Whilst in Bangkok last week, she who must be obeyed expressed an interest in going to the cinema. When she is interested in doing something, I am fascinated; so off we went.
The only show in town was “The Hunger Games”, a hugely popular teen movie based upon a hugely popular trilogy of books. Set the future in what used to be America, a boy and girl from each of the twelve poor districts that once staged a rebellion, are brought to the capital for an annual televised event where they are placed in an area of land, and the last one alive is the winner.
To ensure a PG-13 certificate, shaky camera techniques and quick edits are used to ensure we are not exposed to too much bloodshed. To ensure the average cinema audience is not over-taxed, many of the themes and plots in the book are simplified, or ignored completely (allegedly, I have not read them).
But, in spit of that, I rather enjoyed it. It’s well made, the lead actress, Jennifer Lawrence, is clearly a future star; and the supporting cast including Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz and the inevitable Donald Sutherland as the evil president do a solid job. It flags a bit in the middle, but as a no-brains required evening out it’s OK.
But this is not the first “last schoolkid standing” movie, and it is not the best. Honours for that have to go to the excellent Battle Royale.
I have a passing interest in Japanese cinema; first sparked by Mike Takahashi’s “Audition” (Kiri Kiri Kiri!) and rekindled lately by “13 Assassins” from the same director. My limited collection includes a special edition of Battle Royale.
Been a few years since I watched it; and what a joy after the somewhat sterile Hunger Games.
The Japanese have no problem with violence; even if those involved are not yet of a voting age. They also have no problem in ensuring that the majority of contestants in the movie just happen to be cute Japanese schoolgirls who spend their time prancing around in outfits containing insufficient cloth to qualify as school uniforms in the Japanese education system.
There’s buckets of blood, but I don’t think it deserved an 18 certificate. The violence never descends to unpleasantness and the whole enterprise is laced with a sense of humour; this is not a movie to take seriously. Good ending too.
But if you can’t see the enjoyment in spending a couple of hours watching inappropriately dressed young girls being slaughtered in a variety of amusing ways; well then Battle Royale is not for you. Maybe you would enjoy The Hunger Games instead; but for god’s sake stay away from Audition.
Comments 🔗
2012-04-04| Jock saysReminds me any night on Walking Street !!
“if you can’t see the enjoyment in spending a couple of hours watching inappropriately dressed young girls being slaughtered in a variety of amusing ways”
2012-04-04| Spanky saysYou beat me to what I was going to type Jock.
2012-04-04| genuinej saysWhy only a couple of hours? I just wish I could have made a career of it.
2012-04-05| Grant saysIt may not be too late if you’re American and live near a University…
2012-04-05| Barry saysDownloading it, as I write..
2012-04-06| Pete saysDownloaded it within an hour of reading this yesterday. All of Spike’s previous tips on films I’ve never heard of before have been good. Just got to get round to watching it now!