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Here's a look at the newest blockbuster film, "The Hunger Games."

The Hunger Games

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harelson, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, and Wes Bentley

Synopsis: Bloodlust as entertainment is hardly a new concept in human history. The Roman Empire famously led undesirables — slaves, enemies, and Christians — to gruesome deaths on the arena floor, all in the name of entertainment. In the modern era, we have more mainstream forms of bloodsport, such as boxing and ultimate fighting. We have fake combat — such as professional wrestling — and we have the voyeuristic pleasure of unending amounts of reality TV. “The Hunger Games” isn’t the first film to suppose that our desire to mix the two — bloodsport and voyeurism — would eventually change the entertainment landscape. When such ideas were fronted in decades past, it seemed far removed. However, in 2012, given the landscape of our televised entertainment as it is, the idea doesn’t seem so far-fetched. But while the idea of mortal combat for TV audiences isn’t new, the combatants in “The Hunger Games” certainly are — this time it’s teens fighting to the death. That’s what makes the film not only entertaining from a film standpoint, but a fascinating sociological quagmire as well. The film, based on the novels from Suzanne Collins, is set in the fictional world of Panem. In the past, the 12 outlying districts rebelled. The rebellion was quelled, and the Hunger Games were born. As a reminder of their insurrection, and as a warning to keep the people in line, the Hunger Games came as a condition of the peace treaty. Each year, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12-18 is selected to fight to the death in the games. The whole event is televised, sponsored, and served up as a form of gruesome entertainment — gleefully taken in by the people of the capitol and fearfully taken in by those whose children are fodder for the show. In District 12, after her sister Primrose (Willow Shields), is selected as tribute, Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) volunteers to go in her place. She is selected alongside a young man, Peeta Mellark (Hutcherson), to represent the district in the games. With the help of a designer named Cinna (Kravitz) and a mentor named Haymitch (Harelson), Katniss and Peeta prepare for the deadly competition, learn to adapt and survive, and get tips on how they can impress the judges. That last part is crucial in winning the favor of sponsors and the game master — Seneca Crane (Bentley) — who controls every aspect of the competition. The pair must also hope to make a good impression on President Snow (Sutherland), who rules Panem and watches over the games in an effort to keep the people in line. This is a fascinating film. It has all the trappings of the kind of story elements needed to create a franchise — or in the case of the books to hook readers. But it also presents an interesting concept to consider. It’s a book that asks hard questions of our existing societal tendencies while showing a possible worst-case outcome. A post-apocalyptic world where humanity and decency are fleeting commodities in the face of mass entertainment. Director Gary Ross (“Pleasantville,” “Seabiscuit”) is no stranger to these kinds of films. Having worked on the script with Collins and Billy Ray (“Shattered Glass”), the film flows well. It lays out the story, introduces the characters, and submerges you in the world of Panem. This is no easy task, but Ross deftly guides the production through some potentially gruesome ideas and concepts, doing it while preserving the humanity of the central characters, which is no easy task. Lawrence does a great job in the central role. She has had a varied career the past few years — earning an Oscar nomination for the independent film “Winter’s Bone” and starring in the action blockbuster “X-Men: First Class.” Here she combines those elements with “The Hunger Games,” settling into the lead role and creating a sympathetic vessel through which the audience can take in the world and the story. There is a strong group of adult actors in supporting roles as well. Kravitz adds pathos, Harelson is great in the mentor role, Tucci adds some comedy as a larger-than-life TV persona, Banks does a nice job as the conservative representative of the capitol, Bentley is nefarious as the game master, and Sutherland is fitting as the president. The other teen characters are well cast too. Hemsworth, who plays one of two potential romantic interests for Katniss, does well in his few scenes. Undoubtedly his part will grow in the other films. Meanwhile Hutcherson does a nice job in the role of Peeta, playing well off Lawrence. “The Hunger Games” is the first major event film of the year, and it lives up to the billing. The performances and production are strong, the story is engrossing and compelling, and the film delivers in all phases. It’s easy to see how this film will pave the way for an epic series that will be highly anticipated by audiences for years to come.

Rating: PG-13 for intense violent thematic material and disturbing images all involving teens.

Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

Friday, March 30: "Mirror, Mirror," "Wrath of the Titans"