Racism and the Hunger Games

Sometimes people make me very, very angry.  This is one of those times.  I noticed A Dribble of Ink's post last night, linking to this article about racist white people complaining about the casting of Cinna, Rue and Thresh in the Hunger Games movie.  Personally, I thought all the actors in the film did a fantastic job, these three included (Cinna's one of my favourite characters in the book and I thought Lenny Kravitz was dead on).

I think Rue's role would have been better with a bit more time to develop her relationship with Katniss, but again, Amandla Stenberg did a fantastic job in the role.  In fact, I'd love to see her in something else (and looking at her imdb bio, she's also in Colombiana, which features parkour, so I guess I know what I'll be picking up soon).  She's even more impressive when you realize she plays violin, drums and guitar and started modelling at age 4!

We like to think that racism is gone or getting better.  It isn't.  Until people can see other people as, well, people, instead of 'black' or 'asian' or 'hispanic' or 'white', etc. we'll always have racism.  I'm not saying that nationality or family background are bad.  But there comes a point when you have to stop asking where people are from and who their parents are and just accept them as people.  Like you.  With the same rights, privileges, foibles and positive aspects that you and people who look like you have.  Regardless of where you're from, where you are now and what you look like.

End of rant.

Movie Review: The Hunger Games

Directed by: Gary Ross, 2012

IMDB listing

Official Website

Pros: fantastic acting, faithful to the book, great costumes, both touching and brutal

Cons: too much unnecessary shaky cam

For Parents: no swearing, no sex, lots of violence in the last 3rd of the film (though there's little blood and most of the deaths occur offstage, you do see a few of the tributes kill each other)

The Hunger Games is a faithful adaptation of Suzanne Collins' popular dystopian YA novel of the same name.  Katniss Everdeen is chosen as one of two District 12 tributes to fight to the death in the 74th Hunger Games, a televised sport spectacular used to punish the 12 Districts for rising against the Capitol years before.  

Katniss has hunting skills and is desperate to return to her beloved little sister, but there are 23 other tributes, some of whom have trained for the games all their lives.  And her people skills, important to garnering support and help during the games, are vastly underdeveloped.

I was a little worried by Woody Harrelson's casting as Haymitch (I still see him as the 'boy next door' from Cheers, and had trouble picturing him as a drunk), but thought he - and the other actors - did an amazing job.  Jennifer Lawrence, who played Katniss, was especially good, showing apathy, fear, determination and finally the desire to game the system and give the audience what they wanted in hopes of surviving to the end.  Indeed, though brutal at times, the film managed to also portray the tragedies associated with the games (watching the reactions of kids forced to kill other kids and sorrow over certain deaths) without overdoing it.

The special effects were good - contrasting the poverty of District 12 with the opulence and technology of the Capitol.  And the costumes, especially the flaming outfits, were spectacular.

I appreciated the few minor additions to the story - scenes not from Katniss's POV, and therefore not in the book - that helped flesh out the world a bit more.

My only real complaint was with the amount of shaky cam/hand held camera usage at the beginning of the film.  There were times when the effect was used to show scenes from Katniss's POV, which were well done.  But there was also a lot of unnecessarily blurry shots of Katniss running and people milling around.  Thankfully, as the action increased towards the end of the film this became less and less noticeable.

If you haven't read the books you'll have no problem following the story.  Everything you need to know is explained, though people who have read the book will get more out of the scenery/costumes, etc..

***** Spoiler Area *****

I was disappointed that the scene where Rue's district sends a parachute to Katniss was cut, but appreciated the scene they replaced it with.  

I also thought the scene with the berries at the end was cut short.  In the book the pair have the berries in their mouths before the games are called off.  I didn't believe the Capitol would accept anything less than the pair having the berries in their mouths, considering the stakes involved for those running the Games.

The game masters also have more specialized control of the arena in the movie.  For example, they specify what tree will fall when expanding the forest fire and send fire blasts at Katniss.  My husband pointed out that this would invalidate the betting that went on as to which tribute would win.  If the people running the games can target and kill specific players, then what's the point of betting that a particular player can outsmart/kill the others?

New Hunger Games Poster

I am so psyched about this movie.  Here's a new poster...

Hunger Games Trailer

The wait is over - for the trailer at least.  The Hunger Games looks fantastic.



(via Tor.com)

Hunger Games Character Posters and more!

Character posters have been released for next year's Hunger Games movie!

The principle actors depicted on the posters are: 
top row: Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), Peeta (John Hutcherson) and Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Rue (Amanda Stenberg) 
bottom row: Cato (Alexander Ludwig), Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), Effie (Elizabeth Banks), Cinna (Lenny Kravitz),  .

And in case you haven't read the books yet, here's the synopsis from their press release:

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games.  Part twisted entertainment, part government intimidation tactic, the Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which "Tributes" must fight with one another until one survivor remains.

Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely on her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy.  If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against live.

And check out their website to see a sneak peak video and pictures from the film.  You can also register with The Capitol and be assigned a district in anticipation of the 74th Hunger Games.

Catching Fire - Book Review

By: Suzanne Collins

Pros: fast paced, compelling

Cons: little to no character development, no 'down time'

There's no way to avoid spoilers in this review, so if you haven't read the Hunger Games, and intend to, don't read this until you're ready to start Catching Fire.

Katniss and Peeta have both survived the Hunger Games and it's time for their victory tour. And their lovebird act. Unfortunately, President Snow isn't convinced that Katniss is in love, and neither are rebels all over the country. Now she has to prove that it was love, not defiance, that had her pick up those berries or her family and friends are dead. If only Katniss were a better actress.

In The Hunger Games Katniss has no opportunity - or reason - to think about the deception Peeta's invented to keep her alive. They weren't supposed to both survive the games. Her decision to ignore the situation with Peeta after the games have ended, is consistent with a 15/16 year old girl, but was disappointing to see as a reader.

This book is another roller coaster of emotions, as events spiral out of Katniss' control. Towards the end the action is so intense, with no time for reflection (which is necessary for character growth), that I felt drained.

It's still a great book, but I would have loved to see Katniss face things in a more adult way. It's definitely a bridge novel, and I'm already reaching for the conclusion.

The Hunger Games - Book Review

By Suzanne Collins

Pros: tense, good pacing, compelling

Cons: heavy subject matter for younger teen target audience, but author does a great job with it

Ever since the Treaty of Treason following the Dark Days when the 13 districts rebelled against the capitol and lost, the remaining 12 districts have given 2 youths as tributes for the yearly Hunger Games.

This year, district 12 is sending Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. Along with their counterparts from the other districts, these two will fight to the death in the Gamemakers' arena, for the entertainment of those in the capitol.

The Hunger Games is a teen reimagining of Koushun Takami's Battle Royale. With some important changes. The Hunger Games takes place in a post-apocalyptic America. In The Hunger Games everyone understands the purpose of the games (in Battle Royale this is only revealed at the end, where it has a bigger psychological impact), and there's a LOT less violence. Battle Royale depended on the shock value of its extremely graphic content to get its point across. The Hunger Games does a surprisingly good job of keeping the violence to a minimum given the novel's plot. And what violence there is, is fairly tame. Still, this is a book which I'd recommend parents read first and judge if their child is mature enough to handle what happens, and then discuss the contents with them afterwards.

The novel is very fast paced and compelling. being a teen book it's also a very quick read. I can't wait to finish the series and see what happens.