I know this is a little behind the times, however my husband and I put off seeing the Hunger Games for over a year after it had come out because we aren't always fond of these teen movies that keep being popped out of the movie machine. They all seem to be the same and from the trailers it seemed to me that The Hunger Games was a cross between Survivor and a short story I had read in high school called "The Lottery." Anyway, we just watched it recently. Then I wanted to read the book, because that's what I do...Often.
I have to say I enjoyed the book far more than the movie. I did enjoy the movie, especially seeing it first, but it was easy to just have on in the background. I got hooked by the book. Couldn't put it down. It wouldn't be at the top of my all time favorite read list, but it definitely was a page turner. There was so much in the book that, frankly, I was disappointed that Suzanne Collins didn't add to the movie. To the point that it actually angered me. Collins had an opportunity that most authors don't have, which is creative authority over the screenplay. There were many morality points that she wrote into the book that she didn't keep and I was greatly disappointed. Remember the line from the Tobey Maguire Spiderman? "With great power comes great responsibility?" Well I think Collins was irresponsible. In a day and age where being famous makes you special and kids think that being a celebrity is the ultimate dream the greatest line she wrote in the novel was "The problem is we're both still alive. Which only reinforces the idea in your mind that you did the right thing." This is the attitude of most teens, young adults, and most adults too today. If it works out for me, then it means I'm right. This leads to arrogance, and the know-it-all attitude that has led to the destruction of the morals and maturity of our world today. Watch some old television shows from the 80's and 90's and see how clever and funny, but not unnecessarily raunchy or gory they were. But most importantly see how they talked. The spoke fluently and articulately. Not like some totally rad kid from the like valley. It's ridiculous our lack of vocabulary, or how lazy our speech has gotten. Like have you seen like how fat Kim K got when she like was preggers? Are we really so lazy we can't pronounce pregnant? Or say a person's full name? Collins had a responsibility to point this out to teenagers, make them think when she has a platform to reach out the them and not just sell the movie, sell a proper lifestyle, but she sold out and got wrapped up in the same arrogance that she could have started a new revolution of her own, but real, of maturity and not led a real life uprising of coming of age, but coming back to proper, polite, cordial, caring individuals. Shame on you Suzanne Collins.
The Hunger Games the Book
four out of five stars
The Hunger Games the Movie
three out of five stars
Suzanne Collins
one out of five stars
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