What age can see ‘The Hunger Games’ movie?
I know lots of tweens and younger kids have read “The Hunger Games,” which I am still baffled by since it’s about teens fighting other teens to the death, but some groups are warning parents that seeing that type of violence is a lot different than just reading about it.
The website Common Sense Media is advising that kids only 13 years old or older see the movie. Here is some of what the site advises:
“What parents need to know
Parents need to know that although the bestselling Hunger Games books are enormously popular with tweens, there’s a clear distinction between reading about violence and seeing it portrayed on screen. Developmentally, the 10- to 12-year-olds who’ve read the book may find the movie’s visceral, sometimes bloody teen-on-teen violence upsetting — especially the brutal scene that opens the Games, in which several teens are slaughtered by their fellow contestants. Even young teens need to be mature enough to deal with the 20+ deaths in The Hunger Games; characters are viciously dispatched with various weapons — including spears, arrows, and swords — as well as by having their necks broken, their skulls cracked, and their bodies ravaged by carnivorous and poisonous creatures. Despite the violence (which is, overall, less graphic than the novel’s descriptions but is still very intense), the movie explores thought-provoking themes about reality television, totalitarian government, and screen violence as entertainment. And Katniss, the main character, is a strong heroine who’s resourceful, selfless, and a true survivor. Her mentor, Haymitch, is initially depicted as a cynical drunk, but he ultimately proves to be a valuable ally.”
The School Library Journal offered these thoughts on the movie:
“The filmmakers provide only a glimpse of children lying dead or in the act of killing other kids. Blood trickles, but doesn’t gush, as arrows, spears, knives, and even deadly wasps are employed to kill off one child after another. Still, viewers will be disturbed by some scenes, like when one of Katniss’s allies is felled by an arrow that’s hurled straight into the heart. In the end, the film, like Collins’s novel, offers as unflinching a look at the darkest side of human nature.”
“The filmmakers balance the action with some moments of calm-before-the-storm silence. The script leaves enough time to catch one’s breath (especially after an unnerving scene involving genetically engineered wasps). There’s also time allotted to watch the unfolding of the budding friendship between Katniss and Peeta, who gently flirt with one another amidst the orgy of human destruction erupting all around them.”
So what do you think? What age child/tween/teen are you willing to take to the movie? On a side note, can someone please explain to me how 8 and 10-year-old are reading this? (Kids in Walsh’s third-grade class have been reading it. He asked to and I told him “No Way!”)
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109 comments Add your comment
openminded
March 23rd, 2012
10:26 pm
I agree with Sk8ing Momma. And Smart enough to know, I`m allowed to voice my opinion. It`s all about knowing your child and I know mine very well. She`s going to see it tomorrow and she has never been more excited about anything.
A person SMART enough to know......
March 23rd, 2012
10:41 pm
Openmined.. I know many 12-17 year old kids that think they know about sex but that doesn’t mean they really do. Should your child be allowed to watch graphic sex scenes because you think you know their mind? If so good for you but the brain isn’t fully developed until about 25 years of age. You don’t really know how desensitized your child can become at such a young age. I gave my son a gun at 13. So we are not different in choosing when our children are ready for some things. I just don’t think graphic violence is something children need . Lil girls watch TV with girls fighting and beating men up. Some young girls are stupid enough to think they can do the same thing. men are not supposed to hit women but my son knows if a girl thinks she can fight like a man than she can tote an butt whipping home just like a man too.
Jennifer
March 23rd, 2012
10:44 pm
TWG – I think you only know what is appropriate for your children. I really enjoyed reading the Hunger Games trilogy but that doesn’t mean I would let my young children read them. I will probably wait until middle school and then will decide. I totally disagree with JATL – I don’t think young children need to exposed to violence to appreciate freedom. Also, just because children are being in slaughtered in other countries, it doesn’t mean we need to expose our children to fictional violence here. That reasoning makes no sense whatsoever. Yes, children can be resilient but we don’t need to test them when they are so young if we do not need to. Children are so desensitized to violence these days because of video games, movies (& yes, books) and many studies have shown that this does affect behavior and values. I do agree on one issue – you do need to read the books: they are a great, quick, easy read for someone with the maturity to handle them.
tgs
March 23rd, 2012
10:52 pm
If anyone has ever taken a social psychology class then you probably know that watching violence in movies or TV programs can seep into one’s subconscious and have a negative effect on behavior. This stuff can be affecting your kids without you even realizing it.
tgs
March 23rd, 2012
10:53 pm
For the above reason I’m not a fan of violence in any form in movies or TV.
Jennifer
March 23rd, 2012
11:02 pm
Just to clarify: I didn’t mean that you need to read the books to be able to blog about this issue. You already know what the books & movie are about. You just need to read them for your enjoyment.
BGB
March 23rd, 2012
11:12 pm
Theresa, I have read all 3 books and loved them. My 12 year old started reading them when he was 10. I wasn’t aware of the series and he reads so voraciously I have to admit I don’t always know what he is reading. He talked to me about what he had read and then, when I finally read the series last year, I was shocked at how dark it is. We have had lots of conversations about the books and look forward to seeing the movie together. My daughter, almost 10 now, won’t be ready for this book for years. She loves historical fiction and “feels” what the characters go through because she takes it all to heart. Just because the Holocaust happened and evil existed doesn’t mean we need to drive those thoughts and images into our children so they know that evil is out there. I would never let her watch Schindler’s List for those reasons. It’s just not time. So, do what is right for your children. There is always time later to catch up on movies when they are older. In fact, I know some adults who had a very hard time with the violence in the books.
I agree with Jennifer that you should definitely read the books. My son made me apologize for ignoring him for so long!
Rose
March 23rd, 2012
11:42 pm
I am concerned about any media that is presented to kids that will spawn an obsession. How many kids do you read on review sites that claim to be “obsessed” with this series. My 9 y.o. daughter is a huge Harry Potter fan but for the most part the material is on her level or just around the corner. She is a pretty solid reader but The Hunger Games I believe would be too heady and disturbing at this age. I wonder how many Moms are sharing the book and the movie with their younger kids just to justify their excitement of the story and have a buddy or two to take to the movie. I think the same about the Twilight series ( which I found to be vapid and would not recommend to anyone ).
A person SMART enough to know......
March 23rd, 2012
11:50 pm
I totally missed this article earlier in the week. http://blogs.ajc.com/momania/2012/03/21/did-you-ever-fight-physically-with-your-siblings/
This is the kind of thing I think The Hunger Games makes OK or desensitizes kids to the actual consequences of their actions.
Nolan Woods
March 24th, 2012
12:06 am
Anyone who has read “Collapse” by Jared Diamond will understand the term “Creeping Normalcy”! There always seems to be ‘one-up-manship’ working at all levels of our society.
I
March 24th, 2012
12:28 am
I read the first book when I was 11, and honestly, it was violent, but it wasn’t wicked outrageous and crazy violent. The books aren’t all that bad. I have a lot of friends who hate to read, so if your child wants to read The Hunger Games, I think that it should be encouraged. Although it’s on the more violent side of books, kids already know about this kind of stuff. Whether it’s from going over a friends house and playing a violent video game, or talking/hearing about it in school, they know about this kind of violence. At least I did at that age (and younger), as well as most of my classmates at the time. By fourth grade, just about every kid in my grade knew all kinds of stuff about sex, swears, and murder. None of the kids from my grade turned out messed up, and one of the smartest and most mature kids I know had his first C.O.D. game when he was like, 7. I don’t know what school your kid goes to, but in my experience, they’ll probably know about most of the stuff anyway, so let them read it and see the movie and stuff.
T'rell
March 24th, 2012
1:18 am
Enter your comments here
T'rell
March 24th, 2012
1:53 am
That Jennifer Lawrence make me wanna go hongry spanking the monkey.
cobbmom
March 24th, 2012
8:56 am
My teenager read the first book and asked that I read it and buy the rest of the books for her which I did. We have both read the trilogy and have discussed it. She and I both thought the books were an homage to Lewis Carroll and the Alice books. We both saw the parallels between the have and have nots in today’s society and the book. I don’t think my elementary age son would grasp the undercurrents of the book like my daughter. He is not interested in the Hunger Games but is reading the Harry Potter books and any biographies he can get his hands on.
mom of 3
March 24th, 2012
9:01 am
If you haven’t read it please don’t judge or blog about it. You are a professional
from a different perspective
March 24th, 2012
9:32 am
ok, so i have actually seen the movie and let me just say it was suspenseful. my friends and i saw it and we are 15/16….we needed to hold hands so we wouldnt scream, at one point my heart was racing and i was practically hyperventillating.
my younger sister wants to see this with her friends but i do not reccomend it. i know for a fact it will scare her.
just my advice some parts were pretty terrifting.
apples2apples
March 24th, 2012
10:30 am
its a harmless cartoon.
JATL
March 24th, 2012
10:40 am
@TWG -sorry, but your side note seems to indicate your horror over kids in Walsh’s class reading the book and states that Walsh wants to read it, but you told him NO. You haven’t even read it or seen the movie, but you’re deciding your son needs to miss out on something he would probably love because of what other people say. I just think that’s sad, but you do shelter far more than I ever would. At least read the book before you deny him the pleasure of it.
I also saw it last night. It was fantastic, but the film is FAR less gory than the book.
MH
March 24th, 2012
12:59 pm
Personally I think parents, teachers, and librarians have completely abdicated responsibility on this franchise. The book wants to have it both ways: to pretend it’s criticism of our violence-loving culture but at the same time playing right into every prurient desire to see people kill each other. It frankly sickens me that we’re not only letting but encouraging tweens to devour this kind of fare—and I’m an atheist pro-choice lax parent who generally thinks everyone has a Right to Read what they like. To my mind, this movie and this book are a celebration of everything it reputes to hate. I’d rather my kids watch the Godfather than see this movie.
nora
March 24th, 2012
1:19 pm
+1 @ Christy. Your observations and analysis were very well expressed and I agree with you 100%.
Melissa
March 24th, 2012
1:31 pm
If you think that the books are just about violence for violence’s sake, then you didn’t understand the point of the books at all. Are they for young children? Not every child, they’re YA books about a dystopian society in a post-apocalyptic world. But, every child is different. Some are much more mature than others. I would suggest to all parents (I am not one myself) that they read the books first, and them decide for themselves whether their child can handle it or not.
I saw the movie Psycho at age 10, and it didn’t turn me into some psychopathic killer. I saw Flashdance at a very young age, read Forever by Judy Blume as a child. None of these things shaped me into the adult that I am. I don’t agree with the opinion that violent movies and books shape people, it all has to do with how you are raised.
dd
March 24th, 2012
3:05 pm
People i know people die in harry potter and other fab books! But thats them fighting for good! This book and movie is litlerry about 24 kids trying to kill each other! Not them just dieing! Parents thease days are not making god choices im sorry but its sad anyone would let their kids under 12 read the books the movie under 12 too i really didnt imajion having to watch those kids! KIDS! Killl eachother
A person SMART enough to know......
March 24th, 2012
3:30 pm
Story today……………..PHILADELPHIA — I thought my son would be much older before I had to tell him about the Black Male Code. He’s only 12, still sleeping with stuffed animals, still afraid of the dark. But after the Trayvon Martin tragedy, I needed to explain to my child that soon people might be afraid of him…..But people on here want to say kids are ready for the Fiction Killing? Reading these books and seeing the movie make these kids THINK they know what it is like until they FACE VIOLENCE face to face. Keep your children INNOCENT as long as you can. You will Cry and beg for those days as soon as they are gone.
A person SMART enough to know......
March 24th, 2012
4:04 pm
This is much better reading for your children. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquis_de_Sade
Penguinmom
March 24th, 2012
4:11 pm
My 12-year-old daughter read the first book and has almost finished the second. She ended up seeing the movie twice (once a midnight and also on Friday as a planned birthday treat). The movie was violent but I don’t think it was too gratuitous. Really, the wasps and the ‘dogs’ were more disturbing than some of the fight scenes.
I think you have to know your own child and decide if the violence is going to bother them or not. If your child is very visual then the movie might be disturbing.
I don’t view this book as a ‘book about children killing children’. It is a book about a government that is oppressing its people and forcing violence on its citizens. About the disparity between the reality of the daily lives of the Capitol people and the district people and about the disparity between unreal view of the ‘games’ as entertainment versus the real view of the games as hardship and basically torture. It harkens back to the Roman coliseum where poor children and criminals were often forced into brutal situations for the entertainment of the citizens. The fact that children of former rebellious areas are being forced to kill other children just makes the reality more stark. I did not get any sense of it glorifying violence since most of the participants were not willing participants.
I think the movie makers did a good job of showing the humanity of the participants and showing many of them being unwilling to kill except when forced to.
Amy
March 24th, 2012
7:28 pm
I found the description of the creatures killing a child particularly disturbing because it went into gory detail of ripping flesh, agonized screams, etc. Harry Potter did not go into that level of detail of the violence.
Feng Shui By Fishgirl
March 24th, 2012
8:00 pm
As an adult reader of the series, I found the movie too tame. The edits were choppy and you didn’t get the horrific intensity of the book. http://wp.me/pt2rM-12d for a feng shui review
DB
March 24th, 2012
9:08 pm
I went to the movie this afternoon — it follows the book fairly closely, but as far as stomach-turning violence — nope. At the beginning, in the free-for-all at the start of the Games, several kids die from stabs, etc. — any war movie probably had far worse. When the dogs attack the “last man down”, it’s dark and shadowy — you hear screams, but you certainly don’t have body parts and gore scattered around. It’s no more scary than watching any of the Twilight movies, Harry Potter or even some TV programs. Yeah, I didn’t care for the wasp scene, but that’s because I’m pretty jumpy around wasps in the first place.
Professional Reader
March 24th, 2012
9:10 pm
The movie was not as intense or frightening as the book, but it was still scary. Believe the PG-13.
Reading this topic makes me wish we had the “Like” button from Facebook! Lots of good points have been made, but here’s my 2 cents. I’m an elementary school librarian and have seen the build-up the last few weeks of kids asking for HG. I read the series a couple of years ago and there was never a question of purchasing it for my school. The reviews list it as 12+, for one thing, but beyond that it is in my professional opinion too far byond the emotional and psychological levels of even my oldest students. I even tell the kids that if they are going to read it, please ask a parent to read it, too, and talk about it with them.
My 9 year olds are both great readers and luckily they are hundreds of great books out there that are fine for them. I recommend you seek out some lists for your tween –”If you like…” kind of thing. There are also some free sites that let you key in age, ability and interest, and generate a customized list. Look at lexile.com for one.
_Lord of the flies_ is another book not for tweens. I read it as a jr. in high school and still remember how disturbing it was. I make it a point to not explicitly picture the violent scenes from a book, but the themes are still there (if you get them). Again, it’s okay if this one book is not (yet) right for your child — there are lots of other choices out there that will speak to him. Childhood is short enough.
DB
March 24th, 2012
9:13 pm
@dd: You make it sound like the kids are pathological killers who enjoy being Tributes. Not at all — it’s very clear in the movie that most of the kids are frightened at the situation they find themselves in, and there are several instances of the players helping each other — Katniss helping Rue, the Tribute from 11 helping Katniss as thanks, etc. The more interesting overriding concept is how the government imposed the games on the wayward Districts for challenging the authority of the government.
Jason
March 24th, 2012
11:44 pm
Really bad movie. Kids killing kids really. We saw it last night. Wow! I could not wait for it to end. I guess you are supposed to cheer after each kid is killed. I would not let our kids anywhere near this movie.
April
March 25th, 2012
10:24 am
Books and movies are not the same thing. When one reads a book, the reader has the luxury of using his or her imagination to visualize the scenes and events. The images called forth by an eleven year old will be very different from those of a twenty year old or a forty year old. The imagined images will be age appropriate. In a movie, the viewer is in effect looking into the imagination of someone else. That imagination may not be appropriate for everyone.
Also, there are many themes and subplots lost in the movie that took the book to a different level. One of the overwhelming themes of the book is “what will people do for love?” Katniss is willing to sacrifice herself for Prim, Peeta is willing to sacrifice himself for Katniss. Katniss also struggles with how much love she is willing to accept. These were hinted at, but could not really be explored in the film.
That being said, I really believe most kids around eleven or twelve are ready for this book. Most of my students have read the books, and we have had some great informal discussions about them. I hope their parents have read them, and had even deeper discussions at home. It is very important for parents to know what their kids are reading and watching. It opens so many doors for discussion and opportunities to share values.
lurker
March 25th, 2012
10:25 am
@Jason – No you are not supposed to cheer. That is the whole point.
MoMFan
March 25th, 2012
10:47 am
As a mother and a fan of the book series and the movie (saw it last night with friends) I think the decision is very maturity based. While there is violence and disturbing ideals portrayed in the novels and onscreen I think there is extreme value in the understanding of where it comes from politically and socially. This story can bring alot of important questions and discussions to the table on subjects such as oppression , human nature, the power of politics and such. That being said if the child is able to understand at least some of these concepts and able to relate them to the scenes they are seeing and question the why’s? of what is happening in the scenes then they are probably able to handle the violence that often comes with these subjects. It then becomes more of an eye opening adventure and less of just a kid on kid slaughter fest. If I had to generalize I would say 8 is too young and 11/12 and up would be about the minimum age required to be able to watch this type of violence and still have an understanding of it. Just my two cents :)
Fred ™
March 25th, 2012
10:48 am
As I have said before, my 10 YO daughter can watch or read practically anything she wants. She WANTED o go see the movie (was thinking about it today) but I had her read that review that TWG posted and she decided maybe I better see it first to see it it’s too gory. She doesn’t like gore. While she had no problem with band of Brothers, Spartacus is a definite no. She can’t stand it.
Her homeroom teacher has decided that no one can read the book in her class. I haven’t made up my mind on that one. It’s not HER damn decision to limit MY child. Or is it? I can see both sides.
Think I’ll get the books and read them for myself though……..
MoMFan
March 25th, 2012
10:51 am
Oh and also for parents who beleieve there children aremature enough for these topics a slightly less graphic but also very interesting series calles The Maze Runner series by James Dashner I would also recommend. Great Read .
FYI
March 25th, 2012
11:04 am
How about everyone stop blogging about a book that is NOT real and focus on what is real. Getting annoyed that people are constantly talking about this book and movie as though children are actually going to be affected by it. Why not talk about the kids who are actually being kidnapped from their own beds and forced to kill other kids and their parents. STOP putting so much effort and time into debating about this and actually help the kids who really need it. Seriously how about you blog about that. @Smart enough to know~ if you were so SMART you`d be ranting about KONY not a fictional book!
reader
March 25th, 2012
1:32 pm
i am 9 and i just finished reading the first book in the hunger games and i wasnt horrified at all i also read it with my mom and she enjoyed it too. but i am worried if i can see the movie at my age i need some good advice
openminded
March 25th, 2012
1:36 pm
@reader~ my 10 yr old daughter saw it yesterday and she loved it, but if you are unsure you should have your mom watch a few of the trailers with you. I did that with her before taking her to see it. :)
Fred ™
March 25th, 2012
3:09 pm
@FYI: you dufus, when Kony gets to Tucker let me know and I’ll start worrying about him. But if you personally are going to go to Uganda and take him out, I’ll let you have an old box of 12 gauge double ought buckshot. Happy huntings……….
FYI
March 25th, 2012
4:34 pm
@Fred: It`s about making him known around the world so he can be brought to justice. Just making a statement that instead of constantly talking about a movie or book that is pure fiction, maybe people should actually pay attention to the real world issues. And as a parent I can`t even imagine what the parents of those children are going through. Oh and btw good job on talking about hunting someone with with a gun, you truly are setting a great example for all those kids out there and especially the ones on here. All I said is pay attention to the real world…wait a minute what`s that called again?..hmm Freedom of speech,, yeah that`s it..So happy huntings to you with your buckshot.
Nicky
March 25th, 2012
9:49 pm
It’s a movie, people. If you feel your kids should not see it, then don’t take them to see it.
Anne
March 25th, 2012
10:30 pm
“The Hunger Games” was at our kids’ middle school book fair and in the library when it was first published. My oldest and middle sons read it, as did I, and got totally hooked. Couldn’t wait for a movie to be produced. We just saw it at a screening and thought it was a well-adapted screenplay. Yes, it’s violent and disturbing but unlike “Harry Potter” and “Twilight”, many aspects of THG could actually happen which makes it seem even darker. But it’s a great conversation piece on themes of totalitarianism, power-hungry governments, perseverance, strong heroines/heros, self-sacrifice, suffering, the underdog concept…lots of ideas that tweens and teenagers need to flesh out. They’ll get into dialogues in language arts and social studies classes at school about these concepts; why not discuss them at home as well in a safe environment with parents? And by the way, it’s way less gory on film than in the book which lets the mind imagine the fine points. Also very little language in the film.
Barack Reagan
March 26th, 2012
12:36 am
I didn’t read the book, but my daughter dragged me to the movie (she’s almost 18). I enjoyed oit, thought it was well done though I never like to see children in peril, most of the key players were older teens on the verge of adulthood.
What I mainly took away from this story is the idea that you have to be popular in order to get sponsors, which is a very clever take on the modern world and the pervasive idea that in order to succeed, others must like you. That in itself is a major theme of this story and one that warrants discussion between parents and children.
The other aspect I feel is cleverly done is the idea of children fighting each other to the death so that one can live a rich and comfortable life. Talk about a parallel to our modern competitive parents, Tiger Moms and their desire to push their children to be the most gifted, the smartest, and the most likely to succeed in a competitive global marketplace.
It’s all just sad for the kids really.
Shon
March 26th, 2012
1:36 am
I’m a first time commenter on this blog though I have lurked on occasion. After reading the bloggers responses to a few commentator’s I’m surprised this blogger was hired by AJC. Seems more like amateurish blogging if you ask me.
Shon
March 26th, 2012
1:40 am
Also as a blogger (amateur reporter), how about doing some investigating and reading the books for yourself before writing an article encouraging parents to not allow their children to read books that could be appropriate their particular child.
Had enough
March 26th, 2012
2:37 am
When is reading about violence and seeing violence different?
Grandma
March 26th, 2012
5:11 am
My soon to be 9 y.o. granddaughter went to see The Hunger Games this week-end with her parents. I asked her if she liked it when she got home. She said she did. We talked it over for a few minutes, and it didn’t seem to have affected her one way or the other, but then, she is very mature for her age.
wiblywoblyschoolgirl
March 26th, 2012
7:19 pm
My daughter is 11 and has read the harry Potter books but not seen the movies. She is pretty mature so i looked it up online to see the reivewsand they all say that it is pretty brutal and it shouldn’t be watched be watched by an 11 year old what do you guys think?
wiblywoblyschoolgirl
March 26th, 2012
7:21 pm
Should i let her watch The Hunger Games or should i not?