, we are led to believe that he sacrifices himself.
Peeta and Katniss travel back to District 12 by train. Although they are met with a hero’s welcome, Haymitch warns Katniss that she is now a political enemy after such a public defiance against society’s leaders. They are greeted by a crowd of cheering residents including Primrose, Katniss’ mother and Gale. Peeta realises that Katniss may have been playing up the star-crossed lovers theme for the audience. He takes her hand and holds it up in the air.
President Snow watches the District 12 welcome from the Capitol. Walking away, he wonders what to do about the two victors and the feeling of rebellion they may have created.
FullCast & Crew
Produced By:
- Diana Alvarez known as co-producer
- Robin Bissell known as executive producer
- Suzanne Collins known as executive producer
- Chantal Feghali known as co-executive producer
- Nina Jacobson known as producer
- Jon Kilik known as producer
- Louis Phillips known as co-producer
- Aldric La'auli Porter known as co-producer
- Louise Rosner known as executive producer
- Bryan Unkeless known as co-producer
FullCast & Crew:
- Stanley Tucci known as Caesar Flickerman
- Wes Bentley known as Seneca Crane
- Jennifer Lawrence known as Katniss Everdeen
- Willow Shields known as Primrose Everdeen
- Liam Hemsworth known as Gale Hawthorne
- Elizabeth Banks known as Effie Trinket
- Sandra Ellis Lafferty known as Hob Vendor (as Sandra Lafferty)
- Paula Malcomson known as Katniss' Mother
- Rhoda Griffis known as Registration Woman
- Sandino Moya known as Propaganda Film Tribute (as Sandino Moya-Smith)
- Josh Hutcherson known as Peeta Mellark
- Raiko Bowman known as Peeta's Mother
- Dwayne Boyd known as Peacekeeper #1
- Anthony Reynolds known as Peacekeeper #2
- Judd Lormand known as Peacekeeper #3
- Woody Harrelson known as Haymitch Abernathy
- Toby Jones known as Claudius Templesmith
- Kimiko Gelman known as Venia
- Nelson Ascencio known as Flavius
- Brooke Bundy known as Octavia
- Lenny Kravitz known as Cinna
- Amandla Stenberg known as Rue
- Dayo Okeniyi known as Thresh
- Leven Rambin known as Glimmer
- Jack Quaid known as Marvel
- Latarsha Rose known as Portia
- Donald Sutherland known as President Snow
- Alexander Ludwig known as Cato
- Isabelle Fuhrman known as Clove
- Ian Nelson known as Tribute Boy District 3
- Kalia Prescott known as Tribute Girl District 3
- Ethan Jamieson known as Tribute Boy District 4
- Jacqueline Emerson known as Foxface
- Mackenzie Lintz known as Tribute Girl District 8
- Annie Thurman known as Tribute Girl District 9
- Dakota Hood known as Tribute Girl District 10
- Amber Chaney known as Avox Girl
- Karan Kendrick known as Atala
- Shane Biseell known as Birthday Boy
- Katie Kneeland known as Hovercraft Tech (as Kate Kneeland)
- Steve Coulter known as Game Center Tech #1
- Sharon Morris known as Game Center Tech #2
- Tim Taylor known as Game Center Tech #3
- John Ross known as Game Center Tech
- Phillip Troy Linger known as Katniss' Father (as Troy Linger)
- Mo Aboul-Zelof known as Peacekeeper
- Konstantine Kurelias known as Peacekeeper
- Tara Macken known as Tribute Girl District 4
- Jeremy Marinas known as Tribut Boy District 10
- Chris Mark known as Tribute Boy District 5
- Ashton Moio known as District 6 Tribute
- Sam Tan known as Tribute Boy District 8
- Imanol Yepez-Frias known as Tribute Boy District 9
- Christopher Cozort known as Capitol Citizen / Hob Vendor (uncredited)
- Eric Hennig known as Game Tech (uncredited)
- George McPherson known as District 11 Farmer (uncredited)
- Alexa Poletti known as Capitol Citizen (uncredited)
- Trey Taylor known as Peacekeeper (uncredited)
..
Supporting Department
Makeup Department:- Diana Acrey known as hair stylist
- Nicole Alkire known as hair stylist
- Elena Arroy known as makeup artist
- Stephanie Barnes known as makeup artist
- Anita Brabec known as makeup artist
- Anthony Brooks known as makeup artist
- Shutchai Tym Buacharern known as makeup artist
- Susan Buffington known as hair stylist
- Kelly Caldwell known as hair stylist
- Martha Callender known as makeup artist
- Barbara Cantu known as hair stylist
- Clare M. Corsick known as key hair stylist
- Peter De Oliveria known as makeup artist
- Suzanne Diaz known as makeup artist
- Gunn Espegard known as makeup artist
- Kris Evans known as background makeup supervisor
- Linda D. Flowers known as hair department head
- Linda D. Flowers known as hair designer
- Joyce Gilliard known as hair stylist
- Glenn Hetrick known as special makeup effects artist
- Lindsay Irish-Desarno known as makeup artist
- Veronica Lorenz known as makeup artist
- Chris Lyons known as special effects teeth
- Joe Matke known as personal hair stylist to Wes Bentley
- Patricia McAlhany Glasser known as hair stylist
- Jennifer McCollom known as makeup artist
- Cheri Minns known as makeup artist
- Bryan David Moss known as additional hair stylist
- Ve Neill known as makeup department head
- Ve Neill known as makeup designer
- Douglas Noe known as makeup artist: additional photography
- Cherry Petenbrink known as hair stylist
- Taylor Petenbrink known as hair stylist
- Rick Pour known as makeup artist
- Lufeng Qu known as makeup artist
- Lisa Rocco known as makeup artist
- Tricia Sawyer known as makeup artist
- Nikoletta Skarlatos known as key makeup artist
- Randa Squillacote known as hair stylist
- Yvette Stone known as additional hairstylist
- Katrina Suhre known as additional hair stylist
- Vasilios Tanis known as makeup artist
- Chris Varosky known as makeup artist
- Jason Willis known as makeup artist
- Beka Wilson known as hair stylist
- Steve Winsett known as special makeup effects artist
- Jose Zamora known as hair stylist
- Conor McCullagh known as special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Art Department:
- Christian Alzmann known as concept designer
- Brian Baker known as set designer
- Pedro Barquin known as greens on set foreman
- Laurent Ben-Mimoun known as production illustrator
- Michael C. Biddle known as digital set designer
- Jack Brunacini Jr. known as carpenter
- Jack Brunacini Jr. known as propmaker
- Kenneth Bryant known as set dresser
- Cat Cacciatore known as property assistant
- Anthony Cam known as set dresser
- Monica Castro known as assistant property master
- Jason T. Clark known as researcher: second unit
- Matt Codd known as concept artist
- Richard M. Cole known as general foreman
- Monica D'Onofrio known as property assistant
- Jeffrey DeBell known as greens coordinator
- Crystal Dellinger known as propmaker
- D. Tobias Denney known as assistant property master: second unit
- Kate Emery known as art department production assistant
- Tim Flattery known as concept designer
- Trish Gallaher Glenn known as property master
- William F. Gambill known as stand-by painter
- Sara Gardner-Gail known as buyer
- Jeremy Andy Gibbs known as propmaker
- Paul W. Gorfine known as scenic foreman
- Michael E. Hall known as carpenter
- Melissa Harrison known as property coordinator
- Frank J. Hart known as location foreman
- Lillian Heyward known as scenic artist
- Cindy Ichikawa known as art department coordinator
- Ryan Jacoby known as plaster foreman
- Tommy John known as painter gangboss
- Scott Johnson known as on set dresser
- Matthew C. Kime known as art department
- Steven Ladish known as set dresser
- Todd B. Lawson known as gang boss
- George Lee known as set designer
- Stephanie Macomber Kern known as stand-by painter
- Alex McCarroll known as set designer
- Ron Mendell known as prop illustrator
- Randall Milazzo known as propmaker
- Lindsey Moran known as assistant art director
- Jonathan S. Morgan known as plasterer
- Thomas A. Morris Jr. known as construction coordinator
- Lenual Mukai known as carpenter
- Todd Bryan Noonan known as welding gangboss
- Gregg Perez known as set dresser
- Edward J. Protiva known as set dresser
- Cara Rhodes known as propmaker
- Ricky Riggs known as charge scenic
- David Saltzman known as assistant property master
- Trey Shaffer known as graphic designer
- Gloria Shih known as concept illustrator
- Rae Signer known as scenic artist
- Bennet Silver known as set dresser
- Ben T. Sineath Jr. known as carpenter
- Brett C. Smith known as leadman
- Reid Southen known as concept artist
- Jackson Sze known as concept illustrator
- Samuel J. Tell known as set dresser
- Vincent Thomas known as art director: vfx
- Vincent Thomas known as concept artist
- Vincent Thomas known as look development artist
- Dana White known as set dresser
- Jack White known as food stylist
- Kara Williamson known as propmaker
- James C. Wirth known as plasterer
- Randal Woodward known as scenic gangboss
- Nicole Zaks known as set decoration buyer
- Jordan Foster known as set dresser (uncredited)
..
Company
Production Companies:
- Color Force
- Larger Than Life Productions
- Lionsgate
- Ludas Productions
Other Companies:
- ARRI / Camera Service Center camera equipment provided by
- Cablecam International aerial camera system
- De Lane Lea ADR recording
- Dolby Laboratories sound mix
- Hollywood Trucks entertainment transportation
- Jungle Exotics Inc. animals provided by
- Lightnin' Production Rentals transportation equipment
- Movie Movers cast trailers
- Movie Movers hair and makeup trailer
- Movie Movers trucks
- North Carolina Film Office thanks
- PJF Productions titles by
- Pierce Law Group additional legal services
- Rice Gorton Pictures Ltd. post-production accountants
- Soundelux post-production sound services
- Todd-AO Studios post-production sound services
- Transportation Resources transportation equipment
- Universal Republic Records score album
- Universal Republic Records soundtrack
Distributors:
- Belga Films (2012) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- Metropolitan Filmexport (2012) (France) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Forum Films (2012) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
- Nordisk Film Distribution (2012) (Denmark) (theatrical)
- StudioCanal (2012) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Spentzos Films (2012) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Lark Films Distribution (2012) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
- Forum Hungary (2012) (Hungary) (theatrical)
- Eagle Films (2012) (Lebanon) (theatrical)
- Independent Films (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Entertainment (2012) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
- Pioneer Films (2012) (Philippines) (theatrical)
- Pris Audiovisuais (2012) (Portugal) (all media)
- Volga (2012) (Russia) (theatrical)
- Cathay-Keris Films (2012) (Singapore) (theatrical)
- Mongkol Major (2012) (Thailand) (theatrical)
- Volga Film Ukraine (2012) (Ukraine) (theatrical)
- Gulf Film (2012) (United Arab Emirates) (theatrical)
- Diamond Films (2012) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Paris Filmes (2012) (Brazil) (all media)
- Forum Film Bulgaria (2012) (Bulgaria) (theatrical)
- Cine Colombia (2012) (Colombia) (theatrical)
- Nordisk Film (2012) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Videocine S.A. de C.V. (2012) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- Nordisk Film (2012) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Forum Film Poland (2012) (Poland) (theatrical)
- Nordisk Film (2012) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Tiglon Film (2012) (Turkey) (theatrical)
- Lionsgate (2012) (UK) (theatrical)
- Lionsgate (2012) (USA) (theatrical)
- Alliance Films (2012) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Kadokawa Pictures (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Lotte Entertainment (2012) (South Korea) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (2012) (Spain) (theatrical)
- ABC Family (2014) (USA) (TV)
- Belga Home Vidéo (2012) (Belgium) (DVD)
- Belga Home Vidéo (2012) (Belgium) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
- Belga Home Vidéo (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Belga Home Vidéo (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
- Eagle Films (2013) (Non-USA) (all media) (middle east)
- Emperor Motion Pictures (2012) (Hong Kong) (all media)
- Lark Films Distribution (2012) (Hong Kong) (all media) (as UA Films)
- Noori Pictures (2011) (South Korea) (all media)
- Sun Distribution (2012) (Non-USA) (all media) (Latin America)
- Tanweer Films (2012) (India) (all media)
..
Other Stuff
Special Effects:
- Digiscope
- Halon Entertainment (previsualization)
- Hybride Technologies (visual effects)
- Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
- Legacy Effects (creature design)
- Pixomondo (visual effects)
- Rhythm and Hues (visual effects)
- Rising Sun Pictures (visual effects)
- Third Floor, The
- Vispop
- Whiskytree
Visual Effects by:
- Hannah Acock known as talent manager: Pixomondo
- Suzaine Aguirre known as digital imaging specialist
- Shish Aikat known as education manager: Rhythm & Hues
- Erik Akutagawa known as digital image resources supervisor
- Alexandre Alin known as tracking artist: Hybride
- Stuart Allan known as post-viz artist
- Melissa Almeida known as textures & lighting: Hybride
- Xuzhen An known as roto artist/compositor: Pixomondo
- Jaroslaw Ancuta known as paint & roto artist: Pixomondo
- Ivaylo Andonov known as compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
- Alana Aranki known as lead compositor
- Eric Armstrong known as animator: Pixomondo
- Oliver Arnold known as environment supervisor
- Oliver Arnold known as division vfx producer: Pixomondo
- Jason Arrieta known as digital compositor: Spy Post
- Nicole Ashford known as matchmove artist
- Marc Aubry known as animator: Hybride
- Patrice Avery known as previs producer: HALON
- Wenting Bai known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Heath Baker known as compositor/paint & roto lead: Rising Sun Pictures
- Louise Baker known as postvis supervisor: Proof, Inc.
- Sam Baker known as animator: Rising Sun Pictures
- Shamus Baker known as lead environment modeler: Rising Sun Pictures
- Shamus Baker known as texture artist: Rising Sun Pictures
- Jesse Balodis known as lead texture artist
- Anthony Barcelo known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Thomas Barnack known as animator: Pixomondo
- Jacquie Barnbrook known as visual effects producer
- Pharoah Barrett known as 3D artist: Digiscope
- Patrice-Alain Barrette known as compositor: Hybride
- Michel Barrière known as compositing supervisor: Hybride
- Tyler Bartley known as digital matte painter
- Paul Beaudry known as compositor: Hybride
- Olivier Beaulieu known as lead compositor: Hybride
- Michel Bergeron known as compositor: Hybride
- Louise Bertrand known as bidding producer: Hybride
- Pierrot Berube known as production assistant: Hybride
- Pierre Blain known as compositor: Hybride
- Colin Blake known as digital acquisitions
- Raphaele Blanchard known as tracking artist: Hybride
- Jason Bohbot known as technical support: Hybride
- Sebastian Bommersheim known as digital compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
- Austin Bonang known as techvis artist: The Third Floor
- Anto Bond known as creature modeler
- Cédric Bonnaffoux known as technical support: Hybride
- Rachel Borkow known as previsualization production coordinator: The Third Floor
- Maryse Bouchard known as textures & lighting: Hybride
- Christian Boudman known as compositing supervisor: Clearcut FX
- Tim Bowman known as digital compositor
- Colin Brady known as animation director: Pixomondo
- David M. Breaux Jr. known as animator: Pixomondo
- Thomas Bremer known as animator: Pixomondo
- Caroline Brien known as compositor: Hybride
- Stéphan Brisson known as textures & lighting: Hybride
- Simon Britnell known as division asset lead: Pixomondo
- Shawn Broes known as vfx editor: Pixomondo
- Freddy Burgos known as animator: Pixomondo
- Caroline Bélisle known as administration: Hybride
- Miguel Diaz Cachero known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Ben Campanaro known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Tom Capizzi known as digital effects artist
- Regina Carney known as visual effects coordinator
- Owen Carroll known as roto/paint artist: Rising Sun Pictures
- Irfan Celik known as lighting td: Pixomondo
- Julien Chabot known as textures & lighting: Hybride
- Sibi Chakaravarthi known as texture painter
- François Chancrin known as lead animator: Hybride
- Philip Chaoui known as cg generalist: Pixomondo
- Tun-En Chen known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Cheng Cheng known as roto artist: Pixomondo
- Vanessa Cheung known as digital matte painter
- Wally Chin known as roto/paint artist: Pixomondo
- Jeremy Chinn known as modeler: Rhythm and Hues
- Hyemee Choi known as senior lighting artist
- Marvin Chua known as render i/o coordinator: Rhythm & Hues
- Genevieve Claire known as production coordinator: Pixomondo
- Emma Clifton known as digital compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
- Alex Coble known as roto/paint artist: Rising Sun Pictures
- Charles Collyer known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Shaun Comly known as senior look development technical director
- Matt Conway known as concept artist
- John Cornejo known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Mélanie Cotton known as technical support: Hybride
- Craig Crawford known as compositor: Clearcut FX
- Joseph Creswell known as lighting & lookdev technical director
- Joanie Croteau known as visual effects coordinator: Hybride
- Robert Cvengros known as tracker/matchmover
- Steve Cypreos known as modeller
- Christophe Damiano known as textures & lighting: Hybride
- Gilbert Dawson-Kesson known as facility runner: Pixomondo
- Lisa Deaner known as visual effects artist
- Ante Dekovic known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Krystal Delany known as visual effects production assistant: Rising Sun Pictures
- Thierry Delattre known as visual effects supervisor: Hybride
- Luc Desmarais known as technical support: Hybride
- Iacopo Di Luigi known as 3d generalist: Pixomondo
- Ben Dickson known as 2d technical director: Rising Sun Pictures
- John Dietz known as visual effects supervisor: VisPop
- Kenny DiGiordano known as previz artist
- Direct Dimensions known as 3D scanning
- Matthew G. Donnan known as roto/paint artist: Pixomondo
- Ian Doss known as on-set surveyor
- Sheena Duggal known as visual effects supervisor
- Lafleche Dumais known as computer graphics supervisor: Hybride
- Mathieu Dupuis known as compositor: Hybride
- Abdullah Ecirli known as digital compositor
- Curtis Edwards known as CG supervisor
- Stephen Edwards known as roto/paint artist: Pixomondo
- Dwayne Lance Elahie known as lead rigging: Hybride
- Theresa Ellis known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Jared Embley known as crowd td
- Shawn Ewashko known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Maeve Eydmann known as matchmove td: Pixomondo
- Dean Faulder known as modeler: Pixomondo
- Jean-Pierre Flayeux known as compositing supervisor: Hybride
- Fortunato Frattasio known as visual effects artist: Digiscope
- Michael Frattasio known as paint & roto artist: Digiscope
- Jammie Friday known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Florian Friedmann known as animation technical director: Pixomondo
- Garrett Fry known as digital matte painter
- Feng Gao known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Dawn Gates known as roto/paint artist: Pixomondo (as Dawn Wells)
- Yanick Gaudreau known as textures & lighting: Hybride
- Mikael Genachte-Lebail known as digital matte painter: Rhythm & Hues
- Bill Georgiou known as compositor
- Gildas Gerdes known as 3d generalist: Pixomondo
- Sabrina Gerhardt known as division visual effects producer: Pixomondo
- Stephan Gervais known as technical support: Hybride
- Roger Gibbon known as matte painting artist: Pixomondo
- Ankit Gokani known as visual effects coordinator
- Ketki Gokhale known as rigger: Pixomondo
- Harrison Goldstein known as digital production manager: Rhythm & Hues
- John Goodman known as animator
- Jimmy Gordon known as technical animation supervisor
- Jon Gourley known as 3d generalist: Pixomondo
- Andrew Graham known as visual effects
- Joshua Graham known as matchmove artist: Pixomondo
- Monty Granito known as character animator: Proof Inc
- Victor Grant known as effects supervisor
- Olivier Gravel known as production assistant: Hybride
- Steve Graves known as lighting artist: Pixomondo
- Sarah Grieshammer known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Ryan Grobins known as lead lighting technical director
- Sarah Brooke Grossmann known as compositing supervisor: Pixomondo (as Sarah Grossmann)
- Veronique Guay known as compositor: Hybride
- Divya Gupta known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Myléne Guérin known as visual effects coordinator: Hybride
- Jennifer Hachigian known as pipeline: Pixomondo
- Thierry Hamel known as matchmove td: Pixomondo
- Eric Hance known as cg supervisor: Pixomondo
- Leah Hardstark known as lead data wrangler
- Omar Hashmy known as visual effects production assistant
- Patrick Haskew known as techvis artist: The Third Floor
- Nicholas Heigel known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Edward Helmers known as senior technical director: lighting
- Yasemin Hepguler known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Simon Herden known as roto and paint artist: Rising Sun Pictures
- Isaac Hingley known as animator: Pixomondo
- Amy Hollywood Wixson known as senior visual effects producer
- Nadine Homier known as compositor: Hybride
- Paul Hopkins known as matchmove/layout
- Angie Howard known as visual effects production manager
- Anna Ivanova known as senior texture artist: Rising Sun Pictures
- Florian Jackl known as system administrator: Pixomondo
- Sébastien Jacob known as compositor: Hybride
- Gemma James known as visual effects production manager: Rising Sun Pictures
- Andrea Jamiel known as render wrangler: Pixomondo
- Whan Je known as i/o coordinator: Pixomondo
- Daniel Jeannette known as visual effects animation consultant
- Henry Jefferson known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Hongyan Ji known as roto artist/compositor: Pixomondo
- Chao Jiang known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Matthew Frederick Johnson known as production support
- Will Johnson known as digital compositor
- Dennis Jones known as visual effects supervisor: Rising Sun Pictures
- Michael Karp known as tracking supervisor
- Joseph Kasparian known as lead textures & lighting
- Dan Katcher known as modeler: Pixomondo
- Salauddin Kazi known as crowd technical director: Rising Sun Pictures
- John Kearns known as digital restoration
- Mark Kennedy known as animator: Rising Sun Pictures
- Annabelle Kent known as digital compositor
- Anne Kim known as compositor: Hybride
- James Kinnings known as animator: Rhythm & Hues
- Kevin Kipper known as lighting artist: Pixomondo
- Katharina Koepke known as vfx producer: Pixomondo
- Allie Koppel known as previsualization accountant: The Third Floor
- Sebastian Kral known as it administrator: Pixomondo
- Lon Krung known as modeler: Pixomondo
- Craig Kuehne known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Gl Kumar known as texture painter lead
- Thilo Kuther known as executive producer: Pixomondo
- Anouk L'Heureux known as visual effects coordinator: Hybride
- Alain Lacroix known as lead layout artist: Hybride
- Sean Lahiff known as visual effects editor: Rising Sun Pictures
- Mathieu Lalonde known as modeler: Hybride
- David Lamps known as animation layout: Rhythm and Hues Studios
- Vassilios Lanaris known as textures & lighting: Hybride
- Donna Lanasa known as lighting technical director
- Thomas Lautenbach known as division vfx supervisor: Pixomondo
- Mathieu Leclaire known as technical director: Hybride
- Daniel Leduc known as visual effects producer: Hybride
- Francois Leduc known as lead compositor: Hybride
- Adrian Lee known as fx td: Pixomondo
- Richard S. Lee known as matte painting artist: Pixomondo
- Winston Lee known as digital compositor
- Samuel Lepage-Bedard known as production assistant: Hybride
- Chun Ho Ray Leung known as modeller
- Danny Levesque known as lead effects animator: Hybride
- Votch Levi known as cg supervisor: Whiskytree
- Eric Levin-Hatz known as visual effects coordinator: Pixomondo
- Justin Lewers known as modeler: Pixomondo
- Qian Li known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Wenkang Li known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Randy Little known as compositor: Ludus Production
- Liwen Liu known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Jesse Looney known as coordinator: Pixomondo
- Martine Losier known as visual effects coordinator: Hybride
- Timmy Lundin known as fx technical director: Rising Sun Pictures
- Mabel known as modeller: Rhythm and Hues
- Ben Mackey known as systems administrator: Pixomondo
- Jason Madigan known as composite supervisor
- Jocelyn Maher known as lead compositor: Hybride
- Stephane Mailet known as tracking artist: Hybride
- Tytus Majerski known as digital compositor
- Les Major known as animator: Pixomondo
- Christoph Malessa known as division visual effects producer: Pixomondo
- Adica Manis known as producer: Pixomondo
- Evans Mark known as visual effects artist
- Natanya Marks known as previsualization production manager: The Third Floor
- Richard Martin known as compositing supervisor: Hybride
- Sven Martin known as division vfx supervisor: Pixomondo
- Lorenzo Mastrobuono known as roto/paint artist: Pixomondo
- Dale Matasovsky known as roto/paint artist: Pixomondo
- Björn Mayer known as vfx supervisor: Pixomondo
- Heather McAuliff known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Ben McEwan known as roto/paint artist: Rising Sun Pictures
- Campbell McGrouther known as lead lighter: Rising Sun Pictures
- David McKay known as tracking artist: Hybride
- Steve McLafferty known as matchmove artist: Pixomondo
- Alex Meddick known as visual effects editor: Rising Sun Pictures
- Frederic Medioni known as lead tracking: Hybride
- Todd Mesher known as digital effects supervisor: Digiscope
- Francois Metivier known as compositor: Hybride
- Daniel Midgley known as animation coordinator: Pixomondo
- Natalie Millar known as visual effects coordinator: Rising Sun Pictures
- Lori C. Miller known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Belly Mingmuong known as production assistant: Hybride
- Harriet Minter known as hr advisor: Pixomondo
- Jeanette Monero known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Michel Murdock known as visual effects financial controller: Hybride
- Guy A. Mussori known as roto/paint artist: Pixomondo
- Ben Myers known as digital compositor
- Benjamin Myers known as compositor: Hybride
- Giang T. Nguyen known as 3d intern: Pixomondo
- Merysa Nicholas known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Catalin Niculescu known as lead rigger
- Nicolas-Alexandre Noel known as computer graphics supervisor: Hybride
- Gary Nolin known as visual effects producer: Rhythm & Hues
- Sam Norman known as digital compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
- Mark Norrie known as senior lighting technical director: Rising Sun Pictures
- Onesimus Nuernberger known as matte painter: Rhythm & Hues
- Amy Nugent known as render wrangler: Rising Sun Pictures
- Philip Nussbaumer known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Sean O'Connor known as compositor: Hybride
- Silam Oezkaya known as global talent manager: Pixomondo
- Viktorija Ogureckaja known as line producer: Pixomondo
- Premamurti Paetsch known as lead effects td: Rising Sun Pictures
- Olivier Painchaud known as technical support: Hybride
- Andrew Palmer known as matchmover
- John F.K. Parenteau known as vfx supervisor: Pixomondo
- Emanuele Paris known as fx td: Pixomondo
- Hyejin Park known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Ben Paschke known as creature supervisor: Rising Sun Pictures
- Betsy Paterson known as visual effects supervisor: Rhythm & Hues
- Steve Pelchat known as layout artist: Hybride
- Emmanuel Pelletier known as compositor: Hybride
- Patrick Piche known as lead technical director: Hybride
- Johannes Pink known as pipeline td: Pixomondo
- Armando Plata known as associate producer: Pixomondo
- Jason Pomerantz known as production supervisor (IMAX Version)
- Brett Purmal known as senior animator
- Ingo Putze known as art director: Pixomondo
- Jason Quintana known as crowd supervisor: Rhythm & Hues
- Ilaria Ragusa known as surfacing artist: Rising Sun Pictures
- Kim Rampaul known as coordinator: Pixomondo
- Lance Ranzer known as roto/paint artist: Pixomondo
- Pierre Raymond known as visual effects executive producer: Hybride
- Clint G. Reagan known as pre-visualization director
- Florent Revel known as matchmover
- Sébastien Rioux known as compositor: Hybride
- David Roberge known as modeler: Hybride
- Ben Roberts known as digital compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
- Ben Roberts known as sequence lead: Rising Sun Pictures
- James William Roberts known as lighting technical director
- Duncan Rochfort known as vfx editor: Pixomondo
- Bill Rodgers known as animator: Pixomondo
- Karl Rogovin known as dynamics effects animator: Hammerhead
- Sean Rourke known as visual effects editor: Digiscope
- Anthony Ruey known as vfx coordinator: Pixomondo
- Alessandro Sabbioni known as lighting td: Pixomondo
- Marc Sadeghi known as visual effects executive producer: Rising Sun Pictures
- Imran Sajid known as lighting td: Pixomondo
- Nathan Santell known as previsualization head of production: The Third Floor
- Katy Savoie known as compositor: Hybride
- John Schratz known as 3d generalist: Pixomondo
- Crystle Schrecengost known as roto/paint artist: Pixomondo
- Elaina Scott known as animator: Pixomondo
- Joseph Shahood known as visual effects coordinator: Digiscope
- Matthew Shaw known as digital compositor
- Kieran Shepherd known as rotoscope artist: Rising Sun Pictures
- Mark Shimer known as lighting artist: Pixomondo
- Jason Shulman known as animator: Pixomondo
- Lars Simkins known as 3d generalist: Pixomondo
- Jonathan Sims known as visual effects artist
- Jeff W. Smith known as matchmove supervisor: Pixomondo
- Kurt Smith known as 3d generalist: Pixomondo
- Tefft Smith known as pre-visualization artist
- Kurt E. Soderling known as visual effects aerials
- Na Song known as modeler: Rising Sun
- Nathan Srigley known as effects animator: Hybride
- Guillaume St-Aubin-Seers known as compositor: Hybride
- Christopher Stack known as i/o coordinator: Pixomondo
- Gareth Stevenson known as matchmove td: Pixomondo
- John Stewart known as compositing supervisor
- Mark Story known as visual effects coordinator
- Mary Stuart-Welch known as visual effects producer: Digiscope
- Yinai Sun known as vfx coordinator: Pixomondo
- Josef Sy known as animator: Hybride
- Sylvie Talbot known as communications: Hybride
- Guo-Feng Tang known as division vfx producer: Pixomondo
- Wilson Tang known as digital restoration
- Jalal Tchelebi known as technical director: Hybride
- Ari Teger known as previs artist
- Nicholas Theisen known as digital imaging specialist
- Philippe Theroux known as visual effects supervisor: Hybride
- Gaetan Thiffault known as effects animator: Hybride
- Vincent Thomas known as senior digital matte artist
- Richard Thwaites known as visual effects producer: Rising Sun Pictures
- Kim Tobin known as compositor (as Kim Worrall)
- Anne Tremblay known as communications: Hybride
- Marco Tremblay known as lead modeler: Hybride
- Véronique Tremblay known as compositor: Hybride
- Matthew Twyford known as division vfx supervisor: Pixomondo
- Ron Underdahl known as data wrangler
- Michael S. Underwood known as lighting artist: Pixomondo
- Mauricio Valderrama known as compositor
- Raphael Valle known as compositor: Hybride
- John Van Der Zalm known as creature technical director: RSP
- Beck Veitch known as digital compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
- Randy Vellacott known as compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
- Valérie Villeneuve known as textures & lighting: Hybride
- Marion Voignier known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Cristina Vozian known as roto artist: Pixomondo
- James Wakefield known as system administrator: Pixomondo
- Dan Walker known as pipeline td: Pixomondo
- Xiaowei Wang known as division lead compositor: Pixomondo
- Yanlin Wang known as roto artist/compositor: Pixomondo
- Kaifeng Wei known as roto/paint artist: Pixomondo
- Henry Weickert known as pipeline: Pixomondo
- Conal Wenn known as layout artist: Hybride
- Bob Wiatr known as visual effects artist
- Eric Withee known as visual effects coordinator
- Gordon T. Wittmann known as visual effects producer: Spy
- Patrick Wolf known as pipeline: Pixomondo
- Tzuen Wu known as render management: Pixomondo
- Tolga Yalkir known as it administrator: Pixomondo
- Dongyue Yang known as roto artist: Pixomondo
- Mingzhe Yang known as i/o coordinator: Pixomondo
- Zhao Yang known as roto/paint artist: Pixomondo
- Kenny Yong known as matchmove artist
- Greg Young known as look development technical director: Pixomondo
- Yangyang Yu known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Deborah Zadzora known as administration: Hybride
- Fabio Zangla known as head of lighting: Pixomondo
- Jennie Zeiher known as bidding producer: Rising Sun Pictures
- Le Zhang known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Zhixin Zhang known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Jia Zhao known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Bin Zheng known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Huajing Zhou known as paint artist: Pixomondo
- Jerry Zigounakis known as lead previs artist
- Jason Michael Zimmerman known as vfx supervisor: Pixomondo
- Christoph Zollinger known as division vfx producer: Pixomondo
- Jiarun Zou known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Xinguo Zou known as compositor: Pixomondo
- Kevin Cahill known as visual effects artist (uncredited)
- Justin Tatsuo Chan known as visual effects production support (uncredited)
- Philip Duncan known as technical animator: Rhythm & Hues (uncredited)
- Levon Hudson known as render wrangler/render support (uncredited)
- Kevin Jackson known as animator (uncredited)
- Edward M. Ruiz II known as CG artist: Pixomondo (uncredited)
- Susumu Yukuhiro known as digital matte artist (uncredited)
Release Date:
- USA 12 March 2012 (Los Angeles, California) (premiere)
- Argentina 21 March 2012 (Buenos Aires) (premiere)
- Belgium 21 March 2012
- France 21 March 2012
- Netherlands 21 March 2012
- Australia 22 March 2012
- Bahrain 22 March 2012
- Chile 22 March 2012
- Croatia 22 March 2012
- Czech Republic 22 March 2012
- Denmark 22 March 2012
- Germany 22 March 2012
- Greece 22 March 2012
- Hong Kong 22 March 2012
- Hungary 22 March 2012
- Indonesia 22 March 2012
- Israel 22 March 2012
- Kuwait 22 March 2012
- Lebanon 22 March 2012
- Malaysia 22 March 2012
- New Zealand 22 March 2012
- Peru 22 March 2012
- Philippines 22 March 2012
- Portugal 22 March 2012
- Russia 22 March 2012
- Singapore 22 March 2012
- Slovakia 22 March 2012
- Slovenia 22 March 2012
- Ukraine 22 March 2012
- United Arab Emirates 22 March 2012
- Uruguay 22 March 2012
- Argentina 23 March 2012
- Austria 23 March 2012
- Brazil 23 March 2012
- Bulgaria 23 March 2012
- Canada 23 March 2012
- Colombia 23 March 2012
- Ecuador 23 March 2012
- Estonia 23 March 2012
- Finland 23 March 2012
- India 23 March 2012
- Ireland 23 March 2012
- Mexico 23 March 2012
- Norway 23 March 2012
- Pakistan 23 March 2012
- Panama 23 March 2012
- Poland 23 March 2012
- Romania 23 March 2012
- Sweden 23 March 2012
- Turkey 23 March 2012
- UK 23 March 2012
- USA 23 March 2012
- Egypt 28 March 2012
- Serbia 28 March 2012
- Vietnam 30 March 2012
- Armenia 5 April 2012
- Cambodia 5 April 2012
- Georgia 5 April 2012
- South Korea 5 April 2012
- Lithuania 6 April 2012
- Latvia 13 April 2012
- South Africa 13 April 2012
- Spain 20 April 2012
- Italy 1 May 2012
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for intense violent thematic material and disturbing images - all involving teens
..
Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database
07 May 2012, 2:38 pm
Let me start by saying that I'm a huge fan of the "The Hunger Games"book series by Suzanne Collins. I've read them countless times and whenI found out they were making a movie of them a little over a year ago Iwas very excited. But I was also worried.
"The Hunger Games" is not very easy source material. The book iswritten in first person narrative with very detailed descriptions ofeverything form the characters' looks to the strange futuristic devicesthey use in Panem, the future version of the U.S. where the story takesplace. I couldn't imagine that they would be able to convey everydetail as I had imagined it and make the story believable without anR-rating or a huge budget. All of my concerns were wiped away when Isaw the movie.
I've never seen a more faithful adaption of a book in my life. All ofthe costumes, the sets, the locations, the cast (I'll talk more aboutthem in a while) and the pacing is as if they were exactly replicatedfrom the book. And the small things that do differ or are added (suchas more insight to the gamemakers' control room) only add to theamazing world Collins created and improve the narrative movie-wise. Andthe movie is great for people who haven't read the books as well. Notonce did I feel as if something was vague or badly explained.
The cast is stellar. Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss carries the movie andmakes me regret complaining about her casting because she was too "hot"and not starved enough. She IS Katniss and one can feel the gravenessof an situation just by looking at one of her expressions. JoshHutcherson as Peeta is also a true breakout performance. The way helooks at Katniss will makes girls all over the world envy her, justlike it's supposed to be. Other standouts in the cast include StanleyTucci as the flamboyant talk-show host Caesar Flickerman, WoodyHarrelson as the sarcastic but caring mentor Haymitch and Wes Bentleyas the sinister game-maker Seneca Crane (his final scene might be thebest one in the whole movie). The child actors Willow Shields andAmandla Stendberg who portrays Prim and Rue are believable andheartbreaking even though they're inexperienced.
Despite the PG-13 rating the movie doesn't gloss over or sugarcoatanything for their audience. The violence may not be gloriously graphicbut it's still there. People will feel the tributes' pain and despairand not even realize the violence isn't gory until you've left thetheater. The movie also deals with important themes like survival,governmental control, grief and helplessness. There is a minor lovestory subplot, but it doesn't distract from the movies main themes. Inmy opinion I think it rather improves them by showing some light in thedark.
The only complaint I can think of is that the movie feels too short.It's almost two and a half hours long, but it feels as if it goes by ina blink. I will have to see it again to fully pay attention to everydetail (such as the costumes and animation of the Capitol, which lookedamazing). But this is still not me saying that the movie is rushed,because as I stated the source material is very dense and thefilmmakers managed include almost everything.
People are expecting this to become the next Twilight-style teen moviefranchise. I can't say I think the two stories have anything in commoneven though I hope "The Hunger Games" will do as well at the boxoffice. But if the first movie is any indication of the quality ofwhat's to come - this will be a series way out of Twilight's league.
07 May 2012, 2:38 pm
What a bitter disappointment! In order to fully explain what wasmissing from the film, please bear with me while I describe what Iloved about the books.
Suzanne Collins created a moving, detailed portrayal of a girl livingunder a cruel dictatorship. Set against a background of extremepoverty, these books show how the unequal distribution of wealthaffects Panem's society. Those living in the wealthy Capitol have solittle in common with the destitute people from the Districts that theyactually regard the deaths of District children as entertainment. Theviolence in The Hunger Games is shocking because it is brutal andunnecessary, yet wholly embraced- even celebrated- by Capitolresidents. As for the District tributes, they are not enemies but theykill each other all the same, some reluctantly and others withenthusiasm. As the trilogy progresses, it becomes a compellingcommentary on the madness of war and the sad futility of violence.However, these major themes are woven into the books in such a way thatyou may not even notice they are being discussed. You become soimmersed in Katniss's world that poverty is a given and violence a sadbut expected part of life.
The film follows the basic storyline but lacks emotional depth. Thecharacter development is almost nonexistent and the deaths in the arenaare bloodless in every sense of the word. The tributes are little morethan walking stereotypes so their deaths have no impact. Even Rue'sdeath, which was heart-wrenching in the book, was little more than aside note in the movie. If I hadn't read the books, I don't think Iwould have understood the dynamic between the tributes at all,including the conflicted relationship between Katniss and Peeta. Theirromance comes across as cheesy and unconvincing. There is no hint ofthe bond that grows between them as the story progresses.
Perhaps my biggest criticism of this movie is that no one seems to begoing hungry! I cannot believe the filmmakers overlooked this importantpoint. The Capitol's exploitation of the Districts is supposed to bethe backdrop for the entire story. When Katniss arrives in the Capitoland observes how their food appears at a touch of a button, she cannotunderstand how the Capitol residents fill their time. The majority ofher days are consumed with feeding her family. It defines her. Most ofthe tributes have never had enough to eat and this is a major factor inthe Games.
The beginning of the movie seemed promising. The ominous mood indistrict 12 was just right. It is apparent that the people who livethere are exhausted and resigned to their fate. When residents appearfor the reaping, they look like cattle being rounded up for slaughter.The Capitol, in contrast, is frightening in it's freneticartificiality. This juxtaposition was well-done. However, thefilmmakers lost me when the tributes entered the arena.
There was no sense of tension in the arena. The tributes make all kindsof noise as they move through the woods, seemingly oblivious to thefact that they are being hunted. Katniss stands about ten feet awayfrom Cato as he snaps a boys neck and we are supposed to believe hedoesn't see her? The scenes from the control room are pointless and addnothing to the movie. They should have spent that time on characterdevelopment! Unfortunately, this lack of character development causesthe emotional scenes to fall flat. I am astounded this was evenpossible, given the subject matter, but the overall result lacksintensity and depth.
I will credit Elizabeth Banks with an excellent portrayal of EffieTrinket. She adds humor and a sense of the absurdity of Capitol life.Donald Sutherland also does well as President Snow. Jennifer Lawrenceis an adequate Katniss but Josh Hutcherson is terrible as Peeta. He'sjust not very likable. We see none of his inner strength. Instead, hecomes across and whiny and weak. And Wes Bentley seems to be includedjust to showcase his ability to grow an amazing beard.
One more thing. What happened to Haymitch?! He's supposed to be aself-destructive drunk! His cunning is all the more unexpected becausehe seems incapable of taking care of himself. I was thrilled when theycast Woody Harrelson and he does well in some parts but it seemed likethey had to water down his character to market it to young adults.
This movie had a lot of potential but it fell short in many importantways. A score of 3/10 is pretty harsh but I felt as though thefilmmakers kept all of the plot points and none of the meaning. Readthe books instead.
07 May 2012, 2:38 pm
OK, first let me admit that I haven't read the books, and I didn't evenknow they existed: I was taken to the cinema by my girlfriend, who sawsomething in the trailers I didn't which made her all excited. So, Isat there with a clear mindset, no expectations, no prejudice, nobackground info whatsoever. First things first: whoever invented thethe "let's shake the camera all around because it makes the movie somuch more lifelike" and convinced others to follow him or her, shouldbe shot. Twice, in fact, just to be sure…It is really annoying, andso unnecessary: it is not making anything more real. For me, in manycases the hectic and jerky camera movement seemed to be only a poorattempt to mask fact that there is nothing (or not much) happening, butit tries to make it look intense and action packed regardless. Socheap…and apart from pissing me off, it didn't work at all, but Iadmit I well may be a minority… The story feels like it is hanging inthe air. Again, I didn't read the books so the scenes may have beenadequately set there, but in the movie you get 10 lines, and off yougo…and it doesn't add much depth later on either. The mostfundamental question remained: what's the point? Sending 2 dozens ofyounglings to slaughter won't hold aggression at bay in itself,actually it is more likely that the infuriated parents driven mad fromthe grieving over the unnecessary and pointless death of their childrenwill cry for revenge and go into resistance, or even spark a brutalbloodbath (especially that it is an annual event, so sooner or latereveryone will be affected by friends or family). Also, the scale ishanging in the air too, you don't know how the 2 opposing populations(the "citizens" of the shiny new world and the habitants of the 12district) relate to each other, which would be rather pivotal. I won'tgo on with the many potholes, the bottom line for me is that the scenewas set simply poorly. The story, well, is very simple and straight,once you stepped over the inadequate surroundings. Feels painfullyunfinished, and though I din't know there is a series behind, I told tothe (rather disappointed) missus in the end that it must be so becausethey already have a sequel in mind. Knowing that gives a little excuse,but still left a hollow "is this really it?" kind of feeling in theboth of us. The striking similarities with Battle Royal I'll leavealone… Acting was OK, considering the absurdity of some of thecharacters and the whole context (background and story). I'm sorry, I'mnot a big fan of the lead actress (Jennifer Lawrence), as I didn't evenknow her before this movie (althogh I saw and really liked First Class,but somehow couldn't connect). Regardless, she does a good job ofportraying and transferring the tension, fear and uncertainty of thesituation she is pulled into, at least a good number of scenes, in facther efforts were one of the few "ups" for me among the many "downs"during that long 2,5 hours. Kudos to Elizabeth Banks as well forcreating a "sugar-monster" character, and also for the fact that thoughI know her face well enough (just seen in Man on the ledge), here Isimply couldn't recognise Based on the movie itself, I really don'tknow how this can be so popular, but I admit I'm probably not thetarget audience, and also the books may be much better (well, itwouldn't be difficult as the bar is set really low). Donald Sutherlandwas brilliant saying "only hope is stronger than fear", but that and MsLawrence's occasional shine doesn't make this worth to sacrifice andevening for. I have a frequent visitor card so it didn't cost meanything, but if I've paid almost 10 quids for this, I would be ratherupset…
07 May 2012, 2:38 pm
Simply, many over the age of 18 read these books and loved them, and itwasn't because there was a girl, a boy, and another boy in a lovestory. It was about an awful political system where children faced tothe death for their survival with awful paragraphs of cruel brutality.This is part of what made the book unique. The movie, was an attempt todraw a crowd like Twilight for money, and completely blurred outchildren killing each other to survive so that it could be made PG13.Ridiculous. Jennifer Lawerence is an AWESOME actress though, and shedid a great job. Throughout the movie I was never convinced that shelived in district 12 nearly starving… or that Peeta was dying in thehunger games.. it was all very pretty and not anything like I imaginedthey would do with it. Oh well, maybe they'll remake a rated R versionsome day that adequately portrays the books theme.
07 May 2012, 2:38 pm
One of the things I liked the most about reading 'The Hunger Games' wasthe intensity of how it was written. Feeling the story seemed maybeeven more important than reading it, so when I went to see the movie,my expectations were very high.
On the upside: Great performance by the main characters, excellentvisuals and well directed.
On the downside: The book gives a lot of context as to how thecharacters feel and how things have come to be the way they are. Themovie changes a number of things to make it at all possible to show thestory and for me the choices made took down the quality of the story abit. To give at least some context, it took the movie a while to getreally started and even despite that, some of the characters, again inmy opinion, didn't really develop in depth the way they should.
Long story short, I liked the movie and thought it was a niceadaptation from the book, but it lacked a bit the intensity from thebook.
07 May 2012, 2:38 pm
like everyone else, before going to the movies I stopped on IMDb andread a few criticisms of the film - both those with better than averagegrade, and worse. But I think it's finally time to wonder what is thepurpose of this time consuming ritual. because when a little thought,in few years back, i found that just a couple of films is wellcharacterized with the average grade on this site.
but here, not only that I stopped with this habit, I decided to writemy first review. for me like for many others with first reviews,trigger is terrible dissatisfaction with seen. I did not read the booknor did I know until yesterday that this film is another adaptation.for the book I do not know, but the movie turned out, on my sorrow, tobe for children up to 14 years maximum - the magic of 21st century andadvertising machinery.
After the first few minutes of the film when you realize you're 28 yearold who is stuck with teenage movie and after you realize what wouldnot just the end, but everything, look like, you tell yourself: ''sitback and at least try to enjoy visual side of the movie''. but that tooceases to be an option once you realize that you are about throw upbecause some producer decided it was more fun instead of continuousmotion of camera to record in the way: cut-ear, cut-leg, cut-tree inthe background,cut-somebody runs, cut-Hair… and all that in 0.3second and from different - all possible angles. must be seen to bebelieved. but even that is not the worst, because imagine what thefeeling of nausea you get when you realize that the hour of the movieis spent to describe the characters and get nothing better then awfulcliché: bad guys are trained, arrogant bullies that smile too much andof course despite the superhuman strength, arrogant like that, theymust be kicked by the petite 16 year old shy girl. but since this isstill a children's movie, you will not literally see bloody actionscenes where this brave archer girl kills super-strong and skilledbullies, but you will rather see scenes where those skilled bullies cannot figure out how to catch a girl who ran away from them to a tree, sothey decide camp under a tree until this girl alone does not get hungryand climb down. but because it was cold, of course, the bullies getcold so they find it was smart thing to make a fire and warm themself,but not too close to tree as it could catch on fire and kill a girlthey've been chasing to kill.
To conclude, if you're not 14 year old teenager, this is not a moviefor you. don't get yourself tricked like I did.
cheers
07 May 2012, 2:38 pm
I devoured the books. I loved the depth, the emotion, the politics, thesatire. The world Suzanne Collins created, I could see it. It was us,the United States. It was believable, even if it was grotesque andterrifying. I was sucked into Katniss, completely understanding herthoughts and actions. When I found out that Jennifer Lawrence would beplaying her, I was dumbfounded. Why? She doesn't resemble Katniss. Fromher appearance to her character, she was the opposite. Tall, busty,flaunting her looks (did you see what she wore to the red carpetpremiere?). Not the skinny, meager, shy, sixteen-year-old (Lawrence is21) girl Collins wrote about. And Josh Hutcherson. Where did he comefrom? Last I saw him, he was fourteen, playing Jess Aarons in Bridge toTerebithia. He may be more of Peeta than Lawrence was Katniss, but hestill wasn't right. Collins emphasizes Peeta's largenesshow he towersover Katniss, making her feel safe, or how his strong arms embrace her.Hutcherson is on the short side for his age, and Lawrence appeared tobe the same height if not taller in the film. And, neither she nor Galeappeared to be starving. Liam Hemsworth did not do Gale justice.Although I do not oppose his casting as strongly as I do Hutcherson orLawrence's (mainly because I simply don't like Gale), I did not seeGale on the screen. He didn't look mean enough, hateful enough. Forthose who have read Mockingjay, these traits come into play later andare very important. Willow Shields, who played Prim, did not enticesympathy from me. Her bitter expression throughout was not that of thepoor, little girl too afraid to enter the woods, whose sister cares forher so she won't grow up too soon. The relationship Shields andLawrence portrayed didn't capture the depth of Prim and Katniss'srelationship. Katniss lives for Prim. While Lawrence's acting was okay(save for her scene after Rue's death, where she completelyoverreacted), it wasn't enough to portray the emotion of the books.Yes, I understand that a lot must be cut when a book is made into afilm. But this seemed ridiculous. Lawrence portrayed Katniss'ssimplicity, but little else. Not the independence, the rebelliousattitude, the hostility, the resourcefulness, etc. She never had thespecial understanding with Haymitch that allowed her to interpret thetrue meaning of his gifts. Lawrence-Katniss's relationship withHutcherson-Peeta was lackluster at best. I doubt I would haveunderstood the depth of his love if I hadn't read about it. The cavescene, which was incredibly moving in the book, seemed insignificant inthe movie. Where were the stories? His father who loved her mother,Prim's goat, the birds who stop when Katniss or her father sing.Several passionate kisses and a shared sleeping bag turned into twobrief kisses and a head on a chest. No deception with the sleep syrupor "very scary pool of blood". Not even a dandelionKatniss's symbolfor hope, her symbol of Peeta. Their relationship in the movie wasnegligible, not even deserving of a "break-up" scene at the end. Theflashback where he gave her the bread was recent, not when they were11. How much he riskedgetting beaten, yelled atby burning it and thengiving it to her. Her contempt at her own helplessness. Both wereabsent. This movie turned a deep book for adults and teens alike, abook like no other that I have read, into a petty film that onlyteenage girls will enjoy. And not even then. I counted down the days,bought my ticket to the midnight premiere as soon as they were on sale,read every article, watched every trailed like so many other younggirls my age. You would think that, with Suzanne Collins taking anactive role in its production, it would have turned out better. I wasmore than disappointed after watching the movie. Now, all I hope for isfor it to be re-made.
07 May 2012, 2:38 pm
First let me say, I love the books.
Now let me voice my problems with the movie:
Acting:
Actors were good, I actually expected a worse performance. My problemwas a lack of character development, they felt very flat, you don'tlink with the necessity of Katniss to win.
Plot:
They are called the HUNGER GAMES. They have to suffer, they have tofight for food, they have to kill each other. They made an R rated booka PG-13 movie and they expect it to work ? The fight had to be brutallike it was in the book, the tension of them moving in an arena thatwas trying to kill them didn't exist in the movie.
The political implications you never understood them, you don't getthat sense people in the other districts are linked in some way to thecapitol, you don't sense people in the other districts has to suffer togreat extents to find food.
Development:
The movie is freaking slow, I was failing sleep, mind you I finishedthe books in 18 hours non stop of reading. There are some uselessscenes, others are too long and the important ones are too fast.
Camera:
Please kill the director and his stupid shaky camera, it was annoying.He failed to portrait the suffering of the participants, the action,the fights.
I hope they do something for the next two or else I wont watch them.They need a better director, screenplay and writer.
07 May 2012, 2:38 pm
I saw this at a preview screening and having never read the books I wasunaware what all the fuss is about. Having just seen the film, I amstill unaware what all the fuss is about.
The central story concerns a future society where 12 areas (orDistricts) have been locked down under police guard and wire fences,after they have held a rebellion against the state at some point. Inpunishment for this rebellion and for rising up against the state; theyhave to provide 2 kids between 12-18 (tributes) each year to fight in'The Hunger Games' -a no holds-barred death match tournament, in whichthere can be only one winner. This is televised round the world and canbe manipulated depending on how the action is heating up and who theaudience's favourites are (similar to a certain Arnie movie). We followa girl / woman from District 12, who volunteers to take her youngersister's place in the tournament, after she had been selected anddidn't want to go. She travels to the capital with another boy from thedistrict and there they begin extensive training ready for the games tobegin. I won't go into any more detail without wishing to spoil theother parts of the story but once the tournament starts - there beginsa love story, various double crossing and in a brilliant stand-outscene; a hilarious disguise that even Andy Mcnab or Bear Grylls intheir special forces days would not have been able conjure up..
The acting is OK, but the dialogue seems pretty trite and thefuture-scape and costumes, look like someone has just watched acombination of Equilibrium and the 5TH Element over and over and overand over again (Having not read the book I don't know whether thesecostumes were accurate to that?). The main issue is that the violenceis fairly none existent due to the intended teenage audience, thereforesurely losing any power about the wrongs of such a tournament? Ifyou're trying to make a point about violence being glorified in atournament, to water it down or even worse allow the viewer to 'escape'this horror just seems pointless. The kids are all good looking andclean cut, some of whom are slightly annoying but are given noback-story in the film. So aside from our two heroes you really don'thave any vested interest in seeing them survive and obviously becauseyou don't really see any of them die it just doesn't seem thatmeaningful and they appear to just be making up the numbers.
Overall we all know it's going to make loads of money because there isa die-hard faithful chomping at the bit to see it…but I just didn'tget it.
It's a very good looking but ultimately fairly empty film. I won't godown the Battle Royale route but obviously they are incredible similar,so make up your own mind about whether this has been 'influenced' bythat.. but I do feel this has been done better and on a lower budgetbefore.
5/10
07 May 2012, 2:38 pm
Three things first: (A)-Read the review and think about it first.(B)-I'm a guy! Haven't read the books, but I now want to. (C)-Pleasestop shouting 'Team Peeta/Gale, bitch' everywhere!
In "The Hunger Games", a futuristic oppressive upper class society sets24 children in a battle to fight against each other to the death everyyear. There are 12 districts and each district randomly selects one boyand one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 as tributes to enter theHunger Games as a way to keep the districts in check and keep any signsof uprising at bay. The strong, sure-footed hunter, Katniss Everdeen(Jennifer Lawrence), in a first of its kind, volunteers to be a tributein place of her little sister in the games.
The huge success of "The Hunger Games" should be attributed to theawesome marketing and the apparent title of being the next "Twilight"when it comes to its money making ability in the teen-fantasy genre.The camera-work is just fine, save for the jerk motions when somebodyis being killed. You won't feel any nausea if you are used toGreengrass's style of cinematography. The acting from JenniferLawrence, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Elizabeth Banks and JoshHutcherson were great. Where the movie falls apart is in the second actwhen the contestants are inside the arena. Say what you may, at least"Battle Royale" provided a highly definitive motive for the kids tobecome killers, didn't glorify the regime and didn't hold back. Ofcourse, since this movie is PG-13, there's relatively no bloodshed onscreen and I can overlook that aspect. What kept nagging me throughoutthe whole movie is, the kids in "The Hunger Games" have no motive tokill each other! Sure somebody should win. But it never explains whythey would pick up arms and go kill someone instead of letting naturerun its course as Woody Harrelson's Haymitch Abernathy characterexplained earlier.
The only ones with any kind of character development are Katniss andPeeta. All the others, save for the little black girl and IsabelleFuhrman barely get to talk in the movie. We have the standard whitehunk and his gang of cliché cronies who are the 'villains' and must bebrought down. They smirk and take pleasure in killing others while ourleads don't get their hands dirty, at all. Peeta, as far as we couldsee doesn't kill anybody while Katniss killed one guy in self defensetrying to save the little black girl. Even the main 'villain' is killedoff by cgi animals instead of our leads. So by the end of the movie,our leads are relatively guilt free and their actions in the arenadoesn't affect them much. Also they never showed any of the parentsbeing affected by watching their children kill others or being killedbrutally.
For a movie where 'hunger' is the main context, the children who comefrom ravaged, starved homes seem to adapt to the rich lifestyles quitequickly and they are barely starved even during the games. The socialcommentary completely fails in every aspect. Here we have a world thatis like ours, which attempts to market every atrocious thing in a shinypackage for the audiences. It was just touched upon and I felt like thewriters were afraid of exploiting that storyline. They wanted to tellthe story of a totalitarian regime, but ended up ditching it in favorof pleasing the masses. For all its talk of female empowerment, themovie panders to the audience who love Gale/Peeta including cheesyscenes which never come off as true. The Katniss we grew up liking inthe movie wouldn't have kissed Peeta at that moment, unless of courseit was a ploy to make the 'star-crossed lovers' notion work for thesponsors in the movie, which was never quite clear.
I was in fact, highly excited to see "The Hunger Games". But in itsattempt to appease the masses and thereby glossing over the disturbing(yet intriguing) social commentary, "The Hunger Games" does the mostheinous act any movie could do. The system which we are supposed toloathe and be disgusted by, is cheered and celebrated by the movie byvirtue of making the deaths of the children in the gamesinconsequential by making them caricatures and inserting a convolutedlove story even in the most vicarious of situations, set to pander tothe teens who will go weak in the knees and forget about the immoralworld this movie is actually set in. By refusing to look directly atits own story and by instead fashioning a convenient morality out ofits murderous sporting event, it lets the audience off the hook andeven encourages them to enjoy the blood-sport as 'entertainment'.
3/10