Suzanne Collins delivered the book trilogy "Hunger Games" and the world flocked to the internet, bookstores, and movie theaters to see what the fuss was about. I actually was introduced to this book by an 11 year old who read the series for school and gave a stellar recommendation. I saddled up with the book and was mesmerized by the plot, the creativity, and a bit of "dejavu". As a student in college, with a minor in literature, I was reminded of the classic short story by Shirley Jackson called "The Lottery". Hunger Games is very similar.
Today on a religious talk show, I listened as two experts demonized the movie/book series with radical comparisons to "Lord of the Flies" and the impact of violent media introducing murderous ideology into our kids thinking. However, I believed this to be a "knee-jerking", one-sided review. One of the top video games in this country is Call of Duty in which (mostly kids) enjoy hours of vicious war themed killing sprees. America is "way past" the mark of hiding violence from our children. The news today gives ideas to criminals and kids alike.
With that said, I would not recommend dragging a 6 year old to watch this picture. I would say that parents should be actively involved in their millennial teens and forming and shaping their minds so that they do not leave this movie or walk away from this book with the idea of killing or harming others.
When I read this book and watched the movie, I was awe-struck by the reality of life. The book depicts a post-apocalyptic single mom struggling with depression of her husbands tragic death. The main character, a teen girl named Katniss, is forced to be the "breadwinner" of her family and instead of feeling sorry for herself and joining her mothers darkness, fights through fears and fences to provide for them.
Katniss does not stop there. When her younger sister is picked to pay the ultimate price, Katniss steps up and takes her place. This so reminded me of Jesus's demonstration to us to take our place on the cross. (Religious note, I digress). The book/movie does go on to where 24 children are placed in a field with a "free-for-all" theme of LAST MAN STANDING. There is only one winner allowed and the kids are forced "by the adults of the capital" to kill each other. Weapons of war are left for them to carry out these acts. Every action of all 24 competitors (kids) are live-streaming at all times and the world watches as one by one the children are killed.
This is no different to me than the Romans when they all went to the Colliseum to watch Christians and their families be torn apart by lions, or when Americans savagely slayed Indian natives. These children, like today, are not the negligent. These children are forced by adults to kill for the thrill of watching. To me, the children are not in the wrong. The adults who demanded these games, for their sheer pleasure, are the ultimate enemy. Katniss, my hero, will go on to begin a rebellion. A rebellion against those who promote violence. Instead of going with mainstream, she takes the narrow road and fights to save the weak. In her bravery and kindness, she empowers the world to seek freedom from evil and to fight the giants (the Capital) that have forced them to sacrifice their children for the sake of entertainment.
The Capital like Hitler realized.. if you control the youth.. you control the country. We as Americans should never run from trending topics. Like Billy Graham always encouraged, we are to keep one hand on the newspaper, and the other hand on the Bible. May we ask God to give us eyes that see past the wide road of destruction to the narrow road of becoming informed Christians with our finger... always on the pulse.
Today on a religious talk show, I listened as two experts demonized the movie/book series with radical comparisons to "Lord of the Flies" and the impact of violent media introducing murderous ideology into our kids thinking. However, I believed this to be a "knee-jerking", one-sided review. One of the top video games in this country is Call of Duty in which (mostly kids) enjoy hours of vicious war themed killing sprees. America is "way past" the mark of hiding violence from our children. The news today gives ideas to criminals and kids alike.
With that said, I would not recommend dragging a 6 year old to watch this picture. I would say that parents should be actively involved in their millennial teens and forming and shaping their minds so that they do not leave this movie or walk away from this book with the idea of killing or harming others.
When I read this book and watched the movie, I was awe-struck by the reality of life. The book depicts a post-apocalyptic single mom struggling with depression of her husbands tragic death. The main character, a teen girl named Katniss, is forced to be the "breadwinner" of her family and instead of feeling sorry for herself and joining her mothers darkness, fights through fears and fences to provide for them.
Katniss does not stop there. When her younger sister is picked to pay the ultimate price, Katniss steps up and takes her place. This so reminded me of Jesus's demonstration to us to take our place on the cross. (Religious note, I digress). The book/movie does go on to where 24 children are placed in a field with a "free-for-all" theme of LAST MAN STANDING. There is only one winner allowed and the kids are forced "by the adults of the capital" to kill each other. Weapons of war are left for them to carry out these acts. Every action of all 24 competitors (kids) are live-streaming at all times and the world watches as one by one the children are killed.
This is no different to me than the Romans when they all went to the Colliseum to watch Christians and their families be torn apart by lions, or when Americans savagely slayed Indian natives. These children, like today, are not the negligent. These children are forced by adults to kill for the thrill of watching. To me, the children are not in the wrong. The adults who demanded these games, for their sheer pleasure, are the ultimate enemy. Katniss, my hero, will go on to begin a rebellion. A rebellion against those who promote violence. Instead of going with mainstream, she takes the narrow road and fights to save the weak. In her bravery and kindness, she empowers the world to seek freedom from evil and to fight the giants (the Capital) that have forced them to sacrifice their children for the sake of entertainment.
The Capital like Hitler realized.. if you control the youth.. you control the country. We as Americans should never run from trending topics. Like Billy Graham always encouraged, we are to keep one hand on the newspaper, and the other hand on the Bible. May we ask God to give us eyes that see past the wide road of destruction to the narrow road of becoming informed Christians with our finger... always on the pulse.
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