THE HUNGER GAMES FILM REVIEW

The nation of Panem, formed from a post-apocalyptic North America, consists of a wealthy Capitol and twelve poorer surrounding districts. As a punishment for a previous rebellion against the Capitol by the districts, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district are selected by an annual lottery (known as the "Reaping") to participate in the Hunger Games. The participants (or "tributes") of the Hunger Games must fight in an arena controlled by the Capitol until only one remains. Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old girl from District 12, volunteers for the 74th annual Hunger Games in place of her younger sister, Primrose. Peeta Mellark, a baker's son who once gave Katniss bread when her family was starving, is also selected.
Katniss and Peeta are taken to the Capitol, where their drunken mentor, former Games victor Haymitch Abernathy, instructs them to watch and learn the talents of the other tributes, especially the "Careers," who have been trained from birth to compete in the Games. During a pre-Games interview with TV personality Caesar Flickerman, Peeta unexpectedly reveals his feelings of love for Katniss. Katniss is outraged, believing this to be a ploy to gain crucial audience support for themselves, as audience members may "sponsor" tributes with gifts of food, medicine, and tools. The Games begin with half of the tributes killed on the first day, while Katniss relies on her well-practiced hunting and outdoor skills to survive. Peeta forms an alliance with the "Careers", including Cato, Clove, Marvel, and Glimmer, to track Katniss, whom they pursue into the woods. Katniss develops an alliance with District 11 tribute Rue, who points out a tracker jacker nest which Katniss uses to kill Glimmer. The alliance is short-lived; Rue is killed by Marvel, and Katniss kills him in return. Katniss stays with Rue as she dies, then spreads flowers over Rue's body as a sign of respect. When this is televised, it sparks a riot in District 11.
With Katniss and Peeta established as "star-crossed lovers" - and the Gamemakers trying to avoid inciting further riots - a rule change is announced midway through the Games, stating that two tributes from the same district can win the Games as a pair. Upon hearing this, Katniss searches for Peeta and finds him, wounded by a sword from Cato. As Katniss nurses Peeta back to health, she portrays herself as deeply in love with him to gain audience favor and sponsorship. When Katniss tries to retrieve medicine for Peeta, Clove attacks her. Thresh suddenly appears and kills Clove, sparing Katniss in memory of Rue. "Foxface" accidentally kills herself by eating nightlock berries stolen from Peeta, who did not know they were highly poisonous. A pack of vicious hound-like creatures are released, killing Thresh and forcing Katniss and Peeta towards the Cornucopia, where they encounter Cato. After a fight, Katniss shoots Cato with an arrow to save Peeta's life. Cato falls to the creatures, where Katniss shoots him again, killing him to spare him a prolonged death. The Gamemakers then reverse the rule change in an attempt to force Katniss and Peeta into a dramatic duel, where one must kill the other to win. Katniss, believing that the Gamemakers would rather have two victors than none, reveals a cache of nightlock berries and gives Peeta a portion. Thinking that Katniss and Peeta intend to commit suicide, the Gamemakers announce that both will be the victors of the 74th Hunger Games.
Although she is treated to a hero's welcome in the Capitol, Katniss is warned by Haymitch that she has now become a political enemy after such a public defiance of her society's authoritarian leaders. As Katniss and Peeta return to District 12, President Snow ponders what to do about the joint victors and the feelings of rebellion that they may have inspired.

Source: Wikipedia

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