The Hurtful Games

I have this bad habit of avoiding books and movies that are dark and sad. I am perfectly content to only read about marshmallows and unicorns. I'd rather not be sobered down, or have to pop my glitter bubble of happiness.

 It's bad, though, because those dark books or movies make me think the most. Wuthering Heights was like that. Schindler's List and The Book Thief were 2 others. (Oddly enough, I actually wanted to read those.) I carefully avoid We Were Soldiers and Saving Private Ryan when the boys have them on.

Well, The Hunger Games series is like that for me. I haven't read the books (yet), but I watched Hunger Games and Catching Fire in one night to get ready for Mockingjay Part 1. (Since my job  is sending me to an early, free screening, I thought I'd take advantage of that, and jump on the Katniss Kraze.)

I knew the stories were sad. I knew people died. But I STILL spent the entire 4+ hours curled up in an upright fetal position on the end of the couch. Just ask my best homie. I believe her exact words were "I'm surprised you didn't use the WHOLE box of Kleenex."

In my head, it went down something like this. (You can insert "moved to tears" about every 4 scenes.)

Hunger Games: 

1. Everything's grey. This is sad. I wanna watch something else.
2. I like Gale.
3. I like Peeta.
4. Katniss is great.
5. Haymitch is interesting.
6. Not sure I like Effie Trinket
7. Well, you are definitely not my Mr. Bennet. 
8. THAT'S A BIG NEEDLE.
9. I like Cinna.
10. Not as gory as I expected.
11. I think I like Caesar.
12. I love Gale.
13. I love Peeta.
14. RUE.
15. Cato. Ooh.
16. I love Effie.
17. I love Haymitch.
18. Katniss is amazing.

"Well, that was rough. Let's have a cookie."

Catching Fire:

1. I love Gale.
2. I really don't like white roses.
3. President Snow is Satan.
4. I love Peeta.
5. Poor Gale.
6. Oh, Prim, you're so brave now.
7. I really love Effie Trinket.
8. Ah, Haymitch.
9. Johanna, we have words for girls like you.
10. I'm not sure about Finnick.
11. That dress though.
12. I love Cinna.
13. I am Effie Trinket.
14. CINNA.
15. I really like Finnick.
16. I like you now, Johanna.
17. No, not Beetee....
18. PEETA.
19. I knew I liked you, Plutarch.
20. Oh, Beetee.
21. Gale.
22. HER. FACE.

These stories are sad. And I know they're not hopeless in the end, but the whole situation is so dark and rough that it feels hopeless.

I've wondered if I'm taking them too seriously. But isn't that what Suzanne Collins intended? For us to think about what humanity is capable of? I don't know. I'm waiting to watch Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2 and read the books before I come to a sincere conclusion, but at this point, I feel like I need a security blanket.

Which, for this particular evening, was X-Men: Days of Future Past. Because nobody dies in that one, haha. And my favorite Beastie boy is alive. And Wolverine gets his Jean back.

*rebuilds bubble of happiness*