As part of its show of power, every year Capitol selects by lottery two youths from each District to fight in a Battle Royale which is televised nationwide: a form of reality TV with ceremony, betting, punditry, leaderboards and opportunities for patronage.
When young Primrose Everdeen is chosen to represent District 12 her sister Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers in her stead. Nobody ever volunteers: it is a likely death sentence.
"I volunteer as tribute"
The plethora of YA movies starting in the noughties passed me mostly by: I wasn't the target audience after all but this is one I saw. With the prequel out I thought I'd give them a rewatch.
By reputation this is probably the best of that whole genre. After all it still has people memeing things like "and may the odds be ever in your favour" to this day.
It's gritty even though you don't see much of the implied violence. Lawrence is excellent and they filled the supporting cast to perfection. Even Effie the absurdly coiffured and painted chaperone for the District 12 tributes has presence.
Like all YA it has a degree of romantic tension but here it's done interestingly. Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) introduces this unexpectedly and non-consensually and it's not the usual simpering stuff. Even as it then develops from there they still play with this being a performance for the very horrible reality show the pair are stuck in.
The teen rebellion against authority is obviously there too but well covered in a complex way. Moments like the arrow shot into the apple in training and the salute to camera after Rue dies are far more effective than any clichéd "fuck you I wont do you tell me" monologue or showy iconoclasm.
A genuinely good bit of cinema that is worthy of your time despite the YA label 8/10.