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Journalism of Courage
Seek shelter Hollywood vampires and wizards,theres a new movie in town looking to raise the stakes on what it means to be a film franchise in an era when Harry Potter,Twilight and superhero films dominate box-offices. The Hunger Games,based on the first novel in a best-selling trilogy by author Suzanne Collins,sees 24 children known as tributes fight to the death in an annual televised event across the nation of Panem,built on the ruins of America. The novels follow the story of one tribute,Katniss Everdeen,portrayed in the film that opened last Friday by Jennifer Lawrence,who becomes a beacon of hope for freedom against Panems totalitarian government.
She is a warrior for her people,a Joan of Arc,she8217;s a fighter, Lawrence told Reuters about her character. I wanted to bring out more of her vulnerability when she was in the Games. I didn8217;t want anybody to forget that she could die at any minute. I never wanted that to slip from the movie.
Staying true to Games
Lawrence is joined in the film by a veteran cast including Woody Harrelson,Donald Sutherland and Elizabeth Banks. Rocker Lenny Kravitz has taken a rare movie role,and rising stars Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth also are on board. All those involved said they felt a deep responsibility to Hunger Games fans in bringing their beloved characters to the big screen,but they also admitted to struggling with real-life issues that the books present.
Theres a bit of pressure,but at the same time,I think it fueled me to do better,said Hutcherson,who plays Peeta Mellark,Katniss fellow tribute from her hometown,District 12. Dealing with the TV battles and deaths of children was a delicate issue for director Gary Ross,known for films such as Big and Seabiscuit. His biggest challenge,he said,was the death of young tribute Rue,played by 13-year-old Amandla Stenberg,which is a key event in the story of Katniss journey. I felt that stuff was,I better get this right, Ross said. Getting out of the car that morning of the scene8217;s shoot was a different experience. You know theres a lot on your shoulders. The books and movie also send a strong message that the impact of reality TV contests is bad for society when taken to the extreme,as it is in Hunger Games where the people of Panem are forced to watch and celebrate the tributes killing each other. This is a huge message against reality television, said Lawrence,who admitted she was part of that generation thats obsessed with reality TV. Veteran actor Sutherland,who plays the controlling,manipulative Panem leader,President Snow,said the Hunger Games story had the potential to motivate a generation of young people who have,by and large,been dormant.
