The Hunger Games Movie Review Through The Megfilter

Disclaimer:  I am not promoting or defending The Hunger Games beyond contestation.  I'm just sharing what I took from my experience in seeing the movie.:)

     I should not be allowed to write a review on a book or movie.  First of all, because I’m not much of a critic.  Secondly, because of my built-in filter that is both a blessing and a curse.  The megfilter lets in the good and keeps out the bad, which sounds good, and it can be because I usually only see the good in people.  Its also unfortunate because that means I’m generally a trusting fool that can be taken advantage of.  It means that a person can misspeak, and then catch themselves and I’ll laugh along and say, “Wow, I didn’t even catch that.” Because I knew what they meant.  I naturally focus on the intent, more than the content.  It means my husband can slip up and accidentally say something completely offensive  (as men sometimes will), and off my back it slides like water, (with me as the proverbial duck) because I know he loves me and even if it sounded rude, I heard the underlying innocence and harmless intention of the comment. 

   I wanted to do a review on the movie The Hunger Games, but the megfilter inhibits me from giving an impartial perspective on what I saw because I read into the message that the movie intended, instead of focusing on the content of the movie; the content that has a lot of people riled up.  The idea that teenagers are forced to fight to the death for the amusement of a twisted government is just awful.  But the megfilter moves right past that because there is a valuable and applicable example in the strength and nobility of the main characters as they are thrown into the most difficult and unfortunate of situations. 

   I recognize that other people may have different filters and priorities, and consider it important to make their own mistakes in life, to end up with a stronger appreciation for the end result.  Those people also don’t glue their ears to wise words or look for life lessons in everything they see or hear, and that’s completely their decision.  Personally I make it a point and priority to value each opportunity I have to observe another character with qualities and habits I admire, with the goal of applying positive traits to my (hopefully) ever-strengthening character.  Mistakes happen, but they slow me down and are considered things to avoid at great cost.  

   So yes yes, there is violent and disturbing content in the movie The Hunger Games, and young people as well as the parents of young people need to be very careful about whether they are observing the disturbing content as a warning, or, God forbid, admiring the gladiator-esque backdrop of the movie.  But as discerning adults let’s recognize that the violence is merely the  backdrop, and let’s focus on the admirable qualities and decisions of the characters.  (Those who know me know that I can't handle watching much violence, so that tells you that the movie wasn't all that graphic, as movies go) 

   To borrow a few loosely quoted observations from the movie review on pluggedin.com:  The main character Katniss is determined to respect life, despite pressure to do otherwise.  She is self-sacrificing, risking her life repeatedly for others.  Small gestures of kindness carry more weight than usual in this desperate setting.  Examples of standing up for the weak, caring for the wounded, and grieving the fallen had me in tears through parts of the movie.  Director Gary Ross was quoted saying, “It was Katniss’ humanity that people gravitated for.  This is a girl who fights for survival and finds something she is willing to give her life for.” 

   For me, the movie was a challenge.  How many days do I come home from work exhausted, grab whatever food is fastest, and sit down in front of a re-run of Friends to zone out until its time for bed?  The Hunger Games reminded me that we’re living in desperate times, and every day is a matter of survival.  Because we’re not here to just do our routine and go on existing.  Part of our mission on earth is to help each other through, even if it slows down our progress, or gets in the way of our success, or even puts our lives in danger.  We need to be honing our people skills as if they were survival skills, and we need to be alert and ready to help and encourage and inspire friends, strangers, even enemies. 

   I don’t want life to be about trudging on from day to day toward the gilded idea of worldly success.  I want each day to be an adventure, where I know that I was plopped down right where I am with a specific set of skills for a specific reason.  That even though I face opposition at every turn I know I’m not alone.  That its up to me to gather the knowledge and skills that I’ll need to complete my life’s work.  I may not know where I’ll end up or even how I got there.  I can’t count on ever hearing from another person thanks or that I made even the smallest difference.  But then, I don’t live for earth’s applause.  I live my life to die and hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”  

“Therefor since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”   -Hebrews 12:1