Despite its March 2012 release date, The Hunger Games film, based on the book by Suzanne Collins, is already gaining enough support to live up to the hype as the "next" Harry Potter or Twilight. Don't worry, though, The Hunger Games has nothing to do with werewolves or vampires. Instead, The Hunger Games tells the story of the 74th Hunger Games, an annual tradition since the 12 districts of the post-North American Panem rose up against the Capitol. The Games commemorate the futility of rebellion against the Capitol by reaping one boy and one girl from each district to enter an arena to fight to the death until one person remains. And it is all televised for the entertainment of this civilization.
So why so much hype? Ah, so many reasons. For one, the voice of the book is strikingly personal, entering this cruel world through the inner monologue of 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who has lost her dad in a mine explosion and can only feed her family by hunting illegally in the woods outside of the Capitol's borders. Through her mind, we see a real darkness in human nature, which she paints through great suffering, sacrifice and strength. There is a lot of action and suspense and goriness, along with a very subtle love story that the main character actually tries to ignore. So, yes, there is much more to the story than love. The trilogy, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay, is beyond addicting.
And even if you don't believe me that the hype behind the book is enough, every part of the movie's production shows promise. Lionsgate Entertainment is producing the film, Gary Ross (Seabiscuit, Pleasantville) directs, and Jennifer Lawrence plays the lead role of Katniss. Twenty-one-year-old Lawrence received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role this year for her outstanding work in Winter's Bone, the second youngest ever to be nominated for this category. Basically, she's good. Really good. The academy would agree. Not to mention that the two supporting characters in this story, Josh Hutcherson (The Kids are Alright) who plays Peeta and Liam Hemsworth (yes, he was in The Last Song) who plays Gale, have had promising years and have also been hitting the gym. Elizabeth Banks (30 Rock), Lenny Kravitz and Woody Harrelson (No Country for Old Men, Zombieland) play Effie, Cinna and Haymitch, respectively, the three major adult characters who support her during the Games.
You could be excited for the movie based solely on the fact that one of those actors will be in it. But they all will be, and they will play characters you have never seen them play anywhere else. Lionsgate released a minute-long teaser trailer at the VMAs, which offered way too little, as the movie is still in production in North Carolina, but Ross told MTV that "hugely epic" things would come with time. The response to this movie and the two sequels, Catching Fire and Mockingjay will be huge. With action, a great deal of suspense and a subtle love story, the franchise earns its hype.
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