Geek Syndicate
about our current obsession about reality tv shows and how behind the scenes people plot and plan and scheme how they should go about to make the most impact, to get us, the audience on their side. And this is of course everything that does happen in the run-up to the actual Games in the movie. The parade of those selected from the other districts is truly magnificent, their interviews on TV to the applause and adulation of the roaring crowds, the over the top clothes, their training, the trials, it is all televised and pumped out to a hungry audience who are deliriously happy for these young people to be murdered for their sick entertainment. the movie and story. But the movie-makers have done a clever thing: they give us what we want, by holding back on some of the training shots, only hinting at the determination of some of the other contestants to win, so that when we see them off their starting blocks at the start of the Games, and they go ALL out with their weapons to kill, you literally feel the horror of it vibrate through you. I do not quake easily and yet there were instances where I had to look away because it just felt too real. The big scenes we were all waiting for were there and allow me to warn you: have your tissues ready for Rue’s scene. It even made the elderly gentleman sitting next to me cry. And practice your salute, half the audience who knew what to to look for did it back to the screen when it happened. It was incredible. I realise this sounds crazy, but there you go. Audience participation is a bit of a thing here! The action sequences are well done, as is the developing relationship between Peeta and Katniss. I never once doubted who they were supposed to be. The secondary characters and support cast are given great on-screen time. Haymitch starts off as this drunken sot and yet, by the end of the movie you are 100% on his side as he hustles sponsors to
send items into the Games to help Katniss and Peeta. I can wax lyrical all day, I genuinely can. I’m very much looking forward to see what they do for films 2 and 3 as the world, the politics, the seeds of the rebellion have been planted and we have our Mockingjay. In the meantime, I’m planning to watch it again this Sunday, proudly wearing my mockingjay pin.
I was worried that the 12A rating would somehow take away from the visceral impact of
Liz
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