Just watched Hunger Games with my wife and daughter...hadn't read it,

[NRaleighLiberal]

or read anything about it really - just saw it cold (I am not a great fan of "big hit" movies or books). Though not a great movie, it was entertaining enough and Jennifer Lawrence is a marvelous actress...

But my main point - within just the first few minutes of the movie, I was thinking of how political it was in overtone (to me, anyway) - how the authoritarian leadership reminded me so much of our current crop of republican politicians (Donald Sutherland character = Dick Cheney, perhaps)?

anyone else who saw the movie - did the political inferences also jump out at you?

[avebury]

1. Oh yeah. The capital was where the 1% lived and everyone else

in the Districts where they were kept on just about a starvation basis. The Games kept the 99% focused on each other and not the Capital.

The books are really good and they did a pretty good job translating the first book into the movie.

[Glassunion]

2. Art does imitate life.

[hedgehog]

3. I think the author wanted you to get those inferences:

"Collins has stated that the inspiration for The Hunger Games came from channel surfing on television. On one channel she observed people competing on a reality show and on another she saw footage of the invasion of Iraq. The two "began to blur in this very unsettling way" and the idea for the book was formed. The Greek myth of Theseus served as a major basis for the story, with Collins describing Katniss as a futuristic Theseus, and Roman gladiatorial games provided the framework. The sense of loss that Collins developed through her father's service in the Vietnam War also affected the story, with Katniss having lost her father at age 11, five years before the story begins."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunger_Games

[cbayer]

4. The book was great. Haven't seen the movie yet, but agree

that there are lots of politics in the book.

[MH1]

5. Haven't seen the movie but read all 3 books. Yes, very political, BUT

it seems to me that in movie form, if the violence is as over-the-top as I would expect - the books were pretty gruesome, IMO - the political point would fly right past most viewers.

Based on the books, I couldn't imagine taking a child to see the movie. Curious, how old is your daughter? Was it really gruesome and did that concern you? (Yes I'm probably an old fogie. Not passing any judgment here whatsoever. Just curious what others think.)

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. She is 27 - we were all quite surprised with the violent message it sent....

Can't imagine being in a world of that sort of kill or be killed...yikes!

[WooWooWoo]

7. there's really no blood in the movie

its mostly quick-cuts and leaving it up to your imagination what happens to some characters. It's a PG-13 movie. I'd say anyone older than 8 or 9 would be fine seeing it.

[Yavin4]

8. If Romney-Ryan's Plans Get Enacted, We'll See The Hunger Games for Seniors

They'll be called Medicare games, and seniors will have to compete in order to get their vouchers.

I'm practicing my archery right now.

[LWolf]

9. I've read the books and seen the movie.

I think they did a pretty good job with the movie.

The books (and movie) are VERY political; they are supposed to be.

I won't give you any spoilers, but I'll tell you that the political inferences continue throughout the series, climaxing in the 3rd book.