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It’s been a while since the release of an American movie has caused such controversy, yet although debatable the solution can be solved regarding comparisons with past productions of twelve certificate films. Even ‘Raiders of The Lost Ark’ could be considered more violent if argued correctly.
The manner of the violence within ‘The Hunger Games’ is quite horrific, but perhaps no more so than any work by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Without the checking of a certificate however, ‘The Hunger Games’ could have been shown without the violence and been a fairly boring movie. Yet some of the scenes are worryingly horrific for a cinema release that isn’t a 15 or an 18 certificate film.
It’s a sad day when violence in movies is considered non-plus and any sign of romance in a film is considered troublesome.
Seeking a teenage audience
It is fair to consider that the violence within ‘The Hunger Games’ has a point to make and the story could be seen as hardly original. It surfaces throughout the decades of cinema from ‘Star Trek’ to ‘Death Race 2000’ and is merely seeking a teenage audience instead of adult. Hence some will worry at the impact of scenes that are as dark as cinema can get within a movie that holds massive sadness as its cinematic vision.
Director Gary Ross does indeed attempt to direct a film which is both a satire of American entertainment and a warning towards the horror of war-manipulation. For most of the film it is a surprise how well the message works, that much like television-reality programmes all you have to do to stop it, is not watch it at all.
Metaphorical carnage
‘The Hunger Games’ does hold some originality however, and the story does hold up for an audience that might have a problem with reality.
Yet the introduction to the districts becoming set for carnage with each other could be seen as metaphorical, rather than literal.
For some in the first world there is little choice but to bow to the order of those in control and as a metaphor, ‘The Hunger Games’ works extremely well and is lesser an impact with violent ideas than ‘Lord of The Flies’.
Wrong certificate rating
However, the fact that it held the number one spot for four weeks could be seen as worrying, except that it is recommended as a film that educates. The problem is that the certificate is clearly a mistake and it has been released when it should have been either a 15 certificate or an 18.
There is little to accept with such violent scenes in a movie, especially when most audiences are unaware of the film and its impact on a young audience.
The violence is not as gratuitous
The question remains as to why ‘The Hunger Games’ was released in France initially, except that it might have been a similar marketing ploy to ‘Pulp Fiction’, which is comparable due to the skill within its writing. Perhaps you could argue that it is just a movie after all.
Yet although ‘The Hunger Games’ is using violence to make a valid point within a film, it could not be seen as gratuitous.
It is almost essential to show that the districts in the film are manipulated to hate each other by a higher force that is attempting to wipe them out.
This is a valid point for any society and a warning made in much the same way as ‘Boys In The Hood’, yet the obvious acid test is to view the film yourself if you’re old enough and decide if a younger audience can handle it, or consider that the certificate is undoubtedly a mistake.
