Everyone - whether it's Donald Sutherland in a few powerful scenes as Panem's menacing President Snow newcomer Amandla Stenberg as Katniss' young ally, Rue or the various other young tributes who die one by one - gives their all to this captivating commentary on government, entertainment, and self-identity. Elizabeth Banks is hilarious as Effie Trinket, the Capitol's liaison to District 12, and Harrelson is a slightly more understated but just as clever version of perpetually drunk Haymitch. Stanley Tucci is particularly wonderful as scene-stealing Caesar Flickerman, a smarmy TV personality who hosts the Games and interviews all of the competitors. The supporting characters are all equally up to the task of realizing Collins' vision. (Fans expecting high romance should know there are several tender moments, but the love story takes a rightful back seat to Katniss' extraordinary tale.) And Hutcherson is fantastic as the thoughtful and protective Peeta. She anchors the movie with her heartfelt portrayal of a fierce and selfless young woman who knows how to survive and how to save the people she loves. As the compelling Katniss, Lawrence (an Oscar nominee for the similarly themed drama Winter's Bone) completely brings "The Girl on Fire" to life. Show moreĭirector Gary Ross has faithfully, lovingly adapted the first installment of Suzanne Collins' riveting dystopian trilogy. Her mentor, Haymitch, is initially depicted as a cynical drunk, but he ultimately proves to be a valuable ally. And Katniss, the main character, is a strong heroine who's resourceful, selfless, and a true survivor. Despite the violence (which is, overall, less graphic than the novel's descriptions but is still very intense), the movie explores thought-provoking themes about reality television, totalitarian government, and screen violence as entertainment. Even young teens need to be mature enough to deal with the 20+ deaths in The Hunger Games characters are viciously dispatched with various weapons - including spears, arrows, and swords - as well as by having their necks broken, their skulls cracked, and their bodies ravaged by carnivorous and poisonous creatures. Developmentally, the 10- to 12-year-olds who've read the book may find the movie's visceral, sometimes bloody teen-on-teen violence upsetting - especially the brutal scene that opens the Games, in which several teens are slaughtered by their fellow contestants. Parents need to know that although the bestselling Hunger Games books are enormously popular with tweens, there's a clear distinction between reading about violence and seeing it portrayed on screen in The Hunger Games.
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