Like any other fangirl, I was ecstatic for the release of the highly anticipated ‘The Hunger Games,’ this past weekend. And let me tell you, like any fangirl, again, I absolutely loved the film. It wasn’t perfect, but it was still phenomenal.
The highlight? As everyone else has already noted– Jennifer Lawrence as the heroine, Katniss Everdeen.
In summary, Lawrence was perfect because she portrayed the following with ease: Katniss’ tender, protective relationship with her younger sister, Prim, the “I don’t give a damn” attitude she has about what the Capitol has to say about her behavior, as well as her awkwardness when it comes to romance. Each of these had to be dead on, and Lawrence delivered each time.
In the books, the only visibly vulnerable side of Katniss is her relationship with her family. Having the responisbility of providing food for herself, mother and sister at a young age after her father’s death, it’s widely known that she’d do anything for them.
This aspect of her character is translated so well by Lawrence. Everything, from the opening scene where Katniss comforts Prim and sings to her to calm her fears on the morning of the Reaping, to the flashback scene during the games where the explanation of her father’s death is shown and how Katniss begged her mother to snap out of her depression, is beautiful, but tragically so.
Add this to Lawrence’s kick-ass archery performance and you truly are given the perfect Katniss Everdeen– a girl who is so brave, intelligent and oblivious to romance.
With this already being the general consensus from the reviews I’ve read, Lawrence has gained millions of new admirers, and has proven that her Oscar nominee last year in ‘Winter’s Bone’ was no joke.
Therefore, not only am I anticipating the next 600+ days until the second installment in the Hunger Games franchise is released, but I can’t wait to watch Lawrence in other projects she’ll soon have begging for her to star in.
