The Hunger Games was a successful blockbuster franchise about the difference between reality and fiction, yet for a film about fiction or reality, it engrossed the viewer in anticipating the outcome as riveting entertainment.

It made a star of Jennifer Lawrence who won an Oscar the year after for her role in Silver Linings Playbook.

The Hunger Games was controversial because it dealt with the subject of teen violence in a bleak future world. Nevertheless it is a fascinating story and boasted a wonderful cast of actors who contributed heavily to the success of the films.

The Hunger Games (2012)

The Hunger Games is science fiction, action, thriller and drama, and takes us on a journey of anticipating the worst story outcomes, but delivers a very good film and a slightly ironic one.

Winning here seems strange. In the hunger games, two people from each of the twelve districts of Panem are chosen to compete in a fight to the death, which is an attempt to suppress uprising in the nation. The people watch the hunger games like you would watch reality television and the games warns them to be pliable and submissive to the regime.

Success is judged by the last person standing, after the other Tributes or competitors are done away with.

The games offers the poor a chance to improve their lot if they win, but at risk of losing their lives in the fight, which is disturbing to contemplate at first.

The central characters are Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) who become ‘close’ during the games, but it may be just an act for the on-looking public.

They have a mentor, a former winner played wryly by Woody Harrelson. Musician Lenny Kravitz puts in a cool performance as Katniss’ costumer for the opening of the games.

We may look at what The Hunger Games is about before making a judgment on the suitability of its idea.

This first film in the series is about reality television, media manipulation, and totalitarianism.

The metaphor of the games is about people understanding the difference between reality and fiction and how that can be blurred by reality-style television.

Based on the Suzanne Collins novel, the author’s mission is to make young people think about what they watch in the media and not to accept everything at face value. This first film in the franchise certainly succeeded in executing that.

There was controversy on its release for its subject matter involving teenage violence. But the film is so well made, a mission accomplished, that it hits the right balance between the various elements.

There are also spiritual themes. Key character Katniss Everdeen is a loving person in a bleak and uncompromising future world. The Hunger Games shows us kindness in an unforgiving landscape.

The entire cast delivers, each with something idiosyncratic to offer. Jennifer Lawrence plays a true heroine in this.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

For a series asking serious questions about reality television, there is a risk that it becomes mostly entertainment. However, the sequel to The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013, USA), doesn’t compromise on its own premise, but it isn’t good entertainment, either.

Still, it’s a series that makes us want to follow the story right through to the ending to see what happens, so Catching Fire isn’t a dud, either.

However, Catching Fire takes its time for about an hour, then propels into the action which isn’t successfully executed.

There is no emotional draw. There should have been less on the talk side of things and more development of story.

The 75^th Hunger Games is a games ‘quarter quell’ that happens every 25 years and pits tributes against tributes, the former and recent winners of hunger game competitions.

The tributes are allies or enemies, but these games are set up by the regime to quell an uprising among the people who are dissatisfied with the status quo.

Behind the scenes are the game maker and President Snow who are pulling the strings. Everyone in Panem, a futuristic society in North America, can watch the unfolding drama and violence, in reality television style.

Reality television style programming becomes more obvious in this sequel.

Catching Fire also layers in how controlling the regime is and that the pretense of the games is really a lie.

It is more apparent that heroine Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), the victorious tribute from the earlier film, isn’t underneath a killer.

Her nature belies the games modus operandi, but she is now forced to stay involved even though it is killing her psychologically.

However, she is the kind who won’t settle for this world—she is too ‘rebellious’ for her own good.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014)

This one was called the lesser of the franchise at the time, but there is still a hook to keep you wanting more, which had to be satisfied in the final chapter in 2015.

The buildup is more interesting than the film before it. Maybe that is a personal preference. I wasn’t bored.

There is suspense towards the end, but if you are looking for action, there’s scarcely that here.

Mockingjay Part 1 is story orientated, which did not put me to sleep.

Mockingjay Part 1 focuses on an organized rebellion to resist the regime that is taking control through destroying various districts. Katniss is the rebellion’s poster child now, the ‘Mockingjay’.

Mind games and counter movies makes for much of the reality style television theme, but that is subtle and there is scarcely a hint of reality television satire in this sequel.

There is a turn of events: now it is about standing up against the violent oppressor, where reality is more apparent than in the previous films, but you still don’t know what may happen in the final episode. Anything could.

Next week I will post a commentary/review of Mockingjay Part 2, it was a movie released last year and is now on DVD/Blu-ray.