98
by galanter_Archive
dabrasha wrote:David Thomson: Why I Hate The Hunger GamesSaw this last night and disagree with the review. His complaints seem to be the characters (especially the lead) don't seem skinny enough, the violence isn't violent enough, the lead character is reserved for the lead in an action film, and the setting is implausible. Bunk. The lead character and others have found ways (e.g. Illegal hunting) to fend for themselves. The violence is honest if not zombie-killer graphic, and gore porn is not the point of the film. The easiest thing in the world would be to have an over-the-top macho-gal with no inner-life, doubt, or sense of possible mortality. The lead is a lot more interesting with multiple dimensions. As for plausibility there are far fewer violations of the laws of physics, natural biology, or human nature in this film than most sci-fi or fantasy genre pieces.Don't get me wrong, this isn't 2001 or Blade Runner. It's technically well made...photography, effects, CGI, art design, editing, sound are all very good. However, it's not a deep meditation. But like teen experience itself what it lacks in depth it makes up for in intensity of emotion. And it does address in an aestheticized manner the themes young people have always encountered...awkward self-doubt, first encounters with loss and mortality, young love, hope and the threat of hope dashed, and most of all rebellion against unfair and arbitrary authority. It's a good film and maybe those who don't get it just don't remember what it was like to be a teenager anymore.