The Hunger Games

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » February 7, 2012, 2:35 pm

I had just finished the book and noticed that there is already a movie coming out. I think I recall seeing this title, but I figured it was some sort of reality show on Fox or something equally banal.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... JWjvm6aHuw

It really looks fantastic and captures everything pretty much as I envisioned it while reading. It is the first book of three. Granted, it is geared towards a younger audience, but it is quite a brutal portrayal of future North America, where 12 districts are supplying The Capitol[sic] with industry, food, etc. The Capitol is essentially a totalitarian regime and keeps the citizens in their own districts in a most oppressive manner (for the most part).

Since the failed rebellion of 74 years ago, each district is required to supply a male and female "tribute" between the ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the annual "Hunger Games" where the 24 children fight to the death since there can be only one winner.

Think Battle Royale, Death Gate Cyle and Running Man kind of mashed together, but effective!

I look forward to this!

Post by **Sylvus** » February 7, 2012, 4:24 pm

I enjoyed the books. They were a pretty light read, but kept me entertained the whole time. I think I finished the last book in one evening.

I look forward to the movie. I agree, looks very true to the picture in my head.

Hesten · Post by **Hesten** » February 8, 2012, 4:17 am

Go watch Battle Royale again instead

.
But the books were ok, might see the movie, not sure...was kinda aimed at teenagers it felt like, im not exactly the target audience

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » February 8, 2012, 2:37 pm

Funny how people don't feel that way about Harry Potter books even though they were written for 10 year olds.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » February 8, 2012, 4:53 pm

That was my thought.

Also, I would never let a kid read this until like 15 or so...

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » February 8, 2012, 5:56 pm

Canelek wrote:That was my thought.

Also, I would never let a kid read this until like 15 or so...

Why not?

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » February 8, 2012, 6:05 pm

Depends on the kid and parents really. I just find this slightly more graphic than "children's lit".

Tyek · Post by **Tyek** » February 10, 2012, 2:41 am

Canelek wrote:Depends on the kid and parents really. I just find this slightly more graphic than "children's lit".

Read these too, they were ok. I am going to see the movie with my daughter. Only thing I don't get is all the people who talk about how independent Katniss is. I thought she was sort of whiny and selfish.

Ransure · Post by **Ransure** » February 18, 2012, 3:02 am

Really enjoyed the books, but I read all three in a weekend out of town... the movie actually looks like it could be pretty damn good... lol, high expectations

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » February 18, 2012, 7:28 pm

The story reminds me a lot of Battle Royale, a Japanese novel from 1999 that was also turned into a movie. A bunch of 9th grade students are put on an island to kill each other. I'm hard pressed to believe the author of Hunger Games was not influenced by it. People should check it out if they have an itch to scratch. It's pretty violent. It was an underground hit for ages in the states. I have the unrated DVD and I think it's pretty good.

Here's the Amazon summary of Battle Royale:

With the Japanese currently leading the way in thought-provoking cinematic violence, it's only fitting that Kinji Fukasaku's Battle Royale is being touted as a Clockwork Orange for the 21st century. Based on the novel by Koshun Takami, the film opens with a series of fleeting images of unruly Japanese schoolchildren, whose bad behavior provides a justification for the "punishments" that will ensue. Once the prequel has been dispensed with, the classmates are drugged and awaken on an island where they find they have been fitted with dog collars that monitor their every move. Instructed by their old teacher ("Beat" Takeshi) with the aid of an upbeat MTV-style video, they are told of their fate: after an impartial lottery they have been chosen to fight each other in a three-day, no-rules contest, the "Battle Royale." Their only chance of survival is through the death of all their classmates.
Some pupils embrace their mission with zeal, while others simply give up or try to become peacemakers and revolutionaries. However, the ultimate drive for survival comes from the desire to protect the one you love. Battle Royale works on many different levels, highlighting the authorities' desperation to enforce law and order and the alienation caused by the generation gap. Whether you consider the film an important social commentary or simply watch it for the adrenaline-fueled violence, this is set to become cult viewing for the computer game generation and beyond.

Lynks · Post by **Lynks** » February 18, 2012, 11:01 pm

I own Battle Royale too and while it does remind me of it, it also doesn't. A story of a group of people put into an arena where there can only be one winner is found in many stories before it (Mortal Kombat even). Thunderdome shares this same idea. Two men enter, one man leaves.

I don't think the author really borrowed anything from Battle Royale. It's 2 different stories that share this one element (kind of).

Hesten · Post by **Hesten** » February 19, 2012, 3:49 pm

Hesten wrote:Go watch Battle Royale again instead .
But the books were ok, might see the movie, not sure...was kinda aimed at teenagers it felt like, im not exactly the target audience

As posted earlier, now you try to repeat me

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » February 19, 2012, 10:52 pm

I think this is set apart by the dystopian future setting and the extreme differences between the Capitol folks and the district folks.

The names of the characters are most unfortunate, however.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 26, 2012, 11:59 am

I'm assuming the books are a lot better than the movie (more so than usual). After seeing the movie, it looks like it would have been better off as a SyFi series.

I had listened to the fist chapter or so of Hunger Games in audio format and it seemed interesting. Something didn't sit right with me with the movie itself. The story was ok, although a little goofy. I could see how the idea behind the movie could work. All the non hunger game participant actors seemed out of place. The kids seemed ok.

Tobey Maguire looked out of place with this flame style beard. All I saw was Peter Parker when he was on screen. I guess the immersion wasn't there because he's been in other movies that I don't give him another thought as outside the role he's playing. Same with Eye of the Needle guy. Woody's performance also was lackluster.

This would have been a good TV series on a lower budget. I'm interested in how people that read the books feel about the movie. The one big time Hunger Games fan I know didn't like the movie.

Lynks · Post by **Lynks** » March 26, 2012, 12:34 pm

Impressive. Tobey Maguire wasn't even in the movie.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 26, 2012, 12:45 pm

Lynks wrote:Impressive. Tobey Maguire wasn't even in the movie.

Fuck. That's even worse. It wasn't even him and I was thinking of Spider-Man! It was Wes Bentley. Thank god is wasn't Tobey! It was just a bad actor.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » March 26, 2012, 4:35 pm

Was OK, much like the books. Could have been way better...

Ransure · Post by **Ransure** » March 27, 2012, 2:04 am

I really enjoyed it... was impressed with how much they got into the movie... didnt really like Lenny Kravatz though... all of the other characters worked for me.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » March 27, 2012, 3:14 am

I'm probably going to see this film on Thursday night in a theater.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 27, 2012, 10:14 am

Spang wrote:I'm probably going to see this film on Thursday night in a theater.

There is a lot of meat eating in this movie. You'll love it.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » March 27, 2012, 1:40 pm

Winnow wrote:
Spang wrote:I'm probably going to see this film on Thursday night in a theater.
There is a lot of meat eating in this movie. You'll love it.

Gay pr0n in a kids story?

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » March 29, 2012, 5:13 pm

Great semi-spoiler review at BADASS Digest:

http://badassdigest.com/2012/03/29/sam- ... ger-games/

Glad I am not the only one who thinks the character names are awful!

Once they get to Capital City, they're shocked to see how the other half (1%) lives. Everyone parties all the time. No one has jobs anymore, so they get their kicks from peeing on each other and rolling around in Heinz Baked Beans.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » March 29, 2012, 5:33 pm

much

for the Badass Digest

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » March 29, 2012, 7:16 pm

I am fairly new to the site and absolutely dig it.

My favorite so far is a thorough breakdown of Mulholland Drive by HULK SMASH!

Although we have similar venues here, Alamo Drafthouse seems to be the quintessential Indiflick+beer haven.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 29, 2012, 7:32 pm

I see this picture everywhere. I'm no bow expert, but aren't you supposed to center the arrow on the bow string? It looks wrong in that pic.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » March 29, 2012, 9:40 pm

The first thing I noticed when I started hearing about these books was the people talking about them. Generally speaking they were the types that thought Harry Potter stories were good (they aren't), and like the twilight books/movies (need i say more?).

I guess I'm kind of a book snob in some sense. If a 12 year old can read the book without difficulty and take as much away from it as me, I'm probably not going to like it.

Anyhow, reading you guys posts has basically solidified that for me, I appreciate you assisting in sparing me the disappointment these books/movies would surely bring me.

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » March 29, 2012, 10:14 pm

If a 12 year old can read the book without difficulty and take as much away from it as me

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » March 29, 2012, 11:23 pm

I read The Hobbit when I was 12

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » March 29, 2012, 11:49 pm

Fairweather Pure wrote:I read The Hobbit when I was 12

Ok, so maybe there are a few exceptions.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » March 30, 2012, 1:09 am

This was not a good movie.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 30, 2012, 2:12 am

Funkmasterr wrote:
Fairweather Pure wrote:I read The Hobbit when I was 12
Ok, so maybe there are a few exceptions.

You're not giving 12 year olds enough credit. I had above a 12th grade reading comprehension in 7th grade, at least according the reading tests they gave at the schools. That's not saying much in the U.S. public school system but still.I read the Narnia books in 7th grade (those are "for children" but deep) and then moved on to adult Sci Fi/Fantasy...shit like Stephen R. Donaldson's Covenant series (Lord Foul's Bane) which epic fantasy. I'd say many on this board were right there with me reading adult material before high school...and I mean that literally as the Gor novels I read were soft core porn.

That said, the Hunger Games isn't very deep. Somehow, I doubt the writing in the books is that great. I just re-watched several episodes of the Game of Thrones as a refresher for season two. Having never read the books, It's easy to tell how well written they are by the outstanding dialog being throw around in the movies, not to mention the plot. I can't remember a single line from Hunger Games. I'm not much of a fan of Harry Potter but at least that story has a lot going on in it and was interesting for the first 2-3 movies.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » March 30, 2012, 10:49 am

Winnow wrote:

I see this picture everywhere. I'm no bow expert, but aren't you supposed to center the arrow on the bow string? It looks wrong in that pic.

Nugent knows!

Jennifer Lawrence had been praised from all corners for her Hunger Games performance -- even rocker/bowhunting enthusiast Ted Nugent has chimed in.

Nugent, a member of the Bowhunters Hall of Fame, loves how realistically Lawrence carries herself as bow-wielding Katniss Everdeen in the movie.Apparently Lawrence hit the bullseye with the performance.

"All of us archers and bowhunters are so very happy to see real honest-to-God archery form being displayed properly for a change," Nugent tells USA TODAY. "Proper archery is one of life's most beautiful ballets, especially when executed by a beautiful woman like Jennifer."

He adds, "It makes for the ultimate eye-candy."

Lawrence trained extensively with 4-time Olympian Khatuna Lorig prior to filming. "I had no choice but to be good," she said. "I was working with an Olympian."

Lawrence continued shooting 100 arrows a day throughout filming to make sure she stayed sharp. "I didn't want to get rusty," she said. "You can't let your technique go to hell."

Post by **Sylvus** » March 30, 2012, 12:29 pm

I thought the books were great. I could hardly put them down, read all three of them in a week. If you're looking for something that's difficult to read, go pick up Ulysses or something. If you want to be entertained, I totally recommend this series. That said, don't compare the writing of this or Harry Potter with Twilight. While the former may be written for a child to understand, the latter seems to have been written by a child.

The movie was probably lacking some things for people who hadn't read the books, but it's difficult to get everything into a movie where you have to setup the whole universe first. I thought the movie was decent, though I hope they can do better with books 2 and 3, where the action really picks up.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 30, 2012, 12:55 pm

Wait, does that mean the picture above is correct? I didn't look much into it. I just did a google search for people using a bow and it seemed most were in the middle.

Anyone actually use a bow out there?

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » March 30, 2012, 4:30 pm

I have a bit, it looks to me in the picture like she's shooting slightly downhill.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » March 30, 2012, 4:34 pm

Do not question Nugent. He is in the fuckin BOWHUNTERS HALL OF FAME! and you're not.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 30, 2012, 5:36 pm

Funkmasterr wrote:I have a bit, it looks to me in the picture like she's shooting slightly downhill.

Yeah but what does that have to do with not centering the arrow on the string?

Spang · Post by **Spang** » March 30, 2012, 6:41 pm

Sylvus wrote:The movie was probably lacking some things for people who hadn't read the books...

Yes. The film desperately needed more story and character development, I thought. Also, a lot less shaky-cam.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » March 30, 2012, 8:45 pm

Winnow wrote:
Funkmasterr wrote:I have a bit, it looks to me in the picture like she's shooting slightly downhill.
Yeah but what does that have to do with not centering the arrow on the string?

She's using a real longbow, she doesn't have a lot of room to move the bow up and down, so she could compensate for that by doing what she is doing. Or she could suck, hard to say.

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » March 30, 2012, 10:34 pm

Okay, so you're nonchalant, stop rubbing our noses in it.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 31, 2012, 4:07 am

Fuck Ted Nugent!

She's going to completely miss her target!

Many beginners, when they get their own bows, tend to expect the nocking point to be square. They say things like," It looks right; or seems logical/right".
I guess that as a starting point, it isn't that far wrong; and it could be correct for some.
From what others say, it seems that most nocking points end up above square by about 1/8"

Looks like that's way more than 1/8 inch above center.

Found on another forum:

Either this gal wasn't paying attention during her coaching sessions or her coach needs to be slapped upside the head with a sock full of quarters....
Aside from her nock point and draw being all wonky, just what exactly, is she using for an arrow rest?

Looks like her nock point is way high; going to kick the arrow point down on release. Her arrow rest appears to be the middle knuckle of her left hand. And her grip on the bow is way too high. Taken together, she'd be lucky to hit the broad side of a barn while standing inside it.

in the picture if she releases that arrow she will not come close to hitting her target much less anything in the direction she is looking. Almost all she is doing in that picture is wrong including her gaze, plain and simple, it is what it is.

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » March 31, 2012, 8:30 am

One of my former hobbies, "most nocking points end up above square by about 1/8" is correct. If you're doing it right it gets tuned for the bow\string, if you had to put it that far off it means you need to throw away the bow as it's dangerously out of balance for some reason. Or maybe Japanese. The limbs of most fiberglass and some wood bows basically explode under tension when they fail.

Neither of her hands is right either. It's a publicity photo...

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » March 31, 2012, 1:51 pm

Ding ding ding! Publicity photo.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 31, 2012, 3:19 pm

Canelek wrote:Ding ding ding! Publicity photo.

What is it publicizing? That the movie isn't concerned with the mechanics of how weapons work in a movie that deals with weapons and survival? In the movie at least, she's supposed to be very good with a bow.

Here's a publicity photo for Kevin Kostner's Robin Hood movie:

Hmm, they seemed to get it right and the budget was less than Hunger Games!

Looks pretty good!

Crowe seems to have it right. What's so hard about making it look at least close to normal in a publicity photo?

Burt Reynolds even got it right in deliverance!

At least the banjo kid things so.

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » March 31, 2012, 11:58 pm

I saw the movie. It was... good.

So much potential. Such awful: action sequences, direction, use of screen time...

It was fun. I love survival-based movies and books. Well worth $5. It could have been soooooooooooooooo good, though. It felt bleak beneath the polish.

I think I'll read the book. Apparently it's rather scary, which intrigues.

Post by **Sylvus** » April 2, 2012, 10:14 am

Aabidano wrote:If you're doing it right it gets tuned for the bow\string, if you had to put it that far off it means you need to throw away the bow as it's dangerously out of balance for some reason. Or maybe Japanese. The limbs of most fiberglass and some wood bows basically explode under tension when they fail.

Hunting is illegal where she is, and that bow was homemade by her father.

Winnow:
Who gives a shit? You're totally cool with your suspension of disbelief that the future totalitarian government of the former United States would create a reality TV show where a bunch of children fight to the death, yet you're nitpicking the form of something that you know nothing about in a publicity still? People would probably say the same thing watching Tim Lincecum throw a pitch or Philip Rivers' sidearm football delivery. Those people also probably predicted the Arizona Cardinals winning the Super Bowl each of the last 5 or so years.

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » April 2, 2012, 11:09 am

Fucking internet nerds ruin goddamn everything.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » April 2, 2012, 11:12 am

I'm pointing out that things like that contribute to the overall suckiness of a movie or tv show. I suspend believe on a Game of Thrones as well but if something doesn't look right in that series, it would still take away from the experience.

As for caring, I just pointed out, as someone who knows fuckall about archery, that the photo didn't look right. I then searched around for the hell of it to investigate because I wanted to know if that was how it was supposed to look.

It's not a big deal, just like nothing else on this board is a big deal.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » April 2, 2012, 11:34 am

Actually, you are picking a single item and riding it off of a cliff... whether it be movies or strange pre-teen Japan fetishes, there are usually plenty of text walls and screenies...

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » April 2, 2012, 11:43 am

It's not a big deal, just like nothing else on this board is a big deal.