Are the Movies Better? A Hunger Games Retrospective
The Hunger Games films are better than the Hunger Games books. There, I said it.
My husband does not share this opinion, and it lead to quite a spirited debate about the films versus the books, predicated by our 674th time watching part of “Mockingjay — Part 2” on Freeform and me recently finishing “The Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds.”
It struck me during “Ballad” that I don’t recall much of how I built Panem in my mind, rather my vision of the Capitol, District 12 and other carryover elements (i.e. Jabberjays and the Hanging Tree) are firmly rooted in how Gary Ross and Francis Lawrence envisioned them.
Honestly, I don’t think I would’ve been interested in reading “Ballad” had I not enjoyed the movies so much. This is not a criticism of Suzanne Collins and her talent by any means, but rather it shows how sometimes different interpretations of the same story can build on the source material.
After all, the core story of the Hunger Games was far from original, building on (spoilers below):
“The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson (published 1948), where a town annually kills a member of the community.
“The Long Walk,” by Stephen King (as Richard Bachman, published 1979), where teen boys compete in a televised contest of endurance, an event enjoyed by the populace in a militarized America.
“Battle Royale” a Japanese film by Kinji Fukasaku (released 2000), where a group of students are forced to fight to the death by a totalitarian government.
But, Collins created one of the best (IMHO) literary characters ever: Katniss Everdeen. A noble, yet not completely moral, person who doesn’t want to lead a revolution, but accepts she’s the only one that can.
Yet, Collins did her dirty for almost two books by elevating the love triangle, which in turn made Katniss not a badass feminist icon but rather a typical lovesick teenager.
However, Jennifer Lawrence gave Katniss the gravitas from day one that Collins took almost three books to build. The love story still plays in the films, certainly, but each film is anchored more in the brutality of the world the characters inhabit and less about #TeamPeeta and #TeamGale.
In any case, as fans, we’re lucky that both the books and films deliver. Something that can’t be said for many film or television adaptations — just ask Stephen King (a topic for another day).
While I have no desire to re-read the Hunger Games series, I’ll rarely turn down a repeat viewing. We could continue to analyze if that’s more a testament to the world Suzanne Collins created or the polish that Gary Ross, Francis Lawrence and Jennifer Lawrence put on it, but I’d much rather listen to “Safe and Sound,” “Elastic Heart” or “We Remain” and wait for this.
Bonus: Original “Hunger Games” Reviews
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Book #0)
Dates read: May 26 – June 4, 2020
This prequel serves as decent queue-up to the original series. It adds some new intrigue, but the Snow baggage does make it difficult to connect with him the same way you could with Katniss and crew. Full review, here.
Rating (story): 3.5/5 stars
Rating (narration): 1/5 stars
Format: Audiobook (library loan)
Multi-tasking: Good to go.
The Hunger Games (Book #1)
Date read: June 1, 2011
Highly engaging, very addictive and remarkably fresh considering it is, in essence, a re-imaging of a story told a hundred times before (think Lord of the Flies meets 1984 meets The Road meets The Stand). Full review on Goodreads.
Rating (story): 3/5 stars
Format: Book (personal library)
Catching Fire (Book #2)
Dates read: June 20 – 25, 2011
Overall, the novel helped progress the story in a way that the second book in a trilogy sometimes does not. However, it is not without flaw. I love Katniss. She is a strong, powerful and humble character. I don't understand how she can be full of "girl power" in one chapter and then a be a lovelorn teenager in the next. I really think the love triangle detracts from the image of Katniss as a rebel leader because she spends way too much time debating why someone kissed her. Seriously? It comes across as filler, or worse, an afterthought. Full review on Goodreads.
Rating (story): 4/5 stars
Format: Book (personal library)
Mockingjay (Book #3)
Dates read: June 27 – August 1, 2011
Well, it appears I never wrote a review. I do remember feeling this one became a bit tedious, very similar to how I felt about “Ballad” near the end. However, I think Collins really wrapped up the series well — a moral dilemma followed by a political evisceration that hopefully leads to unity. Absolutely fantastic.
Rating (story): 3/5 stars
Format: Book (personal library)
