Opened: March 23, 2012

Directed by: Gary Ross

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Wes Bentley, Toby Jones, Alexander Ludwig, Isabelle Fuhrman, Amandla Stenberg, Jacqueline Emerson, Jack Quaid, Leven Rambin, Dayo Okeniyi, Willow Shields & Paula Malcomson

Based on the novel by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games takes a look at a sadistic future that sometimes doesn’t seem too far off.

Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers to take her sister Prim’s (Willow Shields) place in The Hunger Games – a televised fight to the death of 24 teens. Once in the arena, Katniss must use what she can, including her co-tribute Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), to survive and win the game.

Lawrence is fiercely strong in the lead role with Hutcherson and Amandla Stenberg in emotional supporting roles.

Part of what makes the premise of the film intense is the idea that people could be convinced that watching kids kill each other is normal entertainment. Seeing today’s society blindly follow those types of leaders makes it feel real.

Final say: The odds are in favor. ★★★★☆