**This post is not to bash anyone who watched the movie or read the books; I am simply sharing my thoughts.**
It was during my Christmas break. I was tired, sick, and not looking forward to my next spring semester. I wanted a distraction from my boredom, so when I saw the trailer for a new movie called 'The Hunger Games' in early December, I wanted to find out what all the hype was about. I remember thinking, "Hunger Games? What the heck is the Hunger Games?" I looked it up, ordered the first book, and finished the entire series in less than 48 hours. I was hooked, but not for the reason I had thought.
For those of you who have no idea what the Hunger Games is, it is a futuristic book written by Suzanne Collins about 24 kids ages 12-18 being forced to fight to the death in an annual televised event called 'The Hunger Games'. Post-apocoliptic gladiator scenario.
I found the books to be horrifying, but for some reason I was attracted to it. I was caught in the hype...and even though I felt this uneasy tug each time I read it, I kept reading. I was so engrossed in the story that I didn't want to think about if this story was okay. I wasn't obsessed with the books but when I heard the movie was coming out this month, it was never a question of whether or not I was going to see it.
Last night my dad and I saw 'The Hunger Games' in IMAX, and let me be completely honest when I say that I felt like puking throughout the entire film (having nothing to do with the blurry and shaky cinematography). Let me just clarify: I love movies. I mean, looooooveee movies. I am not a sissy movie watcher. I can take intense and sad.
This movie left me feeling like I couldn't function properly after it was over. Watching something I have read - with all of it being shown right in front of my face made me realize where I went wrong. It brought me to my core, and made me give a good reality check of myself. "What was I thinking?" I felt messed up after watching the movie. I knew the story plot - I knew how the movie was going to end. I knew it was sick, but I wanted to see it anyway. When I cried in the movie, I wasn't crying for the characters. I was crying for myself...and for the rest of us messed up people who payed to go see kids kill each other. You know there is something wrong with a movie when a teenage guy sitting behind me lets out a strangled, guttural sound and starts sobbing when a little girl got killed. There is something wrong with a movie that ignites people in the audience to cheer and clap when one of the "bad kids" die in the arena (this didn't happen at my theatre...but many others). I walked out of that theater totally NOT comprehending how people could mentally go see it a second, third, or more times. You couldn't pay me enough to go see it again. I'm not pointing fingers at those who have seen the movie multiple times, and I respect your decision. Hey, it's your life. I just don't understand the why.
It is SO disturbing. I have no excuse for myself of why I went or read the books. There was no thought involved because all I wanted to see was a good movie, not ponder on whether or not it was a good story. Watching that movie, I wanted to scream at myself. It finally clicked that this movie went against all of my values as a Christian and simply as a person. Half-way through the movie all I was thinking was, "What the heck is wrong with America? This movie is ranked number one in the world?" A movie that 100% devalues life. A story that causes people to loose themselves in a sickening hype. No thought; just enjoying entertainment.
If people will pay money to go see a movie about kids being forced to murder each other on reality TV, I do not doubt for a moment that people would go pay to have kids forced to murder each other in a sort of Hunger Games in the future. Call me crazy, but I back it up all the way.
I was so wrong to read those books, and I'm sorry that I allowed myself to do it. To say it simply, I will never be reading those books again and I will not be promoting the other two movies when they come out.
If I in any way encouraged anyone to read the books or go see the movie, I truly am sorry. In my denial, I may have stumbled others and that is something I am not okay with.
I am not depressed after watching that movie, just sad for my generation. God really worked in my heart last night, and I am so thankful for that. I hope that this post helped others see the 'Hunger Games' in a new light - something that was much needed for me.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Keep strong.
