Having three teenage daughters the novel The Hunger Games inevitably found its way into my daughter's hands and hearts and minds. I therefore decided to read it for myself on my week off during Spring Break. I liked it. The concept kind of reminded me of the old Ah-nold movie The Running Man which I saw when I was a kid. Although it was obviously much better. The heroic Katniss and Peeta and their self-sacrificing ways, mixed with Collin's fast moving writing made for a solid and gripping tale.
Today we went and saw the movie and I can tell you that the movie is much tamer when it comes to violence than the book. They had to tone it down for the big screen or it would have been as brutal as the last Rambo movie. The movie version features Jennifer Lawrence who plays Katniss (who also playedf Raven / Mystique in X Men First Class) and she does a swell job portraying the female champion of District 12. I am sure we will be seeing much more of her in other films as well as this movie will propel her to super stardom. James Newton Howard's score is moving and paints the movie's background well. It is apparent that the movie, like the book, does not condone the violence of man and our sick desire to see other's suffer for our entertainment and I like the courage of the heroes in the story. It is good to see heroes who care for those weaker than themselves and are willing to go all the way for love if necessary. The tale sets up Katniss to take on the President and his evil empire in the inevitable sequel. They spent a thirfty $78 million on the pic and it has already raked in $155 million. No small feat when you are up against Batman, Spidey and Harry Potter.
I am looking forward to seeing how Katniss handles the love triangle between her, Peeta and Gale and the President of Panem in Catching Fire. Lionsgate entertainment has just made themselves a whole whack o moola.
'Nuff Said.
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