Les Jeux de la Faim - Pensees

[steepholm]

I saw the The Hunger Games this morning, on a whim. (Usually I wait until I've read the book, but in this case I'm not sure when I'll get around to that.)

I decided to watch it in French, though since it was being shown in English this meant I didn't understand very much. I did however pick up on the film iconography: Cato the Jock, Peeta Gamgee, etc. (I, of course, was rooting for Foxface, the true heroine of the story.) I've not seen Battle Royale, so can't comment on the question of plagiarism, but I certainly got a strong Highlander vibe at times.

In the film, at least, it is strange that they make such a big deal about Peeta's strength in training, and then in the Games themselves the heaviest thing he lifts is a twig. It's an unusual departure from the law of Chekhov's gun, to which Hollywood is normally so devoted, but I for one don't object. Peeta also managed to get through the games without killing anyone.

It sure is a classical story, isn't it? Not just Juvenalian Panem et Circenses and the whole gladatorial set-up, but Cato, Cinna and Seneca (forced to take poison, yet!). Was America rebuilt by Latin teachers after the apocalypse?

I've seen Jennifer Lawrence criticized somewhere for not smiling or laughing once throughout the whole film, which seems to me absurd. What has she got to laugh about? (And would a male star would have got the same "Cheer up, love!" treatment?)

And so, back to the marking.

Comments

[sovay]

I decided to watch it in French, though since it was being shown in English this meant I didn't understand very much.

That is a wonderful line. I can't decide if it's more Anna Russell or Steven Wright.

Not just Juvenalian Panem et Circenses and the whole gladatorial set-up, but Cato, Cinna and Seneca (forced to take poison, yet!). Was America rebuilt by Latin teachers after the apocalypse?

Nobody ever rips off the Roman Republic as a fictional setting; it's always the Empire, especially the Empire in the popular image of the last hectic, decadent days. If anyone ever wrote a fantasy novel tweaking the seven legendary kings of Rome, I'd probably be so happy.

Numa Numa, as it were?

[wemyss.livejournal.com]

Sadly, the closest we seem ever to have been given of the death of the Republic was by that hack, Lucas. It is a pity.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

A film on the fall of Tarquinius Superbus could be wonderful. (Uma Thurman would have made a badass Lucrece.)

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Hi! Fiction set in ancient Rome happens to be a particular interest of mine, so I just thought I'd let you know that there are a few fictional portrayals of Republican and even regal Rome out there which you might find interesting. This article gives a really good introduction to Roman historical fiction, usefully organising it by dramatic date - so it sounds like you might want to have a go with Alfred Duggan's Children of the Wolf. I can't vouch for what it's like, though, and given that I do know it was published in 1959 the odds are that it would seem quaintly outdated now.

[sovay]

Fiction set in ancient Rome happens to be a particular interest of mine, so I just thought I'd let you know that there are a few fictional portrayals of Republican and even regal Rome out there which you might find interesting.

Thank you! I was thinking less of straight historical settings than revisionings drawing from Roman history, but I'll always take recommendations.

it sounds like you might want to have a go with Alfred Duggan's Children of the Wolf. I can't vouch for what it's like, though, and given that I do know it was published in 1959 the odds are that it would seem quaintly outdated now.

That one I haven't read. I grew up on Rosemary Sutcliff.

[perdix.livejournal.com]

Yay, Hunger Games! I've actually recently written an article on the refiguration of the Roman Empire in the HG trilogy, hopefully to appear within the next couple of years in an edited volume on classical traditions in SF that is currently under consideration by a press. I'm also going to be giving a talk on one aspect of the topic at an upcoming conference in Paris and Rouen on the influence of Greco-Roman antiquity on contemporary SF and fantasy. (The title I came up with for the latter, after much hemming and hawing, is 'Written in a language called Latin about a place called Rome': Reception and resistance in Suzanne Collins's Hunger Games trilogy'. Mmm, sexy alliteration!) Judging from the preliminary program I've seen, the whole conference should be good fun - any chance you could come over and join the party?!

[perdix.livejournal.com]

That's a great link! Thanks for posting.

[diceytillerman.livejournal.com]

At first I thought you'd written an article on the refridgeration of the Roman Empire in the HG trilogy. Yours makes so much more sense.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

That sounds fascinating! I probably won't be able to get to the conference, but I'd certainly be interested in seeing your paper/article.

[perdix.livejournal.com]

Tee-hee!

Rather a shame to put the Romans on ice like that, don't you think?

[perdix.livejournal.com]

I'd certainly enjoy hearing your thoughts! I will send them on to you as soon as I can stick a toothpick in them and have it come out clean. :-)

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I look forward to it, once the juices run clear.

[kattahj.livejournal.com]

I've seen Jennifer Lawrence criticized somewhere for not smiling or laughing once throughout the whole film, which seems to me absurd. What has she got to laugh about? (And would a male star would have got the same "Cheer up, love!" treatment?)

You're right, that's absurd - and she does laugh, right at the beginning when she shoots a bird. I've seen a bunch of critics who don't really seem to know what to do with a woman who isn't primarily invested in acting feminine. Not to mention their disdain and horror for a male love interest who openly acknowledges that he's less forceful than the heroine. (I suppose there's a reason the film version of The African Queen upgraded Charlie to be played by Bogart.)