On April 28, 2013, Sunday
at 9 PM, Star Movies will premiere one of 2012’s biggest box-office
breakthroughs, “The Hunger Games,” on pay TV. This film
adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling book series of the same
name was a critically acclaimed top-grosser, and audiences will be
excited for the chance to enjoy the action-packed drama that
entertained millions of moviegoers once again in the comfort of their
homes.
"We
were so excited to carry the title that we acquired the rights as
early as when the project was at the script level. We believed in the
film's appeal and were bent on being the first to deliver quality
content to our viewers," said Rohit Tharani, programming head of
Star Movies.
Although the film is an
adventure story that centers on the life of a young girl named
Katniss Everdeen, its underlying themes resonate with issues that
young Filipinos are facing today. In the fictional world of Panem,
which is controlled by a wealthy authoritarian sector called The
Capitol, severe poverty and oppression exists along with a widening
gap between the rich and the poor. In such a society, residents from
the 12 poorer districts do what they can to survive, and suffer
quietly as each year a ritual called The Reaping is imposed upon them
by The Capitol. Every year, two young “tributes”, a male and
female between the ages of 12 and 18, are selected from each District
to participate in The Hunger Games, where they fight each other to
the death until a sole survivor emerges.
However, in this sea of
hopelessness and ruthless self-preservation, goodness prevails in the
form of Katniss, who volunteers herself as tribute in place of her
younger sister Primrose. These qualities of upholding the importance
of family and self-determination in the face of a challenging social
and political environment are also bright spots in the Filipino
psyche, which faces similar issues today that need to be analyzed
more closely as the local elections draw near.
Katniss’ strength as
the lead character of “The Hunger Games” was one of the reasons
why it drew hordes of adoring audiences when it was shown in the
Philippines in March 2012. Viewers identified easily with her
character’s love for family and strong will to survive, which were
excellently portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence, who later won an Academy
Award for her role in the movie “Silver Linings Playbook”. Her
maturity lent well to the character of Katniss in “The Hunger
Games,” and it was what convinced author Suzanne Collins to cast
her in such an important role.
Lawrence was supported by a cast of
promising young actors, with Liam Hemsworth playing Katniss’ best
friend Gale Hawthorne, Amandla Stenberg as Rue, and Josh Hutcherson
as Katniss’ partner from District 12 Peeta Wellark. Hollywood
heavyweights also gave the film amazing performances, with Woody
Harrelson as her trainer Haymitch Abernathy, Stanley Tucci
as host Caesar Flickerman, and Donald Sutherland as President
Coriolanus Snow.
Widely considered by fans
all over the world to be a first-rate adaptation of the first book of
a well-loved series, “The Hunger Games” is another highlight in a
long list of outstanding films featured on Star Movies that have made
it the number one English movie channel.
Catch “The Hunger Games”
on April 28, Sunday at 9 PM exclusively on Star Movies!
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