Friends, I am forced into one of two of my least favored positions...one, to do my own research on a topic or two, be left out of popular culture's loop.
Hunger Games.
From the status updates in my FB feed over the weekend it seems many people went to see the movie. People I respect.
Then I read this review. I often agree with this author. From my limited exposure of the books and movie (from the movie previews) I respect where she is coming from in her review. And, granted much of what she writes isn't limited to the Hunger Games. Lazy parenting can be found in a variety of locations and venues. I wonder about passing along hope to our kids. Are we too pessimistic about life? Even if that is our reality, shouldn't we shield our kids from our despair--economic, spiritual...
What are your thoughts? It's not really my genre of literature and I detest violence in movies so I will never see the movie. Do my work for me, please. Good? Bad? What's the attraction?
9 comments:
Ooooh. Tricky. I may be forced to read the books. I let both my children see the movie. My DH went with - he was appalled and disturbed by the movie. The middle son loved the series and the oldest thought the books were ok. Both thought the movie was good but that was about all they said. I think going to the movie with a group of friends was almost better than the movie itself. but what do I know?? Anyway, once again, I am forced to say that books (even those with violent content) leave so much more to the imagination and the reader's own experience -- whereas once one SEES the movie, that imagination is gone. Someone else has put your own mind's images on the screen. And that is what I think is way worse. The visual reality on the screen as opposed to what one sees in his/her own mind. Does that make sense? Also the reason I hardly ever watch the movie of a book I read. It's almost never as good (in my opinion.) Hope that helps.
Oh, and by the way, VERY clever title for this post. :)
BW- Never read the books and have seen the commercials and wondered how that could be good, because as the reviewer said, how could children being killed be entertaining??? because that is all it seemed to be about. Almost thought of seeing it just to try to understand what so many people could be excited about, but don't think I will. Might try the book someday since there will probably be sequels and I may just have to work toward some understanding of the entertainment value. Agree with the reviewer about the darkness we are used to. The previews for the Lorax were all "kids" movies, PG I believe and all very dark story lines. I thought, no way would I see any of those and why would they even create something like that "for kids"? Its as if they make it animated or "fantasy" then it is ok, but darkness is still darkness, no matter how "kid friendly" it's presentation. Interesting....thanks for this.
There is also an interesting article going around about people's thoughts on the casting. Many people are upset that the characters are dark skinned--even though apparently the book describes them this way--it harkens to how when we read we enter into the story. We become apart of it, creating our own unique version of the story along the way. (for worse in the case of the racist trend..) Movies take away our ability to create along with the author. In the case of violence, my brain may skip over it or tone it down, while another person may focus on that or...as my argument goes, if they are accustom to violent imagines they'll just increase the violence until they aren't numb anymore. We've reached a frightening tolerance for human violence and gore.
The Hunger Games is a series - a trilogy. There is violence in a lot of books that are considered classics - Moby Dick, Treasure Island, all the Hobbitt books and trilogy, Lord of the Flies, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Outsiders, Red Badge of Courage to name a few. I think the problem starts when they are translated into movies because then the images are not in your own personal imagination and experiences but are someone elses. There is more to the series than just violence.
I finished the first book in the trilogy today - so many of the middle school and high school youth at church have read them - and I want to be able to engage the conversation.
Yes, there's TONS of violence. And in the context of the narrative, that violence is supposed to be "entertainment" for the ruling elite. From the perspective of most of the characters, though (including heroine Katniss, who tells the story first-person in the book), it's very clear that the status quo is just plain wrong. There's enough explicit commentary to make sure no one misses the point.
I have not seen the movie yet, but intend to (not in the theater, however - too rich for my blood).
I would recommend the book.
And a colleague here in SW Montana writes a movie blog - here's his post on "The Hunger Games" - http://seenthatmovie.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/the-strange-entertainment-of-the-hunger-games-a-recommendation-from-steve/
I'll be curious to know how this part of YOUR story plays out!
Thanks, L--by my part of the story, do you mean after I read it? I doubt that will happen. I just like to stir things up and comment in the abstract. ;)
Honestly I just can't have stories like this in my head. I lived through a gymnastics class book club because I couldn't bring myself to read the Dragon Tattoo books, either.
***I lived, VICARIOUSLY through a book club.
Your bro just finished the second book of the Dragon Tattoo books. I haven't read (am still trying to get through Jen Lancaster books from you - love them - reading them in smaller doses as sometimes I get a little negative after I read her) the book, but we rented the movie. I wanted to go to church after we watched it. It was awful. The story was awful. The story behind the author's true life is also awful. Awful. I can't and won't read them either. Fascinating, but awful.
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