If you haven’t seen “The Hunger Games” already, do yourself a favor and go see it.
The film is an absolute must-see. Unlike your typical, over-hyped teen novel trilogies (say, the “Twilight” and “Harry Potter” series), “The Hunger Games” meets all expectations.
Just make sure you don’t go on a full stomach; the camera is a tad shaky at times.
I’ll spare the spoilers, but “The Hunger Games” pulls you into the trial and triumph of Katniss Everdeen. Superb acting, an intriguing plot and an ending ripe for a promising sequel makes for a blockbuster.
The hype does not disappoint. “The Hunger Games” grossed more than $155 million its opening weekend.
I haven’t read the series, so I can’t testify how true the movie is to the book.
While Suzanne Collins should be applauded for her success with the series, she should also be recognized for her foresight, however alarming it may be.
Although entertaining, the film brings awareness to the toxicity of reality television and society.
Think about it: Twenty-four teens between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen from different parts of the nation to fight to the death, and their chance of survival is dependent upon winning over sponsors. Before the Games, they have to dress to impress for the audience and speak with the television host. Everything that goes on in the Games is fabricated for higher ratings.
Others perceive the plot to reflect upon government control, as the film does have Orwellian elements (a post-war nation), but to me it clearly speaks of the disillusioned glamor of reality television and the race to pack in the most over-the-top shock value for the audience’s indulgence.
Take the “Jersey Shore” cast, for example. We put this group in a room with a bunch of cameras. Tensions run high, verbal and physical fights start and ratings jump up. Younger, more susceptible viewers want to enjoy the same fame, unaware of what goes on behind the camera.
People get hooked: Team “this” and Team “that” shirts are sold, and viewers pine for more outrageous drama on the set. We’ve become obsessed, cheering for our favorite reality TV star to sabotage other players for his or her own advantage.
In the film, Gale Hawthorne, a “friend” of Katniss, says it best: “What if one year everyone just stopped watching? Then they wouldn’t have the Games.”
What if people just stopped watching reality TV? It’s a guilty pleasure for many, but has it really become America’s unhealthy addiction? Reputations get trashed for the world to see, and people change for the worse in front of the camera. The only ones who win are the fat-cat producers laughing their way to the bank.
Snooki and the Situation may not be shooting arrows and physically stabbing each other, but there’s enough verbal backstabbing going around to do some damage.
We need to remember that though these people voluntarily agree to be in these shows (unlike “The Hunger Games”), they’re still people. And yet we smile at their demise.
I’m not calling for viewers to quit these shows cold-turkey, but when the drama becomes so overblown to the point that it gets unbelievably fake, then it’s time to change the channel.
If raunchy shows are your thing, TV has much more to offer than “Jersey Shore” or “Real Housewives” in the bazillion channels available (I’m talking about “South Park,” “Tosh.0,” “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia”). There’s more to the TV guide than cheap reality television.
Happy watching, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
Colleen Wright is a journalism freshman at UF. Her column appears on Tuesdays.
