The first installment of Suzanne Collins’ riveting, blockbuster trilogy, The Hunger Games, opens March 23 in theaters nationwide, but what many parents don’t know is that this is ultimately a story about child sacrifice.
Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen
The latest tween reading craze – a trilogy of books known as The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – is a story that takes place in a post-apocalyptic United States where 24 teens — 12-18 years-old from different districts — hunt and kill each other until one survives.
According to Common Sense Media, an independent, not-for-profit, group that rates films, the PG-13 film is loaded with violence that children of 13 may not be able to handle, particularly in movie form.
“We all have vivid imaginations, that’s for sure, but it’s very different to see a kid spearing another one, breaking another one’s neck, smashing their head in, than it is to read about it,” says Betsy Bozdech, managing editor of Common Sense Media. “It’s just a more visceral experience.”
On a scale of 0-5, the violence in this film rates a “4”, especially the scene when the Games get officially underway.
“It really is kind of a bloodbath,” says Bozdech. “It’s really quickly edited so nothing really lingers. But it’s pretty brutal.”
While the film merits a high mark for the strong role model portrayed by heroine Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence), those high grades are tempered by the fact that Katniss and fellow tribute Peeta Mellark (played by Josh Hutcherson) occasionally use “deception and manipulation” to achieve their goals.
Psychologist Brenda Hunter, PhD, and education writer Kristen Blair, authors of From Santa to Sexting, have also issued a strong warning to parents about the books and movie.
“In Collins’ twisted dystopian world, kids kill kids in gladiator-style ‘games’ imposed by the Capitol to prevent rebellion among starving districts. Impotent or voyeuristic adults acquiesce and watch,” Hunter and Blair write.
They question how the public could have been so horrified by the shootings at an Ohio high school a few weeks ago, then allow middle schools across the country to take their children on field trips to see a movie where kids slaughter kids in order to survive.
“Why this cultural disconnect? We are playing with fire. What children watch and read matters greatly. It seeps into their hearts, minds, and souls. Research unequivocally documents the connection between media violence and aggression in children. Yet tweens and young teens today are exposed to graphic violence through video games, television, movies, and books. Collins’ novels, slated for 12-year-olds on up, are nonetheless being devoured by elementary school children.”
However, much like they did during the Harry Potter craze, young people claim the story teaches them good values.
“It teaches us to fight for what we believe in and to take a stand and to help other people,” said Elise Lemnanski, a student at Lutheran West High School in Cleveland to WKYC3.com.
“It’s a love story for the girls and an action story for the guys. It’s more survival then violence,” said another student named Valera Ghali.
But parents need to beware of the content of these books and the movie, and determine whether or not their teen is mature enough to handle it.
Hunter and Blair claim that while conducting interviews for their book they found that many parents are in the dark about kids’ exposure to media and violence.
“In talking to middle school parents, we have heard that most feel overwhelmed by the media onslaught their children experience daily. Parents are often shocked to learn what their kids are consuming,” says Blair.
“If ‘life imitates art,’ we can expect to see an upsurge in violence and carnage among kids as this movie circles the globe,” Hunter warns. “Kids are copycats who lack the cognitive and emotional maturity needed to process the disturbing material in ‘The Hunger Games.'”
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I can’t believe this review! You know nothing! Because of your review, I am not allowed to watch this movie which I have been DYING to see since I read all the books!! I am so MAD about this! You movie spoiler.
I know you are angry but think of it from your parents point of you they obviously trust the opinion of the women who right this blog, I myself who am an adult had my grandfather suggest that my family skip our outing tomorrow because if this blog but I trust my sister’s, my brother in law’s, my neice (who is 13), and my cousin who are all christisns and have read the books and think they are fantastic, rather than trust the biased view of the writers of this blog. I would suggest you ask your parents to watch the movie first and then if they like it allow you to see it, that might go over better. Parents are more likely to listen if you make your point respectfully.
I’ve read all 3 books, so I do know. Strong adult content, loaded in violence and hopelessness, and totally void of anything to do with God and the truth thereof. I loved the series, my kids won’t be exposed. It’s one thing to disagree, just remember that you ARE disagreeing with the truth. It is what it is and when you’re an adult and parent, you too will have the choice of what to expose your children’s minds an hearts to.
Great! My kid just read this book and wants to see the movie. I bought him the book because I thought it was age appropriate fiction. What good books are out there for kids to read? I am so disgusted. Why does everything have to be so dark and twisted in our society? It is absurd.
I would suggest you read the book or watch the movie before you make an uninformed decision you at least owe your son that much. Most boys are not very interested in reading books so if your son found a book he is interested in and passionate about reading then I would hope that you would at least give him a chance to tell you in his words what it is about and why he liked reading it before you ban him from reading it.
To say The Hunger Games are about child sacrifice reveals a grave misinterpretation of the source material.
The “child sacrifice” is depicted as a corrupt practice of an unethical authoritarian dictatorship used to control the mostly-destitute districts: and one they cannot hope to resist. The “deception and manipulation” used by Katniss and Peeta ultimately subvert the tyrannical goal of the games by forcing those complicit (the Capitol audience) to feel empathy for them as individuals. Those who would prefer to shun the violence are the heroes, though they reluctantly use violence to survive rather than allow themselves to be politically sacrificed, and those who embrace violence are depicted as either disgustingly reveling it it, evil oppressors, or blind followers of the Capitol. Peeta himself is a symbol of hope for a better future – not in the romantic sense, though that plays a bit of a role – but in his philosophies and choices. Later in the sequels a rebellion is born and a fascist government is overthrown not without highly personal and painful sacrifices made by the main characters.
The series addresses issues of economic inequality, poverty, oppression, human inter- and independence, war, the hope and destruction inherent to rebellion, and to what limit ends justify means (especially in terms of violence). These are all topics worth considering and debating for any young adult.
Have you read the books? Did you watched the movie with an unbiased agenda or did you watch it hoping to have something to complain about in your blog. Yes parents have the right to keep their children from watching or reading things which they feel could harm them. But I’d just like to point out that most Christian parent don’t sensor children reading the bible, and as a child I read many violent stories of massacers, and one such story the story of Jael taking a tent spike and pounding it into Siseras sleeping head sticks out in my mind when you complain about spears and other things ” too violent” for teens. What about David was he not still quite young when he killed Goliath, the bible is full of young men and some young women fighting for their lives, fighting for God, and fighting for their family. If parents allow their children to read these stories what is the big deal about a movie that follows a girl who sacrifices herself to save her sister? I can think of one great story of sacrifice in the bible and it’s pretty vividly depicted, but no one tells their kids to skip over the gorey parts of the gospels do they? No? Because most kids don’t turn into violent killers because they watched a movie or read a book about strong characters protecting their family and surviving against all odds.
I would hope any parents reading this watch the movie or read the book BEFORE they blindly follow the biased advice of the author of this blog. Because people as you would do well to remember have cried for most of classic literature and art which they deem offensive to be burned or banned. Be a parent and research for yourself. That’s what my sister did when her daughter wanted to read the books, and she was pleasantly surprised, sure they aren’t for everyone but make that decision yourself.
I would suggest that the mother who commented go read Focus on The Family’s review, as they are more equipped to deliver a less prejudiced review that focuses more on facts and less on supposed consequences. They also offer discussion topics for parents to have with their kids after reading the book. And to the kid who is angry I would also suggest asking your parents to read the focus on the family review, they might change their mind. You can find that review here: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/protecting_your_family/book-reviews/h/hunger-games.aspx
There is also a review on the movie in Christianity Today http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/movies/reviews/2012/hungergames.html
“…what many parents don’t know is that this is ultimately a story about child sacrifice.” ???
I know another book that has a number of instances of child sacrifice. One includes a father sending his son to die for the sins of mankind. Maybe kids shouldn’t be reading that either?
This is a spiritually dark book trilogy and movie that is not fit for any Christian to see….be it child or adult. Kids killing kids is evil and we are commanded not to have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness. If we read books or watch movies with this type of content, we take a risk of opening up doors into the spiritual world of darkness. Christians need to take heed of this warning!
Such an ugly comment above from mad person… really. Why do people want to watch this kind of stuff anyway. But its too bad more Catholic radio personalities don’t read the same things you do.. because they talk like its something worth watching. But I’m beyond grateful for you Sue because I know I can trust you. Thank you!!! Gods blessings to you!
Thank you for the review. I homeschool my 7 children and am not always up on the current movies and books for teens. I carefully monitor all that comes in the house and all activities my chidren attend. However my 15 yr old was exposed to this thru a catholic friend of hers and thru reading good reviews from so called catholic websites. How does this happen. Their are so many books on the lives of the saints that model heroic virtue. Our children need to know that Gods love is more powerful than violence. The book is being thrown out in the hopes one less person may read this. God Bless. Tami
My daughter watched the movie and commented on FB that it was good…so I decided to watch the movie.
What I find ‘disturbing’ about this movie is ‘kids slaughter kids in order to survive’.
The question that needs to be confronted to the film makers or the author of the book…is what kind of message are they trying to sent out to the kids/teenagers of this Century.
Believe me, the kids of today think this kind of movie are pretty cool but when it does happen to their friends or family, eg like the ‘horrified shootings at an Ohio high school’, I’m pretty sure they will think otherwise.
Kids/Teenagers seldom question or see beyond what they watch/read and therefore they’ll say to their parents/adults….’you know nothing’.
Of course, like all movies, there are the good and bad and most of all the good always win.
I’m with Janet above. God already speaks what he thinks about this type of “entertainment”; that should be enough, it is for me. It’s not God honoring no matter what issues are addressed & we should give the appropriate example to our children by prayerfully explaining this in love. BTW, the story of Christ is true, not fiction like the Hunger Games. The true accounts in the bible I think, in part, have been allowed to help prevent this very controversy but we don’t often get it. Hence here we are. Prayers & blessings for all. Thank you for your blog perspective, I found it helpful in supporting my views on this film and book series. It’s tough to swim upstream but the rewards are
Great. Thanks again!
oh my god , i don’t know what to say . i just can’t understand was it right or wrong . i had already read all of those book and watch the movie of it… i think th estory was amazing and realistic…but so sad.
I haven’t read the books. I haven’t seen the movie. But I have read many articles about them and I have watched the trailer. I am beginning to wonder if some people are missing the boat on the meaning of this movie. I have read that conservatives think it is anti-government. Liberals think it is anti-capitalist. Could it be that it is neither, but, instead, anti-God? Think about it.