Saturday, November 23, 2013

What's Wrong With Killing Children?

With Catching Fire hitting theaters, I'm hearing more of the same old complaints about The Hunger Games.
"It will corrupt our children!"
"It's about teenagers killing each other!"
"It's not appropriate for kids!"
I haven't heard:
"It will corrupt our minds!"
"It's about people killing each other!"
"It's not appropriate!"
So killing is okay as long as it's adults doing the dirty work? Well then, you should be happier with this movie. 22 of the 24 tributes are adults. Which you'd know if you, you know, read the book. Try it. The movie will mean more to you.
Personally, I think killing is a bad thing. For everyone. You're entitled to your own opinion. Mine didn't stop me from enjoying the book. Hunger Games is not just the story of a bunch of kids killing each other. It's a complex story of hope, rebellion, and family. It provides a more realistic take on war and violence then most adult movies.
In adult movies, you can pick up a man, chuck him into a brick wall, and he slides to the ground with no bone damage.
In adult movies, you can jump through a third story window, land on concrete, and run away.
In adult movies, the hero can survive all this, plus multiple bullet and knife wounds.
In adult movies, all it takes is a single bullet to finish off the bad guys.
In adult movies, no one cries over an opponent's death. Much less sing to them as they die and decorate their body with flowers.

If you have no problem with adults killing each other, maybe you need this movie to change your mind. Do totalitarian governments and gladiator games bother you? Good! The purpose of Hunger Games isn't to brainwash the young or promote violence. It's to get you thinking. And trust me, there's a lot to think about.
Take whichever side you want:  Killing Is Bad or Action Makes Good Movies. Catching Fire will prove those both right.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a movie to watch.

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