HUNGER GAMES in Current Horror, Sci-Fi and Fantasy Films Forum

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HUNGER GAMES

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G Vallejo		#41	[-]
Mar 27 12 9:18 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I saw BATTLE ROYALE several years ago on DVD from Netflix. I loved it then, and it's the first thing I thought of when I heard about these books. However, I have no problem with her books or how she got the idea for them. It's a great idea and can stand several explorations. My girlfriend and my friend each saw it this weekend, and though they both liked it they thought several key scenes were missing or altered. I don't know anything about the book except the basic concepts, so I don't know what they mean, but I'm just going to wait for the DVD on this one. A perfect Monster has no end...
Colossus Rex		#42	[-]
Mar 27 12 10:18 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Someone mentioned Star Trek's GAMESTERS OF TRISKELLION as being part of this tradition ... I think ARENA (the one with the Gorn) is even closer, with it's enclosed fighting habitat and the bits of a potential weapons (gunpowder, cannon) scattered around the environment.
hermanthegerm		#43	[-]
Mar 27 12 11:30 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Monsterpal wrote: How about THE TENTH VICTIM or the story it's based on, "The Seventh Victim" by Robert Sheckley? (I guess they needed three more victims for feature length) Any noticeable derivation from that classic? I mentioned it as La Settima Vittima. Arena (Fredric Brown) is a good example, except that it is not meant as a spectacle, the fate of a whole species is determined on the fight of two individuals so that the rest of the Universe will not suffer (no one is getting their kicks offa watching it... although the Star Trek episode changes the feel of the original story.) While The Truman Show or Logan's Run show 'reality" TV or dystopian societies themes neither of them have ingredients enough to qualify. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and Escape From New York both have gladiatorial scenes but 'the media' is not necessarily involved. In Thunderdome the fight is meant to resolve a dispute, and not necessarily to generate spectacle, though, that, of course is also part of it. The fact that violence/death gets televised (distance viewing) for ratings is, I think, the defining element of the subgenre (in Battle Royale, Running Man, Death Race 2000, etc.) Even Death Watch (La Mort en direct 1980) could be considered as a borderline example. I would argue that Michael Powell's Peeping Tom is the grandaddy of this particular subgenre ...unless someone can find an earlier example of cinema critizing our cinemagoing (and now, TV/cable/internet) voyeurism of violence. The most disturbing instance of this may well be Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer. --- Is Battle Royale general culture? That is not what I meant. We as fans should know Battle Royale, but I don't expect others to do so. But there are, however, plenty of other general culture examples as I have mentioned. Ever hear of 'bum fights'? Should the people making Twilight be aware of Dracula? They should be ashamed of themselves if they are not. "There is a lot of money tied up in this film and people expect to hear a boom when something blows up, so I'll give them a boom." George Lucas as quoted by Harlan Ellison's WATCHING Last Edited By: hermanthegerm Apr 2 12 2:15 PM. Edited 9 times.
Robert Troch		#44	[-]
Mar 27 12 11:43 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Well I first saw Battle Royale around 2005 and enjoyed it a lot. (BTW it has been available on DVD here in the USA for a long time now so the Blu is NOT the first release here) especially Beat Takeshi's eccentric (does he play any other kind?) character. When the book of the Hunger games was first described to me I quickly blurted out "That's Battle Royale!" So my mind went immediately to that territory, and from what has been described to me (I haven't and probably won't read the books) the Hunger Games sounds like Battle Royale light, and less disturbing as well. I may see the movie but I am not expecting too much, and yes BR will be in the back of my head. I can't help it! Robert T. Last Edited By: Robert Troch Mar 27 12 11:46 AM. Edited 1 times.
Colossus Rex		#45	[-]
Mar 27 12 12:13 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	hermanthegerm wrote: Should the people making Twilight be aware of Dracula? They should be ashamed of themselves if they are not. Have to agree with that! But of course Dracula is among a handful of characters that have achieved such awarenes in our culture that you almost seem to be born knowing about them.
HalLane		#46	[-]
Mar 27 12 12:30 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Colossus Rex wrote: Someone mentioned Star Trek's GAMESTERS OF TRISKELLION as being part of this tradition ... I think ARENA (the one with the Gorn) is even closer, with it's enclosed fighting habitat and the bits of a potential weapons (gunpowder, cannon) scattered around the environment. BREAD AND CIRCUSES, with Gladiatorial combat for high television ratings, sounds even closer. Then there's DEATH RACE 2000, etc. It's an old trope, but apparently still an effective metaphor. I'm still on the fence about seeing it at Imax or a regular theatre. Any opinions in that regard?
luluthebeast		#47	[-]
Mar 27 12 2:51 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	And let us not forget THE OUTER LIMITS: FUN AND GAMES http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0667815/combined
Badfinger		#48	[-]
Mar 27 12 8:17 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I guess I am officially old. I have no idea what HUNGER GAMES is; never heard of it.
SteveZodiak		#49	[-]
Mar 28 12 1:41 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I'm totally out of it, I guess. The first I heard of Battle Royal in in this thread. Why do I have to waste my time outwitting morons?
Spoiler II		#50	[-]
Mar 28 12 10:49 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	http://www.jonathanlack.c...ersus-battle-royale.html Regardless of anyones unfamiliarity/disinterest in Battle Royale if you've never heard of it, this article is pretty fascinating. HUNGER GAMES seems much closer to the filmed version of BR,which alters many ideas from the book. The thing about this that probably bothers me the most is how for years BATTLE ROYALE was constantly brought up as being unreleasable in the US because of Columbine ,Virginia and several other school shootings and how the plot of teenagers being forced to murder each other wouldn't fly in these sensitive times. ..but then the same basic idea is done by Americans and based on a young adult novel no less and its not only perfectly acceptable,it's a huge blockbuster hit. How does that work?
Colossus Rex		#51	[-]
Mar 29 12 12:11 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Spoiler II wrote: The thing about this that probably bothers me the most is how for years BATTLE ROYALE was constantly brought up as being unreleasable in the US because of Columbine ,Virginia and several other school shootings and how the plot of teenagers being forced to murder each other wouldn't fly in these sensitive times. ..but then the same basic idea is done by Americans and based on a young adult novel no less and its not only perfectly acceptable,it's a huge blockbuster hit. How does that work? Interesting question. I'd have to see BATTLE ROYALE .... I'm wondering, though. Does it take much time in BATTLE ROYALE before you get to the killing action? Is there a lot of time spend on getting to know about the background of the characters? In HUNGER GAMES, at least in the book, around half of the story, maybe more, is setup and context before the mayhem starts. There's a lot of detail about life in District 12, about Katniss and her family and friends. Then some time is spent describing what people are like in the much more decadent capital. Could that be the difference? Maybe HUNGER GAMES is more "acceptable" because it takes time to provide context, and doesn't just plunge right in? Another way of saying it ... BATTLE ROYALE is closer to obvious exploitation? Again, haven't seen it so let me know if I'm wrong.
Robert Troch		#52	[-]
Mar 29 12 9:43 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Spoiler II wrote: http://www.jonathanlack.c...ersus-battle-royale.html Regardless of anyones unfamiliarity/disinterest in Battle Royale if you've never heard of it, this article is pretty fascinating. HUNGER GAMES seems much closer to the filmed version of BR,which alters many ideas from the book. The thing about this that probably bothers me the most is how for years BATTLE ROYALE was constantly brought up as being unreleasable in the US because of Columbine ,Virginia and several other school shootings and how the plot of teenagers being forced to murder each other wouldn't fly in these sensitive times. ..but then the same basic idea is done by Americans and based on a young adult novel no less and its not only perfectly acceptable,it's a huge blockbuster hit. How does that work? Agreed. I have had the same problem with all of this. Robert T.
Andy Sheets		#53	[-]
Mar 29 12 1:33 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Colossus Rex wrote: Interesting question. I'd have to see BATTLE ROYALE .... I'm wondering, though. Does it take much time in BATTLE ROYALE before you get to the killing action? Is there a lot of time spend on getting to know about the background of the characters? I haven't read Hunger Games yet (my wife has and she's looking forward to seeing the movie) but the original Battle Royale novel has fairly detailed descriptions and motivations of the characters and the society in which they live. The movie cut out a lot of that but I think it gets by because it's much more of a near-future, "world is basically the same but for a couple of twists" setting. For instance, the Japanese school kids forced to kill each other wear uniforms just like Japanese school kids do now, they ride an ordinary school bus and attend what looks like a normal present-day school, and the story in general is satirizing the immense academic pressure put on youth over there. I suspect Hunger Games gets a pass because the setting is more remote. Since it doesn't really remind us of the world we live in, with entirely different countries and a more divergent future history, people are probably more accepting of the concept. That's just my take on it, though.
Dudley Manlove		#54	[-]
Mar 29 12 2:42 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	What annoys me about writers and filmakers is when they see acknowledgement of other previous works as a detraction from their own. I cannot fathom for one moment that not a single person during the writing of the book, the publishing of the book, the tours etc etc etc.... then the Making of the film did not mention BR. Its insane to suggest otherwise. For instance. Read the basic plot of the Aussie book and film.......... Tomorrow When the War Began.......... Now tell me what THAT reminds you of.......... yet again the Writer totally denies any knowledge of a certain 80's film.............. Its just simply implausible
Colossus Rex		#55	[-]
Mar 29 12 5:49 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Andy Sheets wrote: I suspect Hunger Games gets a pass because the setting is more remote. Since it doesn't really remind us of the world we live in, with entirely different countries and a more divergent future history, people are probably more accepting of the concept. That's just my take on it, though. Sounds reasonable.
Colossus Rex		#56	[-]
Mar 31 12 9:54 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I watched BATTLE ROYALE last night. Very intense. While there are differences, there are some striking similarities between it and HUNGER GAMES. Apart from the whole idea of young people forced into combat, one thing that stood out for me was the idea of particular sectors of the arena being dangerous during certain hours. That idea crops up not in the first HUNGER GAMES book but in the second. I'm not saying Suzanne Collins was being untruthful when she says she never heard of BATTLE ROYALE before writing HUNGER GAMES ... but I better understand those who are troubled by the similarities.
Carl Eyesnheart		#57	[-]
Mar 31 12 10:33 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	But how many of those troubled by the similarities have done what you just did, and have now seen or read both? I am seeing most of the people arguing about the similarities with BR saying that they have NOT read HUNGER, and have no intention to do so. My fanzine all about Rock N Roll: www.sonicruin.com
Colossus Rex		#58	[-]
Mar 31 12 1:22 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Carl Eyesnheart wrote: But how many of those troubled by the similarities have done what you just did, and have now seen or read both? I am seeing most of the people arguing about the similarities with BR saying that they have NOT read HUNGER, and have no intention to do so. True.
Bunnyman		#59	[-]
Mar 31 12 9:44 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Another film this movie kind of reminded me of was The Tenth Victim where people can sign up to join a hunt and can end up as either hunter or hunted. But mostly because of it's nostalgic look at the future (to quote the poster for Sleeper.) I mean look at science fiction films from the 60's era, especially Italian ones. This is what they thought the future fashions would look like back then.
Robert Troch		#60	[-]
Apr 1 12 10:20 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Saw it today, and while it was sort of enjoyable.........Jesus God, it really is Battle Royale light! The games themselves were pretty good but remarkably bloodless, and the handheld camera is.....c'mon can we cut back on this stuff. It's getting hard to tell the difference between TV and Movies with this stuff. I definitely wouldn't see this again, but thought it was ok. Trouble is Battle Royale was in my head the whole time. Too many similarities and such Robert T.

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