Great balance of pacing and social commentary, in the text...

who also writes for children.

Both of my daughters (ages 11,12) read The Hunger Games as did my husband and I. We all saw
the movie together too. It's intriguing that this movie is so appealing to young people as well as
adults. That's pretty rare.

The parents zone in on the politics, and I think the kids are aware of the politics but probably not
as tuned into how this all lines up with what is happening in our world today (the politics of war, how
we are being propagandized and how reality television is numbing us out to personal pain). I could
be wrong, but the kids seem to focus more on the story of Katniss and her personal journey--with the
politics providing an interesting backdrop.

As you mentioned--there is a good "balance" there. Katniss's journey is the story, but the oppression
and politics happening all around here--are a story in itself.

I thought the books and the movie were very though-provoking and brilliant.

Do you write for the same age group?

Top of my "Bell curve," readership-wise, probably runs from 4th - 7th grade.

Mine are time travel books, with a trio (one non-human) knocking through history, gradually realizing that grown-ups are, essentially, insane.

I haven't read the subsequent two books in the "Hunger Games" trilogy. How did you like them?

The second and the third really delve into the politics. Lots of very
surprising twists and turns. My oldest loved all three, but did comment
that there was a great deal of focus on the politics in the latter two.

If you liked the first book, then you will enjoy the trilogy.

Your books for kids sound very cool! I imagine, being liberal and seeing the world
and human beings through that lens--can make for some intriguing viewpoints on
our history. I love it...that these time travelers view grown ups as insane! My kids
would probably love these books. I'd probably like them as well.

If you have a link to any of them that you'd like to share--I'd love to read more!

...with links to the eBook version(s)!

That series sounds like something my kids would love. My kids love Dr. Who.

Just sent in your direction!

It looks really good!

Peeta is my favorite character

for yule a few years ago. I can seriously see something like this happening in some form in the future.

n/t

At least this motivated a blu-ray release.
BTW, the sequel is awful...

http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Royale-Complete-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B006L4MX4A/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1332649104&sr=1-1

Always loved Battle Royale. Glad I'm not the only one who's seen it.

was the same guy who did the original.
Unfortunately, he died in pre-production and his son took over.
The original is great though and HUNGER GAMES is a definite ripoff.

I mentioned in another thread about the "similarities" in the stories... My oldest son has been reading the Hunger Games books, which I thought were vampire stories, when he told me what they were about I had to fill him in on Battle Royale.

The Running Man? What about Rollerball? What about the "game" Carousel in Logan's Run?

Jeez...., Kids!

Get off my lawn!

Apparently it was based on a book?

http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Royale-Novel-Koushun-Takami/dp/1421527723/ref=pd_cp_mov_2

About the Author
Koushun Takami was borin in 1969 in Amagasaki near Osaka and grew up in Kagawa Prefecture of Shikoku, where he currently resides. After Graduating from Osaka University with a degree in literature, he dropped out of Nihon University's liberal arts correspondence school. From 1991 to 1996 he worked for the prefectural news company Shikoku Shinbun. Battle Royale, completed after Takami left the news company, was a finalist for the Kadokawa Mystery Prize, but ulimately lost due to the controversy the novel's content provoked among juruy members. With its publication in Japan in 1999, Battle Royale received widespread support from young readers and became a best seller. in 2000. ot was adapted as a manga and made into a popular feature film.

You should be able to find it on Amazon. It is much much better than the movie, though it is a pretty long read. I actually just started reading it again due to all the Hunger Games hype.

I fail to see the entertainment value.

Thanks for the synopsis of the movie. I just heard about the children fighting to their death and said there ain't no way I'm going to see it. It seems to me that there are a lot of people in our society that would enjoy watching that type of reality show on TV and I'm worried people will walk out of the movie with the wrong message. Now that you've seen it - is that possible?

..and I hope others chime in. To answer your question, the "Games" and the elite and powerful who
orchestrate them are clearly the villains in this movie. The children are shown as innocent and
at the mercy of this horrible "reaping day" where they must all attend to hear the two names from
each district who will be forced to participate in The Hunger Games.

These children, their families and their community--were stricken. The elites in the Capitol were celebratory
and giddy about The Hunger Games--solely because they were entertained by all of this. It was really
sickening and everyone got the message that the oppressed people in each of the 12 districts--were
victims and the Games and the organizers of the Games--were evil beyond measure.

The elites who live in the Capital are clearly shown as deviant, goulish, self-absorbed idiots who lacked any sort of decency. They were vulgar.

If anything, I think seeing this "game" will cause people to re-think reality television.

I hope the movie helps people to understand "the one percent" dynamic that is happening in this country.The disparity between the rich and the poor in THG was so stark. Maybe some will get that war is used as a tool to enrich the elite and enslave the poor.

the fact that these were kids killing each other... I just can't see Americans devolving into craving that level of grotesque injustice towards children. Full disclosure: I don't have teevee, I don't watch it so I'm not into reality show spectacles but the tension in the film was almost unbearable, especially if you'd read the books.



Spoiler alert************




Two of the twelve districts specialized in training children all their lives for the games. They'd been raised to be sociopaths basically and were monstrous killers. There was absolutely nothing appealing about watching them slaughter kids at the beginning, then hunt the others who had fled the scene. What was really interesting was that some of the kids were just innocents (a little girl who was excellent at climbing trees, a farm kid, a bakers son...) so the mix of innocence and brutality ramped up the sickening nature of it. I just don't think we're anywhere near that bloodthirsty as a society. We want the bloodshed and death of (other people's) children to be far, far away and not on teevee.

I've been busy and thought it looked bizarre. But maybe I will change my mind since you say you were moved.

Some participate somewhat voluntarily when they sign up to go to war, so they can feed their families. For example my brother in-law who's best job outside of the military was as a security officer making around 6 bucks an hour in the early 80's.

Some participate somewhat voluntarily by working in coal mines. I hear the pay is a lot better than it was back in the day, but it seems more dangerous, I don't know the stats. But, either way it is still a very dangerous job and I doubt the health hazards otherwise have changed much.

Some are trapped in urban jungles.

Some become victims of senseless crimes.

Some become targets and law enforcement looks the other way.

The particulars maybe different than in the fictional world of the Hunger Games, but they are here and in some parts of the world it is even a more pronounced disparity that is in play.

and I'm thinking of the whole world, not just the US, but over 40,000 people die of starvation each day. No one has to do any direct violence to each of these people, but I consider starving to death a violent brutal end.

If someone considers any human special, then they should consider that those thousands dying could be just as special. It kills me what people will just ignore.

This 'non violent' society does not, and did not ever exist here in the USA or anywhere else. I have no idea why you would believe that we are more violent now unless you are completely divorced from reality.

Real life families competing for their children's charities. I was going to jump out of bed to start a thread about the crassness and copying of the Hunger Games concept for reality, but then realized it's nothing new, that all the "for charities" competitions have been going on for years.

This is separate from the books/movie which I haven't read/seen, but it sounds good that they are bringing to consciousness the brutality of "reality" competition.

Insightful.

Its the story of 100 boys who compete by walking non0stop until they drop and are murdered by their soldier escort. The last man standing wins some vague wonderful prize.

speaks to the subject of Rachel Maddow's recently-released book about America's slide into a constant state of war.

I'm surprised it's getting such good reviews. It's definitely setting up a Twilight-esque Team Edward vs Team Jacob for the sequel with the two dudes Peeta and the other guy.

thing. i like both guys but the story is so much more.

I thought the whole series could have done without the Gale love interest subplot. Keep Gale, keep him as her best friend but lose the love angle.

i didn't read or watch the twilight stuff so can't really compare. but from what i heard at least the book isn't similar.

i have stronger feelings about how people will end up and if they will get out of that war cycle rather than the love story thing.

I just found it tiresome every time the whole 'should I pick Peeta/should I pick Gale' came up. I could have done without all of that. I didn't read Twilight either.

i liked how she developed relationships with them. but i can see how the whole "what will gale/peeta think if i they see me kissing or whatever with the other " could get annoying.

I haven't read the books, I'm just going off what I interpreted from the movie. I just felt major Twilight vibes from it.

I really enjoyed the first two books, not the third. But the film was flat, Peeta was miscast, too many plot points left out.

Premieres this Sunday!

I thought the movie was brilliant. I cannot wait for the next one.
The writing was AMAZING. Honestly though, I sobbed through most of the books. It took me two weeks to read the first one and a day to read the last two just because I had to get it over with. It was really rough. I honestly think I'm a bit scarred for life.
Oh, I thought you guys would like this. There was a really good production of Haymitch's story I found on YouTube. I was surprised by the quality. Not sure where it came from. But here's the link:

...affected you so much. As you said, you are "scarred for life".

I also was greatly impacted by this film. I'm still trying to figure out exactly why. However, I know
that it does bother me that the two main themes in the movie (exploitive reality television; and continual war which enriches the elites and sinks the majority into squalor and enslavement) are happening today.

I read that THG's author--Suzanne Collins--hatched the idea for THG when she was flipping channels--between reality tv shows and news coverage of the war in Iraq.

It just gives me the creeps, because both reality television and perpetual war are etched in our consciousness. They are a sick part of our humanity. And both war and reality television are worsening.

So the movie puts forth a possible scenario for both war and reality television--and how these two insidious things intersect. I do wonder...where are we headed? Reality television went from entertaining and amusing to sickening. There are now reality shows on teenage pregnancy, people with eating disorders, people who hoard animals, people who have disturbing phobias and addictions (like drinking gasoline and eating dry wall). We have become voyers who are entertained by the misery of others. Survivor has become more raw and violent. Are we really that far off from something like The Hunger Games?

As far as war--we're in a perpetual state of war and no one seems to care. It's bankrupting our nation and the corporations in control of our politicians---gain huge profits from ongoing war. What is the end game? This is what was the most frightening in the movie, in my opinion. The people who lived in the capital were one per centers, no doubt. They were totally segregated in their beautiful, opulent paradise. The wretched poor and oppressed meant absolutely nothing to them. The only time they paid attention to them was during The Hunger Games--and it was for their amusement only. With the disparity widening between the rich and the poor--and the middle class shrinking--you wonder how this will all shake out.

The rich (and their beautiful minds) all ready view anyone who makes less than seven figures--as objects to be pitied. What happens when those elites finally have full and total control over the masses? What will that look like?

THG presents one scenario. It may be far-fetched. It may be unlikely. However, all of the ingredients needed to create a world in which The Hunger Games exist--exist now--just not in the extremes shown in the movie. We're addicted to reality tv and it's getting worse--and a bunch of elitist, sociopaths seem to be running the show and slowly destroying our democracy and the economy.

It's a lot to think about. I'm interested in hearing your thoughts and why the books impacted you so deeply.

It is the fear that I know this is something that could REALLY happen. When I say I sobbed through most of the books, I'm not lying. Just thinking of those sweet little kids that were selected dying I was really disturbed by it. Then the games came alive on the big screen, and I watched those tiny children, including Rue die, it made them just that much more real. That sweet little curly haired boy who hid inside the cornucopia and then was so brutally hacked to pieces I thought, oh my god, if they got the chance to do this on TV for real for money, those sons of bitches would do this in a second.
I don't watch reality TV. I don't watch the war on TV. I do watch TV, but to completely get mindless or learn something. Most of the time, honestly, I have the digital TV music channel on in the background while I'm playing World of Warcraft.
I haven't read anything about the author of the books. I probably should. She is an amazing author.

the books. I love them and yet found them disturbing. The message will stay with me for a long time, I think.

I just read another book that I found disturbing and in some ways to close to reality for comfort - Prison Nation. I can't say it's a book that is extremely well written but it is thought provoking.

I study some seriously depressing shit. Kids being forced to fight to death is not high on my list of "light reading."

nt

cinematic dynamic that screamed for the screen. The rest of the series is excellent as well, I expect 4 films out of the 3.
I'll see the film this week, can not wait. Great stuff. So glad it is popular.

Read Shakespeare.


The powerful will out.....Until the last act.

Just like in the third book of the series.



BY THE WAY:

I loved the movie. I'll see it again. Good stuff.

The economics of the world of The Hunger Games is absurd, and the mix of technologies, well, rather odd. They have force fields, solar-powered laser rifles, and genetic engineering a century ahead of ours...but they can't make artificial satellites or design an aircraft that can fly high enough not to be shot down by a bow and arrow...

(no, I'm not making that up)

That being said, it's a moderately well-written series of books aimed at juveniles, and the movie is going to make a mint.

As for politics, both the Left and the Right are claiming it, which tells me that it's not appropriate for either one to do so.

...in THG.

They're so pathetic. Anyone who can't see that those who live in the capital and exploit the lower 99 percent--are wearing rose-colored, psychedelic blinders. I want a pair for those rough days when reality isn't fun!

Those who orchestrate and perpetuate The Hunger Games are most certainly elites run amok--the top 1 percent at its worst.

Man, this is deflating. Is there ANY message that will permeate these braindead, Beck-filled skulls full of mush?
Just when you think that a movie or a book may unite us and help everyone to see the dangers of corporate and elitist control of our democracy and economy--right wingers start with their delusions. It's very upsetting.

Edited to add--I recently read an interview with the author. She thought of the basic premise for THG while flipping channels--watching news coverage of the Iraq war and reality television. She's anti-war and she's obviously commenting on reality television and how we relish the misery of others for our own entertainment.

Nice try, though--Republican spinmeisters. How in the hell they can spin this as anti-liberal is beyond me!

That business with aircraft and satellites is (sort of) explained with references to some vaguely-defined problem with the atmosphere that happened back when the pre-Panem world blew itself to hell with a combination of eco-disaster and war. It's a bit of handwavium, to be sure...but the entire series has a good few items which require military-grade suspension of disbelief. I mean, the Games themselves...

I'm okay with all that, though. Some works of fiction will always require that much suspension of disbelief...and still be very worthwhile reads. The series has some really good points (not the least of which is that it's something written in First Person Present that doesn't make me run screaming). The movie is also one of the more faithful screen adaptations I've ever seen, too.

I agree, re: the series not being legitimately claimed by either the Right or Left. In fact, Miller provides a wonderful contrast between two undesirable types of society, ideologies taken to extremes. I think I'll refrain from further comment on that, though...for those who haven't gotten to the third book yet.

These Hunger Games are intended as punishment and oppression. I guess The Running Man had a little touch of it, but I know Logan's Run didn't.

So yeah, this story is much better than the others. Not sure about Battle Royale, haven't seen it but I've only heard about that as a fight-fest, not about any political backstory.

I named my youngest after James Caan's character in that movie back in '76, and if the protagonist in "Hunger Games" stands up to the state in the end, it sounds like I've seen it before.

Maybe I'm thinking about "Death Race 2000".

One of Jonathan's sons, my grandson, wants to see this movie, but after reading the imdb site capsule of it, I have to think about it. I've lost my rebel edge in my old age, and don't know if a 13 year old boy who's already killed more zombies, robots, and vampires than Wes Craven and Woody Harrelson put together, should see more violence.

Sorry don't have the link any longer.