Why Is The Story/movie "the Hunger Games" So Addictive?

[southern california guy]

I've read a lot of books and I've seen a lot of movies. I think that I basically understand what I found so addictive about the Harry Potter series. However I find The Hunger Games books and the movie much more addictive and I don't understand why.

After shrugging my shoulders about all the hype in the media I gave in and rushed out and saw one of the early showings. And I wasn't disappointed. The movie was better than I expected. And since the library copies of the second and third book are checked out I've ordered the books (About $10 each including shipping)

I've read that it really appeals to young rebellious girls, but I'm not a young rebellious girl. Apparently she got some of the ideas for the story from Greek mythology. And I was a huge Greek mythology buff when I was a little kid. Maybe that's part of the appeal??

[arfink]

It's not a book about being rebellious for its own sake. The main char. Katniss actually doesn't [i]like[/i] being a rebel.

I think part of the story's appeal has to do with it being modeled on real history as well as out modern culture. It's like bread and circuses again, mixed with human sacrifice. Keep in mind that young people aren't stupid- I see this trend in our own culture, I bet others do too. And for young people, the history of abortion (which is our modern day implementation of human sacrifice, sacrificing babies so that we can be comfortable) has a whole new meaning: we had to survive it.

[Basilisa Marie]

I think the story's pretty different from a lot of the other stories out there in pop culture right now. Katniss is a strong female character that isn't the typical strong female character...she's not super hot and has a PhD and is a sharpshooter. Loads of people that read the book (myself included) even find Katniss a bit annoying, the way she's so emotionally cold and dense and doesn't care about much other than her own survival. At least at first.

One of the most fascinating parts of her character for me is that throughout the trilogy, Katniss is used by all sorts of people and groups without her true consent, and she finally breaks away from all of that at the end of the third book. Katniss isn't a rebel, she never meant to be. All she ever wanted was to go home and live her life, with her family protected from harm and starvation. She never really talks about changing the system. It's Peeta who doesn't want the Capitol to change him in the arena, and it's Gale that wants to fight against watching the games. Katniss just wants her sister to grow up happy and healthy. It's a story that includes a LOT of violence, but doesn't glorify it. At it's heart, the Hunger Games isn't about kids killing each other or some stupid love triangle, but about the relationship between the Haves and the Have-Nots.

Edited March 30, 2012 by Basilisa Marie

[Jesus_lol]

im unfamiliar with the series, but if it has a STRONG female character then it could be pretty interesting. not like that limpnoodle useless Bella from Twilight

[Basilisa Marie]

[quote name='Jesus_lol' timestamp='1333085792' post='2410560']
im unfamiliar with the series, but if it has a STRONG female character then it could be pretty interesting. not like that limpnoodle useless Bella from Twilight
[/quote]

Don't even get me started on that poster child for self-hate, promoting abusive relationships, and suicidal behavior.

Yeah, Katniss is more of a "Strong Character (female)" instead of "Female Character (strong)". If that makes any sense.

[Anomaly]

[b]I read the books. My 20+ daughters are avid readers and suggested them.[/b]
[b]I think the books have broad appeal because the main character, Katniss, eventually has far reaching impact to right society because of her strong but simple commitment to care for her younger sister. Katniss develops an ethic of independent self-sacrifice when she becomes solely responsible for her and her sister's survival after her father dies and her mom becomes practically catatonic with greif and depression. Reading the trilogy, it appears that Katniss slowly realizes how necessary it is to be cooperative with others although societal groups seem to always seem to either manipulate or opress individuals or weaker groups. I think the book's appeal is largely because it is very affirming of deeply held personal and societal ethics. [/b]

[b]It's an engaging story of good defeating bad in the arena of societal ethics. Believable plot, great character development, and a skillfully told story. What is there not to like?[/b]

[Ice_nine]

[quote name='Basilisa Marie' timestamp='1333083359' post='2410554']
One of the most fascinating parts of her character for me is that throughout the trilogy, Katniss is used by all sorts of people and groups without her true consent, and she finally breaks away from all of that at the end of the third book. Katniss isn't a rebel, she never meant to be. All she ever wanted was to go home and live her life, with her family protected from harm and starvation. She never really talks about changing the system. It's Peeta who doesn't want the Capitol to change him in the arena, and it's Gale that wants to fight against watching the games. Katniss just wants her sister to grow up happy and healthy.
[/quote]

YES. For all the people speaking with an unpleasant disposition about how this is a ripoff of "The Running Man" or "The Lottery" or "Battle Royale" or "The Long Walk" (which is beyond stupid because CLEARLY this recurring motif is evidence for the fascination it holds within the human imagination, much more so than a lack of originality on the part of the author. What, no more books can be written about WWII because it's been "done before"? That's mad stupid) this book examines the cult of personality in a very interesting way that I have not seen done before. The personality behind the cult isn't even a willing agent in the whole scheme of things, and that's just fascinating to me because even as I was reading the books, part of me always wants Katniss to step up and be a Che Guavera of sorts you know?

There are so many themes and dynamics to this series. I'm reading the first book for the second time within a month (sort of to debrief after seeing the movie) and there's just so many levels of complexity and backstory. I get all ragey when people complain about how there's no character development, or how they are all one-dimensional. I just think those people are snobs who have to hate on things that are successful. I'm obsessed with this yatnnjkgagdas

But as they say . . . hatters gonna hat.

[southern california guy]

[quote name='Ice_nine' timestamp='1333125212' post='2410687']
YES. For all the people speaking with an unpleasant disposition about how this is a ripoff of "The Running Man" or "The Lottery" or "Battle Royale" or "The Long Walk" (which is beyond stupid because CLEARLY this recurring motif is evidence for the fascination it holds within the human imagination, much more so than a lack of originality on the part of the author. What, no more books can be written about WWII because it's been "done before"? That's mad stupid) this book examines the cult of personality in a very interesting way that I have not seen done before. The personality behind the cult isn't even a willing agent in the whole scheme of things, and that's just fascinating to me because even as I was reading the books, part of me always wants Katniss to step up and be a Che Guavera of sorts you know?

There are so many themes and dynamics to this series. I'm reading the first book for the second time within a month (sort of to debrief after seeing the movie) and there's just so many levels of complexity and backstory. I get all ragey when people complain about how there's no character development, or how they are all one-dimensional. I just think those people are snobs who have to hate on things that are successful. I'm obsessed with this yatnnjkgagdas

But as they say . . . hatters gonna hat.
[/quote]

I've only read a little bit of The Hunger Games but from what I've read I would argue that she did an incredible job crafting the story. It's interesting that she writes so much in the first person present -- and how much I like it. It sort of makes it feel like you're in the story as it's happening.

[Groo the Wanderer]

mebbe cause Katniss is really Mystique? she IS a metamorph after all...

[southern california guy]

[quote name='Groo the Wanderer' timestamp='1333167499' post='2410979']
mebbe cause Katniss is really Mystique? she IS a metamorph after all...
[/quote]

I think she looks better as Katniss

[img]http://www-hollywoodlife-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/060311_lawrence_hunger110603192450.jpg[/img]

[Groo the Wanderer]

Edited March 31, 2012 by Groo the Wanderer

[southern california guy]

[quote name='Groo the Wanderer' timestamp='1333168178' post='2410989']

[/quote]

I'm afraid you were confusing movies when you said that Katniss is really Mystique.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKStF2s2ocY[/media]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv5S3PwcXp0&feature=related[/media]

Edited March 31, 2012 by southern california guy

[FutureSister2009]

Now the real question is What is so addictive about Harry Potter? That's just pure garbage

[Basilisa Marie]

[quote name='FutureSister2009' timestamp='1333226163' post='2411249']
Now the real question is What is so addictive about Harry Potter? That's just pure garbage
[/quote]

You must be trolling.

[FutureSister2009]

[quote name='Basilisa Marie' timestamp='1333226269' post='2411251']
You must be trolling.
[/quote]

Nope. Never liked it, never will