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Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which "Tributes" must fight with one another until one survivor remains. Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. THE HUNGER GAMES is directed by Gary Ross, and produced by Nina Jacobson's Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. Suzanne Collins' best-selling novel, the first in a trilogy published by Scholastic that has over 16 million copies in print in the United States alone, has developed a massive global following.

I've read the first book. It was entertaining enough, but not so much that I'm chomping at the bit to read the sequel.

Perhaps for that reason, there really isn't anything in the trailer that gets me particularly interested in the film. Then again, maybe it's because the trailer focused entirely on what happens before the actual Hunger Games. You know, the event that contains ALL of the book's tension and character drama. It's only the event that the book is named after, for Christ's sake. The least they could've done is show a bit of it in the trailer.

Still, the book wasn't all bad, and I love me some Jennifer Lawrence. I'll probably see this one anyway.

Battle Royale much? Haven't read the books btw but seems like a bit of a rip off from watching that trailer.

It does seem too much like that, only with a more "toned down" approach to sell it to larger audiences.

Still, I've never liked Battle Royale, the idea for that movie was great, but that movie was a fucking caricature from beginning to end.

It does seem too much like that, only with a more "toned down" approach to sell it to larger audiences.

Still, I've never liked Battle Royale, the idea for that movie was great, but that movie was a fucking caricature from beginning to end.

So, we knew that we didn’t want to pussyfoot around the intensity of the subject matter, on the one had, but that we wanted to do it in a way that was also not exploitative or guilty of the crimes of the Capitol, in any way, shape or form. If the movie were stylized violence that was pretty and fun and cool, which is great when you go see 300 or The Matrix, it would just be out of sync with the fact that they’re kids. So, we felt that the violence had to feel real, it had to feel urgent, it had to feel like you were seeing it through Katniss’ eyes, and yet it couldn’t feel exploitative, sensationalistic, or like we were having fun because the subject matter has a gravitas that has to be honored.

I'm a little weary of the movie because it also strikes me as Battle Royale-lite

I'm a little weary of the movie because it also strikes me as Battle Royale-lite, but the newest trailer kinda sold me in on it. I would like to read the books first but I doubt I'll have time to do so before the movie comes out. Also, hey, the movie is made by Gary Ross. The guy is responsible for some pretty fantastic stuff.

Reading the books, at least in my case, helps to appreciate the tone they're going for in the trailers.

Are the books good ?

I've only read the first one, but I've liked what I've seen so far. It's well-written, and it's nice that kids will have a decent female protagonist after all that "Twilight" crap.

I think that was precisely the problem with Battle Royale.

...What?

Yeah, I knew that wouldn't get through

I felt that Battle Royale, while smart on it's own merit, demeans itself by not keeping it's own silly parts in check. Anyone who has seen Elfen Lied should have at least an idea of what I'm talking about.

That said, Hunger Games, despite seeming like a rip-off Battle Royale, gives the impression that it's attempting to be inclined towards the more nuanced, smarter and more balanced part, rather than "TEENAGE GIRLS SHOOTING EACH OTHER WITH MACHINE GUUUUUUUUUUNS !!!" which I found mind-numbingly stupid.