“..(Go ahead, watch the Jennifer Lawrence flick again now that it is on DVD.
But pair it with the classic “Naked Prey”.)
But if the chronology were more supportive – I’d go with the stated platform of the Romney/Ryan/Rand campaign.
Both Collins’ book and the film adaptation represent everything the Tea Party hates about Hollywood: -
- skillful left-wing propaganda that shamelessly pushes forward the concept of class warfare -
- while at the same time reducing the ruling elite to stereotypical, cartoon villains.
Power to the propagandists – right on.
But there is one thing that Stephen King, Robert Sheckley and Ayn Rand would all agree on: The story is the thing.
Collins tells a great one.
The movie version doesn’t work as well as the book – but it definitely gets enough right.
In this film, the casting is the thing.
Jennifer Lawrence is perfectly typecast as the long-suffering and stoic heroine-turned-killing-machine, Katniss Everdeen.
Stanley Tucci inherits the Richard Dawson role – and nails it.
Donald Sutherland puts the “elite” in “Elite Ruling Class.”
Gary Ross’ direction is serviceable, with a few too many seasick camera moves and edits – but like Katniss, the movie gets the job done.
It’s wet work, though, and once again, the audience is queasily complicit in the blood sport – and the mechanics of the Game.
The book is written from the point of view of its heroine, but the movie stuffs in more exposition and context – which ironically makes it even more a work of agitprop.
The dynamics of oppression that inform the book are more understated here -
- but the images of the decadent ruling elite – which ignores the groundlings whose blood, sweat and tears enable their decadence – is a potent one.
“The Capitol” is an Oz-like wonderland – inhabited only by Bad Witches and their Flying Monkeys -
- where the masses only exist for their entertainment and continued exploitation…”
(cont..)
go to source/story>>>
