Great Film, Awful Premise!

Rating: 10/10 (29 March 2012)

O.K., I witnessed the Hunger Games! I will say that the movie itself was very well acted, the special effects were awesome, and the overall cinema was outstanding on par with any other major production, with standards well above most films. But my dad use to tell me that you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear! I find the subject matter deeply disturbing at a moral and ideological level. I'm not going to spoil this film, but suffice to say that the author has some serious psychological issues and everyone in the movies food chain including the publishers promoters, teachers, and school administrators should seriously justify why kids killing kids is an appropriate theme for adolescents or any one else for that matter! In addition to murder, butchery, and mayhem, there are scenes of dictatorial state run lottery to kidnap innocent children from towns and subject them to an annual gladiatorial game from which 24 children ages 12 to 18 are forcibly removed from their families and sent to battle among themselves to the death for the honor of the state. This is without a doubt the most blood thirsty and morally bankrupt story I have ever witnessed. No matter how well crafted or technically written the premise is still flawed by the sycophantic wonder that would make even Adolf Hitler blush! I find that I truly hate the post-apocalyptic "Panem" culture to such extreme that were I a citizen of that land it would be non stop war with all their inhabitants from the central city of useless idiots and deviant corrupted socialites, to the victimized out-lands which blithely accept their fate to auction their children to the butchery and death of the games. It would not take 74 years to realize that the state and the games are an affront to any civilized sense of decency or humanity. The fact that the story justifies the killing of 1,700 children in their history as a form of healing or reconciliation for the sins of the father is an amazing tragedy of enormous proportion. Yes, it is just a story, but a sick one! Where is the outrage? Yet all through the story the characters are as quietly resigned as the sheep that watch this film. I should hope that I live in a real world that would defend our children from this brutality with more courage than the actors or audience could muster. Or at the least be among the few that would gladly eat the grapes of wrath to deny the state its victories much like the tales of Masada. At least to have death with dignity and the right to define ones own life if not in death with the personal destiny that does not benefit the state. But far more preferable it would be to serve the state its hemlock. Far better to destroy the madness than to let generations suffer a fate worst than death. To hell with Caesar! As for the author she needs to seek professional counseling and along with her all her co-conspirators. This book and film are a subtle form of child abuse and corrupting young minds with this filth ought to be a capital crime. To all the sick twisted freaks that dreamed this insanity - "May the odds ever be in your favor"! P.S.: I am known for liking almost anything Sci-Fi, but this story is the exception to the rule. I will read all three books, borrowed of course! And I will definitely write more extensively against its failings wherever feasible. If need be I will be the sole dissenting voice against this insult. Who knows there maybe even an "Anti-Hunger Games" book. Certainly a manual for the liberation of Panem and all her Districts! A dissident's guide to District Freedom! Or a Guerilla Freedom Fighters Field Manual! And a message for everyone else, Wake UP!