The Hunger Games (Gary Ross, 2012)

A novel torn off a chunk of Battle Royale, with teenagers fighting against each other because of a societal decree, should not function at all. The premise is spurious and makes less sense than The Running Man, which may have been crap, but at least had some internal logic. The saving grace of this film is that it is well made within the strictures of the pointless storyline: there is extreme violence, but it isn't dwelt on in the manner you'd expect from teen-oriented chowder. There's a proper film struggling to get out; it's just that this story is chaff.

5/10