The Hunger Games (2012) Film 22/50

At first I found it strange that Stanley Tucci received top billing for his role as Caesar Flickerman, considering Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is truly the heart of this story. But although Lawrence did a nice job representing The Hunger Games' heroine, Tucci's performance truly stole the show.

Mockingjay Book 3/50

I am not pleased. I was with Collins up until Chapter 25 began, but then...no. Wrong. Incorrect ending. I feel like I've just watched the end of the Mrs. Peacock Clue ending, and the title cards are supposed to come up and tell us, "But this is how it really happened..."

Besides the fact that the ending feels entirely rushed and unbelievable, it's terribly unsatisfying when considering the journey we have taken with Katniss from the moment her sister's name is called in the first book. What possessed Collins to write this ending? Was she attacked by tracker jackers?

For a moment, I thought we were going to see the return of the amazing Katniss Everdeen. I had come to grips with the fact that I'd suffered through the second in the series for hope of a superior third installment. How fooled I was.

Catching Fire Book 2/50

So. Okay...these are fast reads.

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Warning:
Contains spoilers for The Hunger Games

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There's really no getting around that. To talk about this book is to give away key plot points from the previous one, so if you haven't read The Hunger Games yet...stop reading this and get on with it already. Sheesh.

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So...Catching Fire. Or The Hunger Games: All-Star Arena, as I prefer to call it. Once again we meet up with everyone's favorite teen-lit love triangle that doesn't involve vampires or werewolves. But while I was clearly on Team Jacob with the Twilight series, I am torn having to choose between Gale and Peeta. They're essentially the same character...just with a different number of legs.

The Hunger Games Book 1/50

I will definitely be adding its sequel Catching Fire to my "to-read" list now. And the film was already on my radar for viewing after seeing the trailer. Don't be too surprised to find me comparing the film and book in March.

So...The Hunger Games.

I couldn't help but compare the it to Twilight at times. With the whole Peeta-Katniss-Gale love triangle aspect, it was difficult to not make the connection. While I did find Collins' protagonist to be far more likable than Bella Swan, the relationship between Katniss and Peeta bares an uncanny similarity to the uncomfortable nature that is Meyer's abusively unhealthy teen pairing. But I suppose this whole "star-crossed lover" genre really all started with Pyramus and Thisbe. Thanks, Ovid.

And as for the parallels drawn between the Hunger Games and reality television, scenes from Series 7: The Contenders (2001) kept popping into my head. And although I've not read Battle Royale, it's clear that this book is not presenting any groundbreaking new material for the commentary on America's questionable love affair with our society's version of the gladiator games. Will it keep thousands from watching the next season of Survivor? Probably not.