The Hunger Games

[Connie]

I did not mean to imply you were, Tyler. My point is simply that people take from this story what they want. Some people will take away an anti-big-government, anti-big-media message. Some will see an anti-reality-TV message. Others will see messages of environmentalism or the elite oppressing the poor. That is, in my opinion, the beauty of the story. It gets people thinking and talking about the message they got out of it and why, which can hopefully fascilitate some good discussion with everyone getting different points of view and trying to understand each other. Kapeesh?

[Tyler90AZ]

Originally Posted by Connie

I did not mean to imply you were, Tyler. My point is simply that people take from this story what they want. Some people will take away an anti-big-government, anti-big-media message. Some will see an anti-reality-TV message. Others will see messages of environmentalism or the elite oppressing the poor. That is, in my opinion, the beauty of the story. It gets people thinking and talking about the message they got out of it and why, which can hopefully fascilitate some good discussion with everyone getting different points of view and trying to understand each other. Kapeesh?

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I know you were not directing your comments at me. I agree that people will be able to interpret different things from the movie and it is always good to have discussion.

[prisonchaplain]

Originally Posted by skalenfehl

A story where a corrupt, tyrannical, pompous and decadent government/society punishes its lower class districts by subjecting their innocent children to endure an annual ritual game of life or death where only one child can survive, rather than summarily executing them as a lesson to the districts for a failed attempt at uprising. I have mixed feelings about the movie.

It is violent and takes an idea to an extreme, but what a commentary on our penchant for viewing the turmoil and suffering of others as entertainment? I think of the shows that highlight family fights, love triangles...and I think of what our news stations have become. The Hunger Games simply shows us how society looks a little further down the road.

[skalenfehl]

Originally Posted by beefche

Am I understanding you correctly? The USA is responsible for the wealth (or lack thereof) of other countries? We have the responsibility to feed the world?

This could be dissected in various ways. Our government is corrupt and near ripe for destruction. The system is perfect (US Constitution) as the Lord set it up through our founding fathers. Jesus Christ admonishes us in D&C to befriend the Constitution, which He approves.

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:
"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered." America is in bondage and Thomas Jefferson understood this well. And he commented on only one facet of it.

What we the people fail to grasp is that we will be awakening to our awful situation (Ether 8). The US government IS responsible for much corruption in the world. Where the US once was a beacon and a standard of liberty, it is now a cesspool of corruption and iniquity and most of it is in Washington DC. And like the people of King Noah, as the leaders were idolaters and adulterers, so too, did the people become idolaters and adulterers. Our society is decaying and the media is a reflection of it. If we the people knew just how we have been lulled into thinking all is well, then we might wake up to just how we have been led by a flaxen cord until we are nearly fully in bondage. I'm not going to go into any details. The reader can do his/her own research.

The US doesn't necessarily have the responsibility to feed the world, but consider if the US was a true "big brother." Are we our brother's keepers? Yes! There should be no poor among us. And yet there are countless homeless people, widows, and fatherless. There are so many foster children needing good homes. The system is saturated with those in dire need. And we look the other way. I'm not going to point finger at anyone except myself. But let each person consider Matthew 25. There are three simple parables with deep and profound messages that are interconnected. Anyway, I don't want to go off topic. I just had to share some personal insight.

[anatess]

That's the problem with the movie - why I didn't like it.

The books were soooo rich and the movie just never did capture all that. The districts were never really delved into - what they really are. I mean, sure, you know that District 12 is a poor area compared to the capitol just by the dirt that they walk on. But, the movie doesn't really explain how it is the poorest of all the Districts and how they relate to other districts.... and how they get to be governed by the Capitol instead of being an independent mining town...

And then, of course, the reason for the Hunger Games was just so flimsy it's almost comical... the districts rebelled so we created the games...uh, yeah, like, why would the districts just go for that for 74 years and not rebel by year 10? The book made the whole set-up much more believable.

Anyway, I never really did like the concept of the books but it was still a good read. The movie was just... well... a bad concept. But yes, I am appreciative that they didn't make the movie so gory - I was dreading the part were she ripped the bow out of the dead tribute... but they did that well.

[prisonchaplain]

Anatess, I get your reaction. My guess is that for most viewers the movie was a chance to see the book on screen. We did not miss the details you mention because we read the books. Even many who did not had heard bits and pieces from the fans who likely took them. Also, even in the trilogy, the true origin of the Hunger Games does not come out full force until the end of the third book.

Most reviewers said that if the movie faulted it was in trying to follow the book too closely--by including too many details. I was one of those readers who found it so very cool to see the story on screen. My memory of the books filled in any blanks in the movie. Also, I was amazed at how quickly those 2.5 hours passed.

[Blocky]

Originally Posted by orrinjelo

I have yet to see the movies, but I read the books. I think the point Collins is trying to make is a social one, not necessarily a political one. The people of Capitol City weren't necessarily bad, yet I remember being shocked to read about how they would eat so much food, throw it up, and eat more just because it was there, completely oblivious to what was happening in the outer districts. And, although they seemed to be in a state of bliss or pleasure, there were many of them that did not like being subjected to President Snow's rule, finally realizing that pleasure is not happiness.

@Tyler: What Windseeker said was that the story takes place in North America, not representing it. :P

Also, sure, we have enough money and food to go around, but there are many places where it is pretty much impossible to get it to the people because of a corrupt government. We'd help if we could.

I agree. I don't think the author was trying to draw any hard parallels with today's politics. I think the message was for us as individuals to THINK.

I think the authors for both Twilight and Hunger Games were both excellent story tellers but not the best of writers. I don't really want to see any of the movies because I like my mental versions of books more than the movie versions every time.

[Dravin]

And then, of course, the reason for the Hunger Games was just so flimsy it's almost comical... the districts rebelled so we created the games...uh, yeah, like, why would the districts just go for that for 74 years and not rebel by year 10? The book made the whole set-up much more believable.

Heh, Beefche was giving me a brief overview of the book after she finished it and that was the first question out of my mouth.

[Backroads]

I'm one of those people who thought The Hunger Games books were highly overrated... I thought the writing and characterization were kind of lousy... I didn't even bother to worry about political meanings.

That being said, I always thought the books would make better movies.

[kristina12]

I have read the books before the movie, and seen the movie. I enjoyed it, I do wish that the pin Katniss wears would have been given to her by Madge rather than her sister, just to show the friendship. I also miss Haymitch at the reaping. In general there are a few bits and pieces I miss that I wish had been in the movie, but I do like it. It will be interesting to see how it develops, now with the 75th hunger games coming up.