The Hunger Games (2012)

Olivia Bauer · March 29, 2012, 10:09:45 PM

Based off of a huge book series Hunger Games stormed into the box office crowding theaters up around the globe. I went to go see it and my little hole-in-the-wall theater and I was confronted with a LONG line. I hadn't read the book so there wasn't anything to spoil. I thought it was great.

Flaws: During struggles the director decided that the audience should be as disoriented as the characters. From what I could tell they hired Micheal J. Fox to man the camera.

...I'm sorry, that was tasteless.

Leah · March 29, 2012, 10:22:44 PM

It's a censored version of Battle Royale (2000). Plus the books came out after BR.

Kaseykockroach · March 30, 2012, 12:38:13 AM

I prefer Battle Royale with Cheese.

The Burgomaster · March 30, 2012, 10:16:20 AM

So far, I have said to my wife at least 3 or 4 times, "Let's go see THE HUNGER GAMES." For one reason or another, we haven't gone yet. Possibly this weekend . . .

Rev. Powell · March 30, 2012, 10:40:51 AM

It's not as bad as it could have been. Not nearly as "tween-y" as I feared.

HappyGilmore · March 30, 2012, 11:09:28 PM

I read the writer hasn't heard of Battle Royale.

I refuse to believe it, but it's possible plenty of people have similar ideas and such.

claws · March 31, 2012, 12:44:59 AM

All the hype made me skip this one.

InformationGeek · March 31, 2012, 03:37:24 PM

Quote from: El Toro Loco on March 29, 2012, 10:22:44 PM
Plus the books came out after BR.

By that logic, I should throw Battle Royale out because it has a similiar idea if kids killing kids as one of my favorite stories that came first. Also, you know what? I'll take this movie over Battle Royale any day of the week. I am not a gore or shock type of film lover so nuts that film. Plus, the argument that "they did it first" sounds so much like something a first grader would say.

One last thing, did you read the two books that follow The Hunger Games? Can you tell me how similiar those are to Battle Royale?

To save time, no. I'm not a fan of either book series, but I know enough to know there is a difference. Besides, what is truly original these days?

feiyen · April 01, 2012, 06:14:10 PM

Only the first book is somewhat Battle Royal like in fact its completely about something else entirely especially the next 2 books. Though I did find it odd people were reading the book in line before the movie oO? Anyone else notice this?

Archivist · April 02, 2012, 01:18:50 AM

The first I heard of The Hunger Games was that it was 'widely anticipated'. This intrigued me, but I was a bit put off by the predictions that it was going to become the next Twilight. Given that Twilight was nonsexual romance porn for teenage girls dressed up with vampires, I wasn't sure if that was what I wanted to see. But reviews from esteemed members here are making me reconsider.

The plot does sound very similar to Battle Royale, what with teenagers being made to fight to the death in an isolated place. By the way, the graphic novels for Battle Royale are FANTASTIC and well worth reading. They have amazing artwork and really thrilling pacing which would lend itself really well to another movie adaptation. The action scenes in the books make you think you're watching a movie.

As for The Hunger Games, I'll try to see that sometime.

InformationGeek · April 02, 2012, 07:41:06 PM

Quote from: Archivist on April 02, 2012, 01:18:50 AM
By the way, the graphic novels for Battle Royale are FANTASTIC and well worth reading. They have amazing artwork and really thrilling pacing which would lend itself really well to another movie adaptation. The action scenes in the books make you think you're watching a movie.

The original edition or english translation? There are gigantic differences between the two and the english verison has major issues around its changes that effect the series towards the ending.

Archivist · April 05, 2012, 02:30:50 AM

Quote from: InformationGeek on April 02, 2012, 07:41:06 PM
Quote from: Archivist on April 02, 2012, 01:18:50 AM
By the way, the graphic novels for Battle Royale are FANTASTIC and well worth reading. They have amazing artwork and really thrilling pacing which would lend itself really well to another movie adaptation. The action scenes in the books make you think you're watching a movie.

The original edition or english translation? There are gigantic differences between the two and the english verison has major issues around its changes that effect the series towards the ending.

There were changes to the English translations of the graphic novels? Heck. I have the set from Tokyopop and I haven't (ie, can't) read the original Japanese ones. What were the changes? No, let me see if I can Google that up ...

InformationGeek · April 05, 2012, 11:40:00 AM

Quote from: Archivist on April 05, 2012, 02:30:50 AM
Quote from: InformationGeek on April 02, 2012, 07:41:06 PM
Quote from: Archivist on April 02, 2012, 01:18:50 AM
By the way, the graphic novels for Battle Royale are FANTASTIC and well worth reading. They have amazing artwork and really thrilling pacing which would lend itself really well to another movie adaptation. The action scenes in the books make you think you're watching a movie.

The original edition or english translation? There are gigantic differences between the two and the english verison has major issues around its changes that effect the series towards the ending.

There were changes to the English translations of the graphic novels? Heck. I have the set from Tokyopop and I haven't (ie, can't) read the original Japanese ones. What were the changes? No, let me see if I can Google that up ...

Well the concept that it is a reality TV show is a biggie now in the Us verison...

BoyScoutKevin · April 10, 2012, 07:17:18 PM

I think Shakespeare said it best: "Much ado about nothing."

Everything I have seen or heard about the film, without actually seeing the film, leads me to believe overhyped and overrated.

But, I'll use anything, even "Hunger Games," as a lead in. So, if you want to see something good, then skip this and see one of these six underrated classic westerns.

1948 "Yellow Sky"
1951 "Fort Defiance"
1953 "Ride, Vaquero"
1956 "The Last Wagon"
1972 "Evil Roy Slade"
1982 "The Grey Fox"

I've seen 1948, 1956, and 1982, and if the other three are as good as these three, then they are good, indeed.

Living_Dead_Girl · April 13, 2012, 05:25:38 AM

When I first saw the movie Previews at the cinemas, my first thought was that this movies is obvious based off a book, since no movies made in this day and ages are creative, unless they are based off a book. This was confirmed, then I kicked myself for not knowing about this book previously. I would have been all over this book. Then the hype started... I may not have read this book before it was cool. But I was into seeing it before the hype. If that counts???

Anyways I loved the action and drama this story offered. I also loved the acctuall story, but it is like the matrix or inception in the sense that you need to watch the same movies many times to acctually know what the movies is about. I definatly was not dissapointed... And that makes me feel like a pathetic fan girl. But the heart wants what it wants.

I also I got a good laugh out off that one bit, where Katniss Everdeen got the note "You call that a kiss?" delivered with that soup.

The Hunger Games (2012)

claws