Alrighty then. After hearing all the hoopla about how great The Hunger Games was I decided to sit down and watch it. I'm just gonna come right out and say it. I was NOT impressed. If this is what everyone is saying is the big blockbuster of the year then I'm not sure they have any taste. Lord of the Flies was a much better movie than this one. Both the 1963 and the 1990 versions. But lets go back to 1996, when a Japanese author Koushun Takami wrote a book called (translated) Battle Royale. Its a story about 42 (21 boys and 21 girls) who are taken to a deserted island and told they must fight to the death. If more than "survivor" lives, then everyone dies. There can be only one victor. Apparently their totalitarian government is bored and using this as a punishment for their rowdy youth. They are 7th, 8th and 9th graders. Basically kids. Sound familiar??? Apparently Suzanne Collins claims to have never heard of the book, or movie (which came out in 2000) until AFTER her book was turned in. Ok, I suppose it is conceivable that two people can come up with the same story concept. However considering how much alike they are, I'm kinda doubting it. But whatever. Battle Royale is a far better movie IMHO. Its raw and gritty and lacks the flash of the latters Hollywood glitz and glam. As I sat watching the 2012 version, I couldn't help thinking I have seen this before. While being a wee bit Third Reich-ish, and a blatant rip off of Battle Royale with a touch of Lord of the Flies, let's toss in a little 1984, a smattering of Blade Runner, a bit of Harry Potter since that one chick for some reason kept reminding me of Imelda Stauntons Character "Dolores Umbridge" and lets finish off with just a pinch of RuPauls Drag Race, shall we? Suffice it to say, I am glad I did not waste money on this piece of crap.
