Hunger Games

[baldgriff]

So I took my step-daughter to go see this movie last night for the midnight opening. First of all, the theatre sold out 5 different midnight screenings. It was amazing to see the number of cars in the lot.

The movie itself was well done - the society that this takes place in is one really twisted place. I enjoyed the movie, and I imagine that there is plenty from the book that wasnt really brought out and this may have easily been a 3 hour movie if they chose to really build on some of the underlying sub-plots.

I enjoyed the movie - though I am dragging ass right now....

[Fresno Bob]

I've read the three books as has my 13 year old son, he even read the first book in Spanish, and his class is going to see the movie today.

[Lucky]

My son and wife read the books, and both want to see it today.

[umjewman]

So, I definitely missed this craze completely. I am aware that the craze exists, but I'm afraid to look up what it's about because I don't want spoilers if I decide to read them all.

Can anyone give me a general sense of the gist of the story?

[DMT]

Japanese Running Man

[johnnya24]

So, I definitely missed this craze completely. I am aware that the craze exists, but I'm afraid to look up what it's about because I don't want spoilers if I decide to read them all.

Can anyone give me a general sense of the gist of the story?

I have to admit I'm not in tune with a lot of children's / teen literature these days. My 11 year old niece was round last month, and I asked her what she was reading. She said, I'm reading the new Jacqueline Wilson book for school ... it's about this girl whose Daddy leaves the family and runs off to Spain to open a bar. Mummy is a depressed alcoholic and the girl has to take responsibility to help her younger brothers and sisters.

So not like The Famous Five then ...

[B-Fly]

The reviews I've read would seem to place these books in the world of literature (e.g., Lord of the Flies) rather than just YA pulp (e.g., Twilight), so I'll accept their wide popularity as a good thing, considering how many kids read so little.

[Stephen]

Essentially there's an oppressive regime that keeps its colonies under control by severely limiting their access to food. Every year a drawing is made at each colony for two kids that will compete with kids from other colonies in a match to the death where the winner gets a bunch of food.

The Hunger Games themselves originated as a result of people from one of the districts starting an uprising to try and break free from their control. That attempt was defeated by the Capitol and every year they host these Games as a reminder of their absolute power and control.

In addition, the games are televised as a macabre Must See TV type event that the people crave.

There is a romance angle involved in the series, but to ease anyone's concerns - Twilight, this is not.

[joncarlos]

The first book was really outstanding. It's a trilogy, and the 2nd and 3rd weren't quite as good. But they're committed to making all 3 movies.

There are cute young boys and girls and there IS a love triangle of sorts, so the Twilight comps are inevitable, but it's nothing like that.

Lord of the Flies meets Running Man?

[B-Fly]

The first book was really outstanding. It's a trilogy, and the 2nd and 3rd weren't quite as good. But they're committed to making all 3 movies.

There are cute young boys and girls and there IS a love triangle of sorts, so the Twilight comps are inevitable, but it's nothing like that.

Lord of the Flies meets Running Man?

Or, speaking more of the film than the books, just an Americanized version of Battle Royale?

[Fresno Bob]

Japanese Running Man

American Battle Royale

[Fresno Bob]

I have to admit I'm not in tune with a lot of children's / teen literature these days. My 11 year old niece was round last month, and I asked her what she was reading. She said, I'm reading the new Jacqueline Wilson book for school ... it's about this girl whose Daddy leaves the family and runs off to Spain to open a bar. Mummy is a depressed alcoholic and the girl has to take responsibility to help her younger brothers and sisters.

So not like The Famous Five then ...

Ha ha, my 11 year old son loves the Famous Five books, which are excellent complements to his two other loves, killing Nazis and zombies in Call of Duty and the Resident Evil games

[Fresno Bob]

Or, speaking more of the film than the books, just an Americanized version of Battle Royale?

more political intrigue, but yea...

in the same sort of realm, I really enjoyed the "Chaos Walking" trilogy, starting with "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness

It's not Battle Royale, but it is anchored around a boy, coming of age, on a mostly subsistance-farming colony world. "Enclave" by Ann Aguirre is more "living in the nyc subway tunnels to escape the Mad Max world above" and good also

[Ghuda]

Has anyone read the Steven King (I think he published it under Richard Bachman) short story - "The Long Walk".

Kind of a stretch - but futuristic game show/public event where 'contestants' die. One of my favorite Steven King stories.

[johnnya24]

Was always partial to Roald Dahl as a kid. Danny the Champion of the World was my favorite.