‘The Hunger Games’ violence proves inappropriate for young audiences

From the world of “Harry Potter,” “Lord of the Rings” and “Avatar,” the word “imagination” rummages through one’s head. Imaginative universes such as these produce images and fantasies beyond one’s wildest dreams.

The chance to experience a world of wizardry, magical creatures and rigorous adventures is an escape that many find very appetizing.

There is no doubt that “The Hunger Games” exceeds in this particular category. It has become not only the most anticipated movie release since “Twilight” and “Harry Potter” but also one of the most controversially rated movies.

From the moment “The Hunger Games” was announced to be adapted into a movie, fans from all around the world couldn’t wait to purchase their tickets.

Before the release date, “The Hunger Games” sold over 1 million tickets, which trumps the sales from both “Harry Potter” and “Twilight.”

However, some wondered if its PG-13 rating was a bit of an understatement for its violent plot. During the actual Hunger Games, 24 children from the ages 12-18 from 12 districts in Panem, formerly North America, are in a death match in which only one can survive.

The children are selected in a lottery, and Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers to take the place of her younger sister in the competition.

She and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), a boy from her district, are prepped for the televised bloodbath by their boozy mentor Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) until the games begin.

After watching the movie, I would strongly disagree with the choice of rating. The movie should have definitely been rated R, sparing young children the nightmare of watching children their own age beat each other to a pulp.

Mind you, none of the actual violence happens on camera (you see the boy raise the brick, but don’t see it connect), but there was enough blood and gore that I would never let my 10-year-old cousin watch.

All-in-all, it seems pretty inappropriate for young teens and children to watch other young teens and children kill each other.

Although it is apparent that this situation would never actually be imposed on our society, that doesn’t make it OK for kids to watch this happen in a movie.

Ultimately, my expectations were far too high from all of the hyped-up anticipation brought on from my peers about the movie, and I was not as pleased with it as I thought I might be.

Don’t get me wrong. The movie was far from boring at the summit of its action, but prior to that, the beginning of the movie didn’t do as much to draw me in. I almost found myself falling asleep.

The director of the movie, Gary Ross, drew out the beginning more than he needed to. He overviewed Katniss’s character longer then needed. Then we got no introduction to Peeta’s character. The first time we see him is when his name is pulled out of the fish bowl. It would have helped to know something about him first.

But once the exhibition is over and the climax begins, the movie starts to show why people were making such hoopla over it.

Gary Ross provided his audience with thrilling action scenes, an unexpected twist to the story and drew the audience in with his own unique touch of the romantic tale of Romeo and Juliet.

This was my favorite part about the love affair between Katniss and Peeta. As we see the game progress and the fear rage among the youngsters remaining, Peeta confesses his true longing for Katniss and from this point, the two vow to stick by each others’ sides, no matter the outcome.

Unlike other typical love scenes, as a viewer I was swept away with the amount of passion and desire I felt between the two.

“The Hunger Games” deserves an F in its rating category due to it’s lack of consideration for younger children that should not be exposed to this type of plot and a B in creativity due to it’s special effects, set design, and overall love twist that helped the two main characters, Katniss and Peeta, win the hunger games. Overall, it deserves a C.