The Hunger Games

[Brother Adam]

There are worse movies to spend $25 on in the theater. I enjoyed the time out with my wife with no kids...except the other 498 tweens in the theater.

[r2Dtoo]

[quote name='Brother Adam' timestamp='1332711148' post='2408218']
There are worse movies to spend $25 on in the theater. I enjoyed the time out with my wife with no kids...except the other 498 tweens in the theater.
[/quote]
That's why I usually wait a little while to go see the movies. Less tweeny-herds present.

[filius_angelorum]

I was pleasantly surprised by the movie. I think the message, however, is social rather than political. It was also probably lost on the audience that I saw it with.

Part of the point of the whole movie is that the Capitol population is so glutted with luxury goods, entertainment, technology, and fashion that it takes a bloodbath to even raise an eyebrow. In the meanwhile, the government uses its power to keep the poor, poor so that they can continue to keep the Capitol population entertained. Honest hard work just doesn't sell.

It reminds me a lot of Tertullian's description of the young boy at the gladiator games. At first, he went, promising himself that he would keep his eyes shut. Then the spectacle and shock of the thing makes him peek. Finally, he is hoopin' and hollerin' just like the rest of the pagan crowd around him.

The violence in this movie is unique in that it is never glamorized. Beautiful, precious children die and other characters grieve existentially for them. Vengeance is bitter and hollow. The greater fear of death, at least for the main character, comes from starvation and poverty on the part of her family than for herself. I have rarely seen a movie targeted at young people that spent more time critiquing the values that most of them act on. I say bravo.

This is not a movie for young children, or children under the age of 14, in my opinion, but might just be a good discussion starter with a consumption-crazed teen.

[i<3LSOP]

[quote name='r2Dtoo' timestamp='1332711274' post='2408225']
Less tweeny-herds
[/quote]

Want to repeat that?

[sixpence]

I still got to see the movie! Stupid Committee Meeting!!