The Hunger Games

It was a post-call day.

With the irresistable screenplay of The Hunger Games, plus an obvious overestimation over my energy span, there I called up sister and dad for the premiere at 10pm. a pretty reckless move!

Story is taken from the original novel by Suzanne Collins, centering on an annual national event, where boys and girls are randomly picked up from each districts as tributes, and put into a survival game where there allows only one life remains. Katniss, the 16-year old girl from District 12 volunteered for replacing her sister, enters the game and the show goes on...



Hold on a second, does it kick off something back in memory?

Yes at first glimpse I almost instantly correlates it with the unrated flesh-and-blood Japanese production Battle Royale in 2000, which was interestingly also based on an original novel on a group of high school teens force-engaged in a governmental killing programme. Having finished the book I need to say its highly tensed dramatic throughout, and it's also thrillingly dark from the beginning till the end.

So, when I was expecting a de javu experience in theatre, there I was wrong and surprised.

**SPOILER WARNING***

The Hunger Games took an exceedingly long paragraph layering the story background and layout. In fact almost half of the time was spent outside the battling arena, preparing Katniss's character and building up the dynamics within. This move may well disappoint those who enter the house anticipating fleshy actions and kills, but I reckon this as the key that distinguishes itself from its alike productions.



Truly speaking I enjoyed the first half more than the battling part, there they put in so much contrast between the distant districts and the capitol - from the color tone and languages to costumes and makeups - you can easily see the underdog situation and get attached to the character, as the young girl goes step by step towards the end, it gave you a very solidly mixed product of fear, love, perseverance and bravery. Katniss's character is also highly lovable. She was never good at expressing and talking, appeared to be well-controlled at all times, but at certain scenes when the suppressed fear and sorrow leaked, it then became so stunningly real and powerful.

On the other hand, the story loosened up a bit when it enters the arena. The plains and woods setting is great, but when dealing with life-and-death, it lacks a tiny bit of tension within. Especially on the scene where Katniss was on tree trapped by the alliance from the trained tributes, I don't see the point for them to stop shooting and go to sleep; and if I were one of them, with no second thought I would clear everyone else in their dreams - why giving up such a nice chance when I am so good at combating?

Anyhow overall The Hunger Game is decently produced and worths a premiere ticket, despite the postcall state, it kept me highly awake and engaged - though I ended up in a pretty bad nightmare hiding myself in woods with bleeding wounds.

Phew! Better not to pick the midnight session!

It's Kind of A Funny Story - And it's more than that

Oh, what an echo!

Well I must admit that I wasn't expecting too much from it initially, especially after seeing Zach Galifianakis on poster. It's just hard not to recall his iconic play in the Hangover series - the idiotic monkey-holding image.

But I was wrong again.

It's Kind of A Funny Story is a non-commercial non-Hollywood piece of production. It was made to give out surprises.

This is a coming-of-age comedy drama centering on a 16-year old boy, Craig, who turned breathless facing bits of stresses of live, thinking about killing himself, and voluntarily ended up with a short stay in a psychiatry ward seeking for treatments. As the story goes on, he started to figure out what is the thing called life...




Well it may sound ordinary, and I do realise that most of the critics aren't scoring high for the movie, but seriously, I have a crush on it.

Umm indeed I am biased towards the unique filming styles – Fight Club, Wanted, and the kind-of alike bittersweet-teenage-troubles-production Submarine all went similarly. I love the way it portraits and illustrates with all those first-person narrations, freezing shots, and interesting funky imaginary scenes – which all fitted very well in the storytelling. And yes, the narrated snapshots at the end were so lovely and gosh I liked them so much!



The leading actor Keir Gilchrist came to me as an entirely unfamiliar face, yet his raw play ran so naturally that makes the film easy and comfortable to enjoy along. Without much decoration he depicted a lost teen right to the point, it’s not those who went overly-depressed with tears, but you could only barely sense the struggle within. At times, he reminded me of those good old days in highschool, when everyone else were kind of egocentric and emotion-driven; and went confused for reasons unknown.

I can't agree more on Craig's point on being depressed - somehow we are down due not to a single distinct depressing event, but an aggregate of things that don't seem going on the way they should.

Another lovable part is the psy-ward setting. In such a confined place filled with all sort of simple harmless (though weird) minds, one is no longer overwhelmed by expectations and judgments, and can breathe and live as it was meant to be. When we kept labelling others as psychics, shouldn't we stop for a while and ask ourselves - are we busy dying?

Alright, let’s bring along with the old song back in 1981 by Queen. You’ll know why as you watch along. Oh and: It's Kind of A Funny story is not just a funny story to go.


Queen - Under Pressure (1981)

P.S. I do see the shadow of mine from Craig - at least - when I am getting nervous, I puke as well. =]