The Hunger Games-Thoughts

So Saturday I took my little sister to see The Hunger Games, it was GREAT!

First though, the movie was almost ruined for me by the fact they played a Twilight preview, burned my eyes! I was trying to make it through without seeing one. I was so mad! Anyway. Moving on. (I don't want to go into details in case someone reading this hasn't seen it or read the books.)

I was pleased with how faithful the movie was to the book. I can't remember the last time I saw a movie that was so true to the book! But I was wondering how they could keep the horror of the Games without being to graphic. By jumping the camera views, switching the camera right before the act is committed so you know what happened but don't see it. The only ones you actually see clearly is a boy shot with an arrow and the death of Rue, a spear through the stomach which she pulls out, but its nothing to gross. For watching the girl die, it is surprisingly calm.

I know a lot of people are thinking that this movie is evil, sick and twisted. At first glance it does seem like that. A live broadcast of 24 teens fighting to the death for entertainment? It's gruesome! We fail to make the connection between this and our own reality TV. Think of the shows we watch for entertainment. Survivor, Fear Factor, The Bachelor, Big Brother, Toddlers and Tiaras, 16 and Pregnant. What do we do for our few minutes of fame? What do we watch to get entertainment. People try to find love, compete for money, turn on each other to keep in the show. We watch teens going through pregnancy and raising kids as girls younger and younger are exposed to a beauty stress no one should ever have to experience. What does this say about us?

The Hunger Games is not about a bunch of teens going in to fight to the death. It's about a people who are in repression, forced to endure these "games" as a reminder to never again rebel against their leaders. The 24 Tributes are a reminder of that rebellion, the one winner is a symbol of mercy, which also gives hope.

President Snow reminds us of this halfway through the movie. A little hope is a good thing. It keeps the people in line, keeps them from giving up on life. But to much hope is a dangerous thing. Katniss comes to symbolize this hope in the people. Her memorial to Rue, her determination to last, what she and Peeta accomplish and how they do it spark the flame deep in the hearts of the oppressed Districts.

If you read the books and stop after the first one, then on the surface, it does seem like that's the extent. 24 teens forced to kill each other. That's why you keep reading.

I'm sure adult books have been written that seem like this. What turns many people off is the fact it's a young adult/teen book series that focus' on the teens. Children forced to turn on each other sickens us. That's the point.

We sympathize with these characters. Parents wonder how could they survive the agony of 7 years per child of praying their child would make it another year. Teens wonder if they would really be willing to kill to survive. How can people be so afraid that they would endure this?

I cried all the way through the books. I cried when Katniss volunteered to take her sisters place; when she said her goodbyes' several moments with Peeta; when Rue was killed; the ending when Katniss realizes the end is only the beginning. In the movie I cried again at those parts along with the scene when Katniss is almost ready to enter the arena, a few of the deaths, the final moment of the game as Peeta touches Katniss' hair ever so gently as he prepares to die.

We in America especially don't understand what it means to truly suffer. We complain when prices go up, a storm cuts out our electricity, a restaurant is out of our favorite food. Most families have more than 1 car. We have TV, radio's, good for weeks, constant electricity, phones, music players, more stuff than we really need, hot water, air conditioners, the list goes on. How about 3rd world countries, where running water is a river. They don't use electricity during the day so they *might* have some that night. The doctor is a day or two journey away. They have just a few changes of clothes, walk everywhere and are (some of them) oppressed by the law.

Our freedoms here are amazing! The Hunger Games, if read with an open mind, show us what we could be. With our world as screwed up as it is, whats to stop us from going that far?

Would I let my 10yr old son go watch this movie? No. My 13yr old? If they first read the books and understood it. That is up to you as a parent. If you don't get any of what I did out of it would it still be good? Absolutely. These are just my thoughts on the subject.

To wrap this up ( I hadn't set out to write a defense and explanation I swear! ) The movie was great. The acting was realistic, things were explained fairly well, the Capital was astounding, and the movie flowed. This is so much longer than I planned. Just go watch the movie and read the books. You'll be glad you did!