The Hunger Games Movie Review

The Hunger Games movie has made a bazillion dollars opening weekend, and everyone I know has seen it already. I won't write up a synopsis of the film, because if you don't know what it's about by now, here is the wikipedia entry I was really looking forward to this movie coming out, though not as much as say, a Harry Potter or the upcoming The Hobbit, mostly because The Hunger Games isn't as well written as either of those books. I had read a few reviews before heading to the theater, so I had some idea of what people thought the pluses and minuses of the film were, but I think for the most part I was open to the film and had no definable expectations. That being said...

...the movie was fantastic. I really loved it. It almost surprised me how much I loved it. The tone and the look of the film were spot on, and Jennifer Lawrence was just amazing as the main character, Katniss Everdeen. Even though I knew the story, and knew what would happen, I was still on the edge of my seat through most of the film.

The movie is a faithful adaptation of the novel, and I think might be a better adaptation than a YA fiction book would or should normally get. And the book is definitely YA, the writing and the story just feel like it was written for teen girls, but the film feels like it is meant for everyone (over the age 13 of course). I think the story, and Katniss herself, are relatable for a very broad audience. Her strength, courage, honesty, vulnerability, make her accessible to everyone watching her, both us, the real world audience, and the audience of Capitol citizens, who are glued to their screens, cheering and crying for Katniss throughout the Games.

And that is the main reason I think the film is better at this than the book: Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. I like her Katniss so much better than the book's incarnation. Interestingly, Jennifer Lawrence looks almost nothing like the Katniss that author Suzanne Collins describes as slight, with straight black hair and olive skin. But her presence on screen and her honesty captured me completely. Would I rather have someone else, who looks like Katniss or would I rather have Jennifer Lawrence? I'd rather have Jennifer Lawrence, hands down. She had to do everything in this film, she carried the whole thing on her very capable shoulders. I must say I was surprised by this a little bit, I know she is an Oscar nominated actress, but I haven't seen Winter's Bone. I did see her in X-Men: First Class but she didn't really stand out to me, but I'm definitely a fan now.

The casting overall in the film was really well done. I was particularly impressed at how much I liked Elizabeth Banks' character Effie, considering how strange she looks, which can be very hard to act around.

Since I enjoyed the movie so much it's hard to find anything major to take issue with, but I do have a few things I'd like to nitpick about. None of them are “Why did they cut this?” like in my Battle Royale movie review, thankfully.

I'd like to have seen more reactions from and scenes with Capitol citizens as they were watching the games. We got a few moments of Haymitch schmoozing, a few moments of District citizens watching, and scenes of the game controllers, but not enough of the Captiol citizens generally. I think more of that would have helped sell the emotional trickery of the love story between Peeta and Katniss. I know some people were confused by their relationship, and didn't buy the love story, but that was the point. I think a few more moments showing how the Capitol was being manipulated by this “star-crossed” lovers yarn would have worked to the film's benefit. Especially since it is a nice way to show the tributes, who are completely and overtly manipulated by the government on a daily basis AND during the games, playing the game right back. In my head, right before Katniss kisses Peeta full on the mouth, there is a quick cutaway to a camera in the cave quietly zooming in in anticipation, ready for the “romantic” kiss that the Capitol and sponsors are eagerly anticipating.

I also think the film should have had a bit more blood and gore. There was barely any. I understand why the filmmakers kept it so tame, they want the lucrative teen audience to come out and see the film, but I did think it was heavy handed in the editing out of blood splatters. The average 12 year old has seen plenty of TV/video game/movie violence already, whether their parents know it or not.

But anyway, see this movie on the big screen. See it and enjoy it and then give in to the immediate urge to learn archery and basic forest survival. I haven't wanted to live in a tree so badly since I was a kid and read My Side of the Mountain.

And by the way, I know most of you will be rushing here to comment on whether you are Team Pitabread or Team Thorbrother, but let's all be honest...what we really want is Haymitch and Effie hooking up on the downlow on that fancy train. Just me?

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Battle Royale & The Hunger Games

This article is about the books only!

First thing I should say is that I really enjoyed both books.

Now, I've heard a lot and read a lot from Battle Royale fans about The Hunger Games stealing the story of their beloved book. Yes, both are stories about horrible governments forcing its teenagers/youth to fight to the death every year until (usually) one winner is declared. The evil government then gives the winner some stuff, takes pictures of them and sends them on their way to live with the consequences of the game for the rest of their lives. (I'm going to refer to the fights to the death as 'games' for both books, even though in Battle Royale it's called the 'program'). Also, yes, both lead characters have love interests, and both books feature 3 main kid characters. But that's pretty much the end of the similarities. These may seem like a lot of shared story characteristics, but I'm pretty sure the ENTIRE idea of an arena game where people fight to the death was invented by a small tribe called the Romans a really long time ago. So that concept isn't really new, but the details are, and it's the details that matter. And the details are what make these two stories completely different.

The biggest differences when reading the books is that BR is told from the perspective of different students, depending on the chapter, kind of like Game of Thrones except not as rigid in it's execution. So Shuya may be the main character, but the novel delves into the thoughts, actions, and memories of almost all 42 students participating in the game. Also, Shuya is a boy, and the main character of HG is the girl, Katniss. The entirety of HG is told from Katniss's perspective. All the memories and flashbacks are hers, and the only action the reader gets to experience during the game is what she comes across.

Another major difference between these two stories is the psychology of how the actual game is played. In BR, the students who are forced to play have no idea they have been chosen until they wake up on the island where the game will take place. Their school bus was gassed, and they've been fitted with metal collars that function as tracking devices, microphones, and bombs, which allows the government to monitor their location and their plans, and to control their behavior by being able to blow their heads off. The students are told the rules, given a pack with some food and a weapon, and the game begins. These kids, some of whom are now carrying guns, have to face the idea of killing or being killed by classmates, people they have known for a while and sometimes for years. Most of them are consumed by fear and have no idea what to do.

In HG, a boy and a girl from each of the 12 districts in Panem (post-apocalyptic USA) are selected in a lottery. They are sent off to practice for a week or so, learn some new skills, observe the other participants, and then they are sent to the game site. These kids are ready to fight and have planned their strategies for winning. They are also constantly on camera and being watched, because the entire game is a reality TV show. So not only do they have to survive in the woods (no supplies are directly given to them—and NO guns) and survive being killed by some other kids who they don't really know, they also have to try and win the sympathies of the viewers at home. The more the audience likes them, the more likely they are to receive gifts to help them in their quest for survival. The way the government monitors and controls the game here is that besides the TV cameras, they have complete control of the 'natural' environment the games take place in, they can start a fire or a storm if they think it will 'improve' the game.

The stories also differ in the reasons the games exist in the first place. In BR, Japan is part of some Greater East Asian country run as a strict dictatorship. The games are not televised and no one knows what happens during them, only that it's a fight to the death and there is one winner. The government holds these games to promote fear. To frighten its people against coming together. The games tell the citizens that they can't trust each other. In HG the games are held to entertain their loyal population in the Capitol, and to remind the poor unfortunate people in the districts that the government controls them. Of course, in the HG series as a whole, this ends up backfiring and igniting a massive revolution...but that's kind of a spoiler I guess.

Basically, BR has the psychology of Lord of the Flies, and HG has the setting of it. What I mean is, BR is horribly violent and sometimes shocking where kids who used to be friends kill each other, but the addition of guns and an environment that is normally a civilized village, make it feel more like an urban street fight. HG doesn't have that level of savage behavior and brutality, but it does take place in an environment that requires it's participants to be survivalists, ie find ways to feed themselves and build shelter.

So, should Battle Royale fans and The Hunger Games fans shit on each other on the interwebs? No.
Should BR fans read The Hunger Games or go see the movie when it comes out? Only if they want to.
Should HG fans read or watch Battle Royale? Again, only if they want to.

After reading both books and noticing how different the stories are, it is obvious that people who like one story may not enjoy the other. But personally, I really really liked them both.

The lesson here is that I should read The Running Man.

UPDATE
Multipass reviews BATTLE ROYALE the movie.
Multipass reviews THE HUNGER GAMES the movie.

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