HUNGER GAMES, A BLOCKBUSTER, ACTION FILM OR SOCIAL REALISM?
Hunger games shows a televised competition in which two teenagers from each of the twelve Districts of Panem are chosen at random to fight to the death, this film includes elements of a blockbuster, an action film and social realism with big budgets, fighting and clear wealth divisions within society. Before deciding whether or not hunger games is a blockbuster or action film or just social realism, we need to understand how each genre works and look at examples of these. A Blockbuster refers to any large budget production, aimed at mass markets with associated merchandising, sometimes on a scale that meant the financial fortunes of a film studio or a distributor could depend on it, and perhaps make more films like it in the form of a sequel, similarly to the hunger games trilogy. In 1975, the usage of blockbuster for films started around Steven Spielberg and his film Jaws. Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977 expanded on this success, many companies after this wanted to create more blockbusters, and eventually began the summer blockbuster trend. The next 15 years saw many new big budget movies appear including alien (1979), the three Indiana Jones (1981-1989), E.T (1982), Ghostbusters, Jurassic Park, ‘Back to the Future’, Die hard, Batman and Top Gun. An action film is a genre that consists of protagonists that are thrust into a series of challenges that typically include violence, extended fighting, physical feats, and frantic chases – which is used in the Hunger games, specifically in the scene ‘let the games begin’. Advancements in CGI have made it cheaper and easier to create action sequences and other visual effects that required the efforts of professional stunt crews in the past. This genre began to develop in the 70s along with the increase of stunts and special effects. Common action scenes in films are generally, but not limited to, car chases, fighting and gunplay or shootouts. Examples of modern action films are usually either made by DC or Marvel: Black Panther, Wonder Woman, The Dark Knight and Avengers. Older action movies include James Bond, The Terminator, Scarface, Kill Bill and again Indiana Jones. Social realism within film is often described as gritty and dark, and often quite an unpopular choice of creating a film. Social realism is a genre that focuses on topical issues alive in a modern society which is represented by different ideologies, the divisions within society in the real world is subtly reflected in the hunger games, which is highlighted in the reaping scene. Themes such as money, drugs, prostitution and sex are quite usual in modern contemporary social realism films as well as class, religion and political views. Examples of this include Fish Tank, this is England, Pride and I, Daniel Blake.
Hunger games shows a televised competition in which two teenagers from each of the twelve Districts of Panem are chosen at random to fight to the death, this film includes elements of a blockbuster, an action film and social realism with big budgets, fighting and clear wealth divisions within society. Before deciding whether or not hunger games is a blockbuster or action film or just social realism, we need to understand how each genre works and look at examples of these. A Blockbuster refers to any large budget production, aimed at mass markets with associated merchandising, sometimes on a scale that meant the financial fortunes of a film studio or a distributor could depend on it, and perhaps make more films like it in the form of a sequel, similarly to the hunger games trilogy. In 1975, the usage of blockbuster for films started around Steven Spielberg and his film Jaws. Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977 expanded on this success, many companies after this wanted to create more blockbusters, and eventually began the summer blockbuster trend. The next 15 years saw many new big budget movies appear including alien (1979), the three Indiana Jones (1981-1989), E.T (1982), Ghostbusters, Jurassic Park, ‘Back to the Future’, Die hard, Batman and Top Gun. An action film is a genre that consists of protagonists that are thrust into a series of challenges that typically include violence, extended fighting, physical feats, and frantic chases – which is used in the Hunger games, specifically in the scene ‘let the games begin’. Advancements in CGI have made it cheaper and easier to create action sequences and other visual effects that required the efforts of professional stunt crews in the past. This genre began to develop in the 70s along with the increase of stunts and special effects. Common action scenes in films are generally, but not limited to, car chases, fighting and gunplay or shootouts. Examples of modern action films are usually either made by DC or Marvel: Black Panther, Wonder Woman, The Dark Knight and Avengers. Older action movies include James Bond, The Terminator, Scarface, Kill Bill and again Indiana Jones. Social realism within film is often described as gritty and dark, and often quite an unpopular choice of creating a film. Social realism is a genre that focuses on topical issues alive in a modern society which is represented by different ideologies, the divisions within society in the real world is subtly reflected in the hunger games, which is highlighted in the reaping scene. Themes such as money, drugs, prostitution and sex are quite usual in modern contemporary social realism films as well as class, religion and political views. Examples of this include Fish Tank, this is England, Pride and I, Daniel Blake.
In the first scene of Hunger games we see a world that is split, with Katniss in a rough area, the costume and the setting highlights how poor both Katniss is, and the rest of her district is. The contrast between district 12 and the Capitol is a clear way of showing the wealth divide within the movie.
Representation in movies portray certain groups and individuals within society, this is shown clearly in Hunger Games. The reaping scene shows no clear aspects of a blockbusters or of an action film and therefore the focus is clearly on the dialogue and character expression and movement to highlight the importance of the narrative. Muted and earthy colours are used throughout this scene, both through the lighting which is very dull and the costume which is also very dull, this enhances how poor and unfortunate this district is. This scene is also important as it shows the first signs of rebellion in just district 12 with the symbolism of the three-finger salute, adopted by the people first, and then used during the games to further symbolise rebellion after Ru is killed. When district eleven is shown again after Ru’s death, similar costume and lighting is used to also show how poor and unfortunate they are, making it clear as to why those are the main two districts who begin rebelling.
When all of the contestants from all different districts are released into the games, the film is clearly an action film where all kids run into the centre to kill each other. The camera movement and shots that follow the action is a common choice of a shot in action films. The music, however, suggests that the film creators wanted the characters movement to be the focal point during the scenes, specifically Katniss, and less so the actual fighting. Without the extra sound of the kids killing each other and of any heavy breathing that is usually intensified during scenes like this in other action films. This suggests that as an audience we may feel numb to violence, as well as the audience both in the capitol and all of the districts, who may also feel numb to the violence/ entertainment of the hunger games. Therefore, the violence and fighting would suggest it is either a blockbuster or an action film, however it is definitely more than this, with a narrative that is quite sad and deep - where the most rich and powerful enjoy the hard work and labour of the poor and unfortunate.
The ending of the film is crucial in that it shows how power can easily be taken from those in charge. The whole film shows how a brainwashed society can easily celebrate death inside a manmade arena where children are all killing each other. The capitol clearly has the power throughout the movie, except when Peter and Katniss almost both kill themselves with the berry or when Crane is left with a berry. Overall, it is quite ironic that Crane in the end is left with a natural poisonous berry, opposing the power that he had beforehand.
In conclusion, many would agree that ‘Hunger Games’ is a blockbuster and an action film due to the big budget and big production work gone into the film, but the ideas and themes definitely focus more on social realism, where rebellion is the main narrative. And therefore, the story and the narrative are the most important feature to highlight how the film is based on social realism.
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