This film is a disgrace. It is modern gladiiator type fighting. Who are we that we fill the stadium seating wanting to watch children have to beat other children to death???? Ever wonder why the Coliseum was always filled with cheering crowds. Your answer is to look at your local theatre where people are lined out to the streets to watch this. The only “hero” is a murderer too! We should remember in hsitory what actually stopped the gladitorial fighting, it took one man, to try to plead with the audience to stop the entertainment of innocent bloodshed, he was then brutally beaten to death, only then did they realize what they had done, that was the last blood shed in the entire Empire. Its a disgrace this type of class warfare and sensless killing of children will be a blockbuster.

Valerie,

Thanks for your input. I’m not sure that “children killing children” is the reason people are going to see the film. In fact, both the author of the book and the director of the film shy away from showing direct violence. What is further, the point you are attempting to make is one that the series makes itself. Collins’ book uses violence to call violence into question. Just as spectators in the Roman Coliseum were stunned by their own violence upon a peaceful man, sometimes the thing we abhor is the thing that brings the most needed attention to the problem created. This, I believe is the genius of ‘The Hunger Games.’ There are characters in the book who glory in violence and the triumph of the strong over the weak. But, these calloused, violent people are the ones the series calls into question. The protagonist is “violent” in a situation into which she is thrust. Those in the Capitol and their children CHOOSE violence as a way of life. It is for this reason that I wouldn’t consider ‘The Hunger Games’ a disgrace in the sense in which you have suggested.

I will be seeing this film. I’ve read all three books, and I’m excited to see how the surprising complex themes play out on the big screen.

Unfortunately, I’ll likely end up waiting a few weeks. But I will be seeing this film.

I saw this movie 2 times already and I can’t way to go see it again. It was amazing!! I am a huge fan of the books and I think they captured the major parts if the books perfectly. Yes there were a lot of little things that were not in the movie, but for times sake it makes sense. I think the actors, Jennifer Lawrence in particular, did a phenominal job. I can’t wait for November 2013 (release of catching fire the movie). Overall this movie was very well done and I highly recommend everyone to go see it. I would say to read the book first because you may be a little confussed but if you didnt I’m sure you it would be fine. Great movie! I would give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Many fans of “The Hunger Games” point to the “moral” aspect of the series. Consider the Holocaust a “moral” discussion with essentially the same theme, pitting prisoner against prisoner, family member against family member, neighbor against neighbor; selling, informing, hunting, torturing, killing fellow prisoner, family, neighbor, for the government. I find it disturbing that the same moral, human, survival/death situations and dilemmas considered despicable in history are lauded as entertainment (with value) when set in a futuristic setting. Same theme; one is reality, the other entertainment. Why do so many laud “The Hunger Games”, can’t put the books down and line up to see the movie (more than once) yet won’t read a Holocaust story, visit a death camp or museum (even once). Why do people love the “Hunger Games” but not the Holocaust, where good and humanity definitely prevailed? What makes individuals so sensitive to one situation and a fan of the other? I find this very disturbing.