A certain conservative blogger (who is banned on this site) described the film as feminist propaganda in the guise of a snuff film marketed at kids. Gotta love the Internet.
>>>I finished The Hunger Games last night - 2 AM or so... great fun read. I’m also reading On Character - Essays by James Q Wilson, they dove tail nicely... Good and evil are defined in traditional terms in both books. It’s religion - just not obvious.<<<
I read “The Hunger Games” about two weeks ago on the advice of our high school librarian, who pointed out that it was popular with some of the readers at our school. I could see the appeal, but it came across to me as watered-down science fiction written in the style of a romance. I was consistently annoyed at the lack of foreshadow throughout. At one point, objects literally fall from the sky without any advance warning whatsoever. I’m also tired of the story with the strong heroine in the absence of strong male characters, which is the template in much of youth literature.
After reading “The Hunger Games,” I re-read “A Clockwork Orange.” Another dystopian world, this time painted in vivid colors. I was astonished at the depth from Burgess compared to the shallowness of “The Hunger Games.” Burgess puts more meat on a single page than “The Hunger Games” had in the entire book.
Just my opinion, like comparing McDonald’s to a fine restaurant. At least Burgess explicitly explores issues of faith and belief.