Hunger Games: Fiction Or Accurate Prediction Of Our Future?

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NOTE FROM BOB SIEGEL: There is nothing about the Hunger Games series which I do not believe could actually happen in our near or far future given the current trends in American culture and human nature itself. This is why I was anxious to have an in-depth discussion with film critic and short story writer, Mark Bubien. Mark reviews both Hunger Games movies, comparing them to the message in the books.

Before discussing The Hunger Games, Mark reviews two other movies:

Other Movie Reviews:

-Gravity

-12 Years A Slave

(Amongst other problems with this film, Mark expresses concern about the way Christianity is portrayed. While it’s true that slave-holders would quote Scripture out of context, the abolitionist movement had its roots in the Bible and this does not come out in the film.

Movies discussed more casually in passing:

-Her

-Being John Malcovich

-2001 A Space Odyssey

-Serenity

-Children of Men

-Brokeback Mountain

-Crash

-The Passion of the Christ

-The Help

-Shenandoah

-Django Unchained

-Roots (miniseries)

-Kalifornia

-Kick-Ass

-Transformers

-Cabaret

-The Godfather:

CORRECTION: I mentioned that The Godfather won only 3 Oscars for 1971. That is true but I listed one of them as Best Director: Francis Ford Coppola. Although Coppola did win an award that evening, it was actually for Best Screen Play, an award he shared with Mario Puzo. Best Director went to Bob Fosse for Cabaret.

FINAL NOTE: If the subject of The Hunger Games interests you, check out my short story based upon a true historical event in ancient Rome: