A friend is working with Chris Pine, whose only comment to him on seeing the film at the premiere was "Well, it really zips by quickly."

I finally read Hunger Games , and I think the moviemakers have an interesting challenge. When you read the book, you're totally in Katniss' head, and thus fully aligned with the tributes. But watching a movie, you'll be forced into the role of watching the games.

Yeah. A good film-maker could do some really interesting things with that and making us uncomfortable with how comfortable we are with violence. I fear that we'll just end up with a lot of "Woo! Kick-ass action sequence!" in perception, if not intent.

I fear that we'll just end up with a lot of "Woo! Kick-ass action sequence!" in perception, if not intent.

And the movie's PG-13, so I don't know how they can possibly get the true impact and horror of the violence.

You can do a lot with music and editing choices, but I am very much with you.

Yeah, I mean, much of the book is an indictment of our society at large and our lust for violence specifically, but it will be incredibly difficult to film it happening without invoking that. Same thing with the condemnation of the commercial culture of the Capitol. To Katniss' eyes, the hair and makeup and skin was excessive, repulsive, but it also still has to look pretty. So either we, in our culture, see it and admire it and miss the point, or it looks vulgar but perhaps unappealing aesthetically.

As I was reading the books I was thinking "A movie like this would be an R, at least." Not even just for the blood and gore, but the cold-blooded way the Rebels used Katniss' sister and the others in the last battle is pretty dark. I was quite surprised at the level of political cutthroatness that showed up in books intended for kids. It felt like some clandestine political education aimed at the next generation, like the author had given up on the kids' parents and wanted to show the kids themselves what politicians will get up to if you don't keep a very close eye on them.

(Stompy note: I edited plot point from the books since this is movies.)

Yeah, I mean, much of the book is an indictment of our society at large and our lust for violence specifically, but it will be incredibly difficult to film it happening without invoking that.

You know what this discussion reminds me of? Talking about Dollhouse, where Joss was trying to (among other things) critique the objectification of women, by... objectifying women.

It's much the same problem.

It's much the same problem.

I wonder how many in the movie audience will realize that they are stand-ins for the Capitol viewers. The conceit that the games were widely televised is both what makes the non-internal monologue portions highly filmable and the film (and especially marketing) potentially awkward in its lack of self-awareness.

Damn, that reminds me of something else, another movie or tv show, and I can't remember which one. Where I had the unsettling and undeniable feeling of being complicit with something truly unpleasant.

Well, what do you know. They're also remaking Suspicion.