The Hunger Games

Sunday, March 25, 2012


This isn't something I've ever really covered in any previous blog post so I might as well cover it now. I've heard many arguments for and against the series of books and now the new film. I won't rehash them now because there would be no point. I only know what I personally like and what I do like is The Hunger Games. I saw the movie yesterday with an entire group of teenagers from the library where I work and I went again today with my sister and our closest friend. All three of us are in agreement. The film puts many franchises to shame, Twilight included. Most of the time books are so much better than their movie counterparts but in regards The Hunger Games the two are nearly equal.

Like I said, I won't rehash any arguments. All I know is that I view Katniss as a kindred spirit. I'm not a warrior and I'm not a hunter. What I am is an older sister. I would do anything, literally anything, to keep my sister out of harm's way and if it meant volunteering to be slaughtered in a horrific arena than that's what I would do. I obviously make a connection to Katniss that many other people don't. I read these books and I watched this film from the viewpoint of an older sister who understands Katniss' perspective.

I think it's a shame that many Christians try to over-analyze the premise of The Hunger Games. Is it because there is no religion at the end of all things? This is just a story after all. Religion doesn't have to be in every story ever penned. Is it the idea that humanity could fall so far as to have an arena where 23 out of 24 teenagers are executed every year, accepted by society? Hey, we've been there before. Anyone remember Rome? Humans are sinners, always have been and always will be. The only difference between a Christian and your average sinner is that Christian are covered in the blood of Jesus and saved by grace.

I can see humanity reaching the point of depravity where it would be entertaining to watch teenagers fight to the death in an arena. And that, I think, is why Suzanne Collins wrote these books that are so unlike any others that have ever been published. She's using her talent, i.e. writing, as a warning. She's calling for compassion to those who would be considered weak. She's defying the very concept of survival of the fittest. Was Peeta fittest? No, he certainly wasn't, but he was compassionate. How about Katniss? She certainly wasn't the strongest or the cleverest but she did her best to protect others. The only time Katniss took a life was either in an act of protection or as an act of mercy.

Preaching isn't really my thing so I'll stop here. Except to say that I LOVE The Hunger Games. Books, film, author, actors, directors, screenwriters, everything. The film was the best adaptation from a book I have ever seen, including The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. The books are some of the most exciting I have ever read except perhaps the Inkheart trilogy by Cornelia Funke. Such a shame the movie was so horrible! But The Hunger Games movie is worth it! What it's saying about humanity is true because we are sinful and the more aware we are of our sin natures the less likely it is that such an event as The Hunger Games could ever take place. Now, if this isn't your thing, your genre, than that's one thing. Nothing could ever compel me to like horror, so I get it if you don't like The Hunger Games because it's just not your thing. No hard feelings. :)

For those planning to see it, though, please, please, please leave the kids at home! Everyone remember The Dark Knight with that lovely pencil trick by the Joker that you don't really see but your brain thinks you did? Well, let me just say that The Hunger Games is more violent than Batman ever could be and so it is not for kids. PG13 is there for a reason!

16 comments

  1. Glad you have found something to love. =)

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    1. I'm thinking somebody didn't like the movie. I'm sorry! *hugs*

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    2. I didn't dislike it. I didn't like it, either. I felt kinda "meh" about it.

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    3. Awww. Well, luckily you don't have to like everything I do. You never were over the moon for "21 Jumpstreet" like me or all my crazy oldies flicks. Of which I'm found another! Well, sort of old, set in the 80s. "The Breakfast Club" is such an incredibly awesome and conflicting movie. I think there will be a post for that in the near future. :)

      I'm thinking part of your "meh" might be because the fun element of reading it was taken away by someone spoiling the ending. I'm not so sure I'd enjoy the series so much if someone had told me the ending, either. There wouldn't be a drive to keep reading. Crazy person, giving spoilers like that!

      Ooh, did you get a trailer for "Titanic?" Caitlin and I both shed a tear seeing it on the big screen!

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    4. No, it wasn't anyone spoiling the ending -- it's just not my thing. I'm much more of a fantasy / costume drama person than a "futuristic world" person.

      Yes, we did! We also saw an amazing trailer for Snow White & the Huntsman that had me drooling. I think that's pretty much the one movie I'm looking forward to this year...

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    5. We saw that trailer for "Snow White & the Huntsman" too! It looks so cool although I do wish they hadn't picked Kristen Stewart. I'm not sure who else they could have chosen but I guess I'm just tired of her.

      Do you want me to review "The Hunger Games" for you?

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    6. I'll be interested to see what she does with it. I HAVE seen good acting out of Kristen, but she doesn't bring it every time.

      I... don't know. Is it sci-fi? I don't really see it as sci-fi, myself, but maybe it is. (?) If so, I don't know. I may review it.

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    7. Hmm, sci-fi. I'm not so sure. The genre is called dystopian, an end of the world type scenario, but since there aren't aliens or anything supernatural I'm not sure it would really fit. Distopian is such an odd genre. You don't find it very often.

      Ooh, which movie was Kristen in with good acting? I'd really, really like to see something with her that I could appreciate.

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    8. Yeah, I didn't think so either. I only have sci-fi, fantasy, and costume drama reviews up at the moment.

      I remember thinking she did well in "Speak," which is about a young woman working through a trauma, and in "Welcome to the Rileys" -- which I thought was excellent, but you WILL want to run it through your ClearPlay. It has a LOT of f-words in it.

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    9. I tried watching a movie called "Repo-Man" off Netflix instant player and the F words totally bogged me down. Movies are so much better, cleaner, less distracting without language like that. Maybe someday the screenwriters will figure it out.

      I'll add those two movies to my Netflix queue! Thanks!

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  2. I am definitely curious to see this one... but probably on dvd. =)

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    1. It'll be less intense on DVD, which is probably a good thing. But it is my favorite movie of the year so far. I don't even see "The Avengers" topping it and I am looking forward to that one.

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  3. Great review! I just finished & review the book this weekend, so I'm really looking forward to the film. I've heard pretty much nothing but good things about it from fans of the novel.

    I just have to say, I actually liked the Inkheart movie but barely made it through the book. Go figure. ;)

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    1. It is really very close to the novel, one of the closest adaptations I've seen. A few little things were changed or shortened but you can just fill those in with book knowledge.

      Let's just say that the translators for the "Inkheart" series improved with the books published. So the 1st one isn't the best translation but the last one is brilliant. I just LOVED "Inkdeath" and I wish they had done the movie with a stronger focus towards making all three instead of wrapping everything up with the first one. I guess I just wanted to see that third book made into a movie and spending more time in the Inkworld.

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  4. Carissa, I totally agree with everything you said! I really, really enjoyed the movie--and I think that Suzanne Collins did want her readers to think about what she wrote in the book.

    I did my own movie review of it on my blog. I would so love your thoughts =) I'm seeing it again tomorrow--this time in 3D--so it will be intriguing if I come away with anything new.

    I hear about you from Charity all the time =D I had no idea you worked at a library!!! I do too!!!!

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    1. Ella, how was "The Hunger Games" in 3D? I would almost think it would make me sick to my stomach. Some of the camera shots are a bit on the shaky side!

      That's so neat you work at a library too! I really enjoy it 90% of the time. Then again my coworkers are loads of fun so that really helps! Are you part of a district or a lone library? I would almost want to work for a single library instead of a district someday. I loved my small town libray when I was a kid!

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Thank you for your kind comments, which I adore!