Books are one of the last unrated media. It’s probably that old maxim, “Well, at least they’re reading,” that has kept the Tipper Gores and the Joe Liebermans of the world from slapping a parental warning on the cover of YA novels (“Warning: Graphic paragraphs ahead”). But once these books are turned into movies, all such bets are off. The MPAA gets to rub their hands together, purr “Exceeellent,” and slap on a rating that may or may not be complete nonsense.
The Hunger Games poses a particularly interesting problem. The book is designed for readers 13-and-up, the same group covered by a PG-13 rating, but this is no Harry Potter. As dark as the later books and films in J.K. Rowling’s series got, and as malicious and evil as Voldemort was, they in no way match the violence and horror of 24 individuals battling to the death as televised bloodsport. Arrows through the throat, spears in the side, faces chewed off by wolves. Add to that the fact that it’s children, as young as 12, on the receiving and giving ends of these attacks, and you can begin to understand how there will probably be some issues translating this story from the page to the screen. It’s important to note that all this killing serves a very distinct purpose in the books. The Hunger Games is a war novel, and Collins means it to reflect the horror and destruction that accompanies human conflict. No deaths are portrayed glibly, not even those of the villains. But it may be too much to ask the organization that cites “slime,” “quirky situations,” and “intense depiction of very bad weather” as reasons for giving a movie a harsher rating to recognize that distinction. So how will The Hunger Games movie pull off a PG-13?
I imagine it will end up being a tightrope-walk. There’s no way the studio is going to let it get stamped with a scarlet “R,” as that would shut out huge swaths of its target audience, not to mention frustrate millions of fans of the books who will be required to drag along their parents in order to see the film. So violence that was front-and-center in the book will probably happen a little off to the side. When someone gets hit by an arrow, you’ll hear the thunk, but the camera will hold steady on the face of the victim. In short: There will be blood, but not too much. Even with these tricks, though, there’s still the possibility that the bare premise alone of kid-versus-kid violence will prove too potent for the Hays Code-lite folks at the MPAA. The only thing that’s clear is that the filmmakers have a pretty daunting task ahead of them. Rue’s death, a visually and emotionally difficult scene, will be the real test: Will they be able to make it as much of a punch to the solar plexus as it needs to be? We can only hope so.
What do you think? Can The Hunger Games be turned into a PG-13 movie without losing its power? Would you rather an R-rating if it meant the movie was more faithful to the book?
The MPAA’s main issues seem to be nudity and swearing. So…The Hungers Games can have all the violence they want, just don’t drop an “F” bomb or get naked.
Totally agree Sarah. I’ve seen some very violent PG-13 movies. Even TV shows like Lost can be pretty violent. American culture is much more afraid of boobs and bad words than blood. The rating of the Hunger Games is the least of my concerns about translating it to the big screen.
I agree with Shirly. We need to stop licking.
im 12 i loved the books and stuff bla bla bla but if youve seen katniss and rue on youtube it didnt have muck blood but was still gripping and stayed on the plot if they keep it like that it would probaly be pg-13 but still a epic movie
I think it should be pg 13 because I’m only 12 and I love the books and really want to see the movie. I hope it doesn’t have a lot of blood though.
Unfortunately, this does seem to be the case. God forbid we see someone naked…but bring on the guns and violence!
I’d pay a full $12 ticket to see J.Law in full 3-D nudity. Unfortunately, that doesnt exist anywhere in the book.
They can drop one F bomb, but more then one and it’s a automatic R rating. MPAA makes no sense.
false. go see the social network
Actually they do get naked, sort of in the book.
You’re right. Peeta nearly strips himself completely in front of Katniss. Not technically nudity, but there were some sexual undertones.
Katniss is naked in front of her ‘Glam team’.
Though, they can fix that.
they can show that without, you know, showing that. they would prob get in trouble for child pornography if they did
The first book is okay on nudity. Nothing sexual. But the second book is a little bit of trouble there are some sexual references and some sexual language… “Katniss…knocked up.”
she is striped to birthday suit for cinna
Agreed. I mean, “Pearl Harbor” and “Jurassic Park” were PG-13, and they were both plenty gory.
Wait, what about Titanic? There was nudity in that movie, and it was rated PG-13.
the nudity wasn’t sexual nudity so it didn’t get an R rating. I’m sure if they were to show nudity of someone playing an underage teenager the MPAA would slap a R on it
there are ways to by pass the nudity and it should be PG-13 and hopw they donot drop the ‘F’ bomb at all and blood is unavoidable either way you look at it.
Actually, Titanic was supposed to be rated R, but the diretors got away with making it PG 13. I seriously hope they take out the nudity in Hunger Games, because it seriously wasn’t a big part. No one would miss it.
I agree, i’ve seen horribly violent RR movies! Now if they take this thing and kid it down (like the HP movies) I’ll be hugely disapointed! Make it R, make the parents come, extra revenue!
Totally, I agree! I would be SO disappointed if it was not semi up there with the book. Go ahead! It’s totally worth it!
Agreed.
Besides, the children who already read it and inspired their parents to read it have already imagined it. It should come as no surprise to them. And the children who haven’t read it might be inspired to read it after seeing it. Don’t detract from the book; censorship stunts creativity; let’s finally have a movie true to the original.
Sarah you have a good point, but there is some nudity in this book. its not like their having sex but the book talks about nudity which could be put in flashbacks and in other scene like when Katniss is getting dressed up for the open ceremony. and there are some ugly scenes but if you read the book before you see the movie then you should know if you can handle the violence and then if you can’t then stick to the books. I’d hate for the movie to not be exactly like the books because of the ratings
R-Rating all the way, this is one of those films that because it was a Book and because it has that crossover appeal could pull off an R-Rating without loosing too much of its audience. Kids/Teens who want to see the movie will have already read the books and so they know the violence from the books.
An R-rating would mean that the majority of people the books are targeted for would not be able to watch the movie. It won’t happen. It can’t happen. It would be extremely foolish for the studio to let that happen.
Lord of the Rings was PG-13, pretty gory and AMAZING. You could really miss out on a great movie if you limit yourself to an R-rating.
i agree wit shannon u c fingers get bitten off heads of victims being used as cannons so i think this movie will hopefully be almost as descriptive as the book
AGREED..
those were heads of non-human creatures. mpaa is ok with killing things that aren’t people
I loved all 3 books, but unfotunately, making it PG-13 will basically ruin the movies. I will not be watching the movies if they make it PG-13.
You really shouldn’t say that. You have no idea how the adaptation will work. As long as it is true to the spirit of the book, what does it matter if you actually see a lot of violence or not?
no what would ruin the mvies if they cast the WRONG Katniss and she doesn’t live up to the books
@ anakinjmt – the violence is important to creating the books atmosphere or ‘spirit’ as you put it as it creates the environment/background for the themes and other issues – it helps create the disgust directed at the Capitol for what it is forcing them to do
That is so true jace
Seriouly,if the rating is R, a lot of conservative parents would NEVER let their kids see the movie, and a lot of 10 and 11 year old kids have read the books…
jace i kindof have to agre with you but at the same time i must agree with emma having a katniss that does not read up to the name would make the movie horrific. THEY MUST HAVE MATCHING PERSONAITIES!!!
having read all three books in 3 weeks. i cannot help but feel that the emotional punch will be lessened if it is too tame, which i fear a pg-13 would cause. it is meant to make the reader/watcher feel an emotional punch and be disturbed… just my thoughts..
I totally agree with you Scott!! I also read the books in 3 weeks..I could not put them down!!! And I’m far from being a teenager!
I read all 3 books in 2 days! It was a weekend mind you.
I’m from the UK and I hope it is a 15 (certification between PG-13 and NC-17). I think that the 15 certificate will attract viewers that haven’t read the books, and I fear that a 12A (PG-13) certification will mean that the main focus of the books will be cut. I hope it gets an R rating in America so the audience can actually appreciate the impact and violence of the books. Kids are far to babied these days, if they can cope with the books then they can cope with the films being violent.
I read all the books in 3 days two hours a day. I was addicted to the books. I would hate for the movies to be rated r because there is no way all of my friends will be able to see the movie then!
Agreed
also agreed, if they DONT make it an emotiional yet disturbing movie… it would rui it, a great example is gardians of gahoole i read every book and then watched the movie… i was dissapointed
The irony of the situation is that the whole point of the books is “look what happens when the government gets too much control.” Here we are, talking about whether or not a faceless board thinks material is appropriate for viewing, rather than leaving the decision where it belongs: with parents.
The movie should absolutely be R rated if it hopes to have any impact. In fact, a PG-13 will dilute the whole POINT of the book, thereby making the violence that much more gratuitous.
totally agree! I would hate to see the point of the book suffer because of a diluted movie.
Exactly. Agree 100%
MPAA is a private organization, not government.
It is the choice of the parents still to take their kids to an R-rated movie; it’s up to the parents to educate themselves and the kids to make a good case for it.
I agree!!! It’s a parent’s job to determine weather something is appropriate for their kid.
I completely agree with you one this!
i agree the parents should decide if their child can watch the movie version of the hunger games and i think that it shouldn’t be a hard decision for them to make because if they allow their child to read the book then the child has already pictured the violence, gore, and nudity in their mind, which means they shouldn’t have any problem with seeing it in a movie
THIS!
I agree with you, but i also disagree, because i have never been able to watch an R rated movie because of my control freak parents, however, i think that the whole point of the book is exactly what you say it is. So, all in all, I agree with you
yah got super freak parents let me watch resident evil but won’t let me watch band of brothers so it’s sorta iffy with me
yeah…my parents are huge control freaks…i would never be able to watch it if it wus R… so im okay with them diluting the gore…i just want to see the movie…
yes i know i really want to see this movie but if it is R…yep I’m not gonna be allowed to see it. I think that making it PG-13 would be good because younger people like the 12 and 13 and 14 year old fans could go and see it. making it R would be a very big mistake.
if you really want to see it, even if it is R, you’ll find a way to. its not that hard. But i would hope people in hollywood are creative enough to do the books justice and keep it PG-13 so they can make the most money.
I honestly love these books and even though I am highly anticipating the movies, I wish they wouldn’t be making them.
I really dont think they will be able to do the movie justice under a PG13 rating
I agree. I just don’t think they NEED to make a movie. The books are powerful enough. I think that a pg13 is just too soft. Plus, I know for a fact that while the books are set for 13 yr olds, I would be extremely uncomfortable with my little sister reading it. I think that parents should make the choice.
if they don’t make it PG13 how do u think the teens who have strict parents like me are gonna feel?? the movie will be just as good if it is PG13.
I honestly think PG 13 could cover most of it. some of the PG 13 movies I’ve seen have been really good, like the remake of Clash of the Titans & Titanic. PG 13 would allow all of the target audience to come, and they could make it violent, but just not as gory as the books. when I was reading them, I didn’t really understand how gory they were until Rue’s death. If they make it R, they won’t get as many viewers
There is no chance a studio would ever let this be rated R. They will tame it down as much as they have to in order to secure the pg-13.
Everyone is talking either PG 13 or R, is there no middle ground in other countries? What about MA 15+ or worse case scenario M?
Unfortunetely, we don’t have those options here. It’s either PG-13 or R, which seriously messes with us. I’m seventeen, so I can see it either way. But my sister is only fourteen and might have trouble getting in, despite the fact that she’s read the book and is as if not more mature than people my age. Ratings here suck.
Dreamer I can assure u that these books are not so graphic that they will receive a Ma15+ or M rating. even In other countries. director Gary Ross said he would do everything in his power to make it so that younger fans could see it. therefore we have nothing to worry about
Alicia that is so true. I hate the rating system here!! it does not make any sense.
I want it to be well done, but I want a huge audience so they will make the sequels. Everyone thought there would be movies for all the Dark Compass triology, It was so huge, but when it sucked and bombed the sequels were scrapped. This movie needs to be PG-13 if they want an audience and sequels.
Dark Compass series? Do you mean the His Dark Materials series? With the Golden Compass, the Subtle Knife and the Amber Spyglass?
The Golden Compass is a decent example of why the HG movie should be R-rated. His Dark Materials were no light, fluff-reading. When they packaged the movie as a family-oriented, Christmas movie, it tanked.
they also made a point to piss off the fan base of the books and the catholic church. I loved the books, watched the movie enjoyed it but felt it was a shadow of the books.
So my 3 year old can turn the TV on at 7am and find a bomb exploding and people running in blood covered streets but we can’t have 13 year olds see a fictional character get an arrow in their neck!
when art imitates life it’s bad; but when life imitates art it’s okay.
wisely worded
@ Clare – not that I have a kid, but whenever movie ratings and exposure to the young debate surfaces I’m always left thinking about all the violence you can see on the news at all hours of the day (we recently got a 24 news channel on our free to air)
I disagree with you. First of all, that is not a good comparison at all! Three years olds would even understand what was going on and what it meant. I am 14 and I personally don’t even want to see the gore. I just want a movie. And yes, I do think they can pull it off and still have the emotional effect.
(@ clare)
@Clare, exactly my thoughts!!! why is it that these days on tv violence is considered harmless on tv shows that NO ONE CARES ABOUT. but if it is a movie that fans deeply care about…you can be sure that it will be criticized for violence.
@Ellie…I agree with u as well. I Say…pg13 so kids can have the opportunity to watch it!!
Yes Im 13 and if it was R i would not have a chance of seeing it! all you adult should just be queit and let the kidshave a movie! They dont need gore for it to be a good movei!
THANK YOU Clare!! Exactly my thoughts!! On TV these days your kid can just turn to the wrong channel and see unlimited violence. So, if nothing is being done to limit this, why is it so bad that the hunger games has some violence in it??
yeah like in the end of robin hood godfrey gets an arrow in his neck and thats only rated pg-13
Wasn’t this done already as the Japanese classic Battle Royale? If you haven’t seen it, that movie is twisted but awesome.
I’m so happy to find that other people have watched Battle Royale, thought I was to only one who was also reading the hunger games ^_^
Totally off subject
I have a group in Clarksville Tn who would love to help out. Where is the clesost place for drop off.
Battle Royale did this first.
Battle Royale did it better.
Cute that you think that, but lots of people disagree. The Hunger Games was more about the Government taking control of everything, and it showed how the Districts dealt with it, and had the Hunger Games in it, while Battle Royale basically consisted of the Hunger Games with more kids.
if you want to get technical – lord of the flies kind of did it first with the whole kiddles fighting for survival haha
but yea you still can’t compare the two – the message of the stories are totally different
What kind of a book is this?
A really good one!
no it is the best book in the history of books except a few trust me it is goooooood
This movie is going to be tricky to make as pg-13. I love this book series and I say it should not even be read by 13 year olds. I’m 23 and I think this book is strictly young adult.
Blue Valentine is going to the board next month about there rating to get changed. It could get movie rating changes after that. Still even PG13 with some violence,its up to the parents for someone under 13 to let them see this.
BTW 13 year old is the ‘Young Adult’ age. They are teenagers.
Thats stupid. I’m 11 and I read it!
Who cares
me 2!!!!!
I would love to see this movie done as violently as the book, but it seems that would merit an R rating. When I was reading the books (the first one especially seemed to have more hand to hand violence than the other two), I was really shocked at how violent it was. Not in a bad way, but it was pretty graphic. I say go big or go home.
i know this is off topic but i dont know why they picked josh hutcherson to play peeta when alex pettyfer would make a far better peeta he is exactly how i pictured him when i read the book buy is suppose it could be worse than hutcherson
I know me 2 I thought pf Alex pettyfer
I’m only a quarter way through this book and Im shocked at just the talk of the violence and I haven’t even gotten to the actual violence yet. How could anyone try and compare these books to the twilight series?
Oh, it is all about the graphicness of the violence. But these books are much better written than the Twilight series.
Don’t even speak of the Twilight crap while talking about the Hunger Games. I’m am freakin tired of people even badly comparing twilight to hunger games, they have nothing in common!!!!
Actually, they do. The love triangles. And a magazine (not sure which one) said they would try to focuse mainly on the love triangle in the Hunger Games.
Amen. Twilight can’t even compare to this series. Hunger Games is grittier, harder, and a piece of gold.
I may be in the minority, but I think an R rating would detract more than a PG-13 one. The actual on-screen violence can be lessened with the emotion still getting across as long as they don’t actually remove any of the deaths. Seeing an arrow go through someone may be more gruesome, but seeing the expression on a child’s face as they’re dying is more horrifying, in my opinion. An R rating would allow for unnecessary violence, and the point could be lost amidst the bloodshed.
if the movie makers were smart and cared about the books (because fans will), i’m pretty sure they wouldn’t lose the point and stick in unnecessary violence
I completely agree!
I think that they should make the film and not worrying about the rating. Just make it and whatever rating they ear thell live with it
Exactly my thoughts