

I could go on about the particulars of the adaptation - the ridiculousness of the entire Capital setting, or the sometimes disorienting shakycam work, or the great cast of adults patiently playing supporting characters - or the source material - the gestures at social commentary, the way that the story protects Katniss from ever having to morally sully herself - but they all seem to be beside the point. It just exists as a spectacle, a finished product that defies any critical lens.

There's almost nothing to say about a movie like The Hunger Games - it's been so worked to death to be a successful blockbuster that all of its edges, the things that make a film good or bad, have disappeared.

However, the US PG-13 version was submitted to the BBFC for the UK Blu-ray release, which was classified '15' uncut. This pre-cut version was released on DVD in the UK with a 12 rating. The BBFC then gave the film a 12A rating for cinema release. Blood splashes were digitally removed from both impacts to bodies and blood on blades of weapons, achieved through the darkening of certain shots and by digitally erasing blood from the image. When the finished film was submitted to the BBFC for a formal classification, the BBFC stated that more cuts would be needed in order to secure the 12A. These included the use of alternate footage and the digital removal of blood. Four scenes were changes, removing bloody violence, threat and a scene of injury. The BBFC explained a 12A rating would be likely if the violence was toned down. A rough cut of the film was submitted to the BBFC in the UK for an advisory screening, a process used by filmmakers to see how likely a film will obtain a certain rating.
