| My husband and I went to see the newly released Hunger Games movie, which is a prequel to the trilogy. It’s a well-directed, beautifully photographed movie about Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) before he becomes the evil president of Panem. The characters are well developed and the acting is great. Rachel Zegler who plays Lucy Gray sings eight songs on the official soundtrack. In the beginning, Snow is shown as a small child during the war, searching for food on the streets with his cousin. He was born into a well-off family whose wealth was lost during the war and he has been orphaned. Our hearts go out to the little boy who is scared, hungry, and looking for food. The story then switches to when Snow is 18. He’s in school and has studied hard to get a cash reward to continue his education and feed his cousin and grandmother. At the last minute, the rules are changed. He can only get the prize money if he mentors Lucy Gray in the Hunger Games and she wins. He and Lucy Gray grow close as he does all he can to help her win the game. Snow is revealed as a sympathetic character and even noble at times. We feel for the young man when the rules are changed and he has to mentor Lucy. We also see how desperation changes people and Snow’s gradual moral decay. In the end, we find out who is the songbird and who is the snake, and the true reason for the Hunger Games. I loved the original trilogy (books and movies) because of the intimate point of view. You see the world through Katniss’s eyes. This movie maintains that same intimate viewpoint only through Coriolanus’ eyes. Katniss’s story is the hero’s journey whereas in this story the protagonist turns to the dark side. The storyline reminds me of Anakin Skywalker’s story. In the first three Star Wars movies, Darth Vader is the villain of the story. In the fourth movie, we see him as a young person with the potential to be a Jedi. This new Hunger Games isn’t for everyone. At times it’s dark, disturbing, and violent. It’s rated PG-13, but the level of graphic violence is high for young adults. It isn’t as much fun as the Hunger Games trilogy. The children brutally kill each other in a gladiator-type arena instead of the imaginative, large, enclosed outdoor area of the first movies. It’s a love story between Coriolanus and Lucy Gray but there’s an edge to the romance and the lovers aren’t quite sure of each other’s motives. If you’re a fan of the Hunger Games you’ll enjoy stepping back into Panem and District 12. Here is the trailer: https://www.google.com/search?q=trailer+for+hunger+games&oq=… |
