Comments on: The Hunger Games; Hopefully NOT Battle Royale Lite

By: rex

rex — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:25:41 +0000

Wonder if Battle Royale was American book, then everybody will shout for plagiarism.

I cannot accept arguments like “BR is for adults, HG is for teens, so they are different..” or “BR is violent, while HG is not, so not plagiarism”..

Hell yeah.. As a kid I have a colorful storybook of Adam and Eve, with Eve having no nipples and they never have sex. It is still a Bible story regardless of their audience and their exposure to sex and violent scene.

In plagiarism, we compare ideas, not the way they told the story or to whom they told the story.

Also, I really hate those who consider all violent stories are cheap. Yes, I agree that merely violent stories are probably the cheapest. But there are violent stories that has something more than violence. Violence are just ‘spices’ in those stories, just like romance, emotional, etc.

So here is the equation:
BR: main story + violent
HG: main story + emotional aspect

now change
‘main story’ into ‘french fries’, ‘violent’ into ‘mustard’ and ‘emotional aspect’ into ‘tomato sauce’.

And there are still people who say “hey, they are different food (book). This one got tomato sauce, that one got mustard”.

All story have already been told? what the.. there must be the first one who tell the story..

By: Marina Antunes

Marina Antunes — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 22:46:00 +0000

@Karmela – I kind of disagree with that. You’re right, they’re very different in tone and their audiences are also different but at their core, I think both THE HUNGER GAMES and BATTLE ROYALE are getting at some of the same key points – including issues of loyalty and trust. BR just tends to be marked as a “gore fest” because the action is so prominent but there’s more to it than just cool kills.

By: Karmela

Karmela — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 22:31:03 +0000

You CANNOT compare the Battle Royale movie to The Hunger Games book because the movie WAS just a gore fest. The book, on the other hand, explored issues involving trust, how quickly people go, or don’t go, towards murder and things of that nature.

I prefer Battle Royale, but that’s because I found Battle Royale to be for a more mature audience (AKA: NOT the young adult audience The Hunger Games goes for). They may have a similar underlying plot, but overall they are very different books.

By: Randy

Randy — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:12:13 +0000

I think that Justin Bieber should play Peeta and andriane eleni rellou should play Katniss.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:20:03 +0000

I read BATTLE ROYAL (the english translation) and dug it. It’s pretty darn similar to the film, baring 2-3 scenes. Enjoyable novel.

By: Shannon the Movie Moxie

Shannon the Movie Moxie — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:07:24 +0000

I finally got to read Hunger Games and flew right through it, totally enjoyed it – weird to read something so harsh even though it’s geared to a YA audience. Looking forward to seeing what they do with the film.

By: Marina

Marina — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:14:42 +0000

@Shelby – I tried to read Battle Royale and only managed to get 25 pages in before giving up. Definitely not the same though it may have something to do with the translation.

By: Shelby

Shelby — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:30:28 +0000

It seems like I have to read Battle Royale, but Hunger Games was amazing! I have nothing but praise for the book, and I cannot wait for the movie. I really hope they take their time and really get into Katnis’s head.

By: Marina Antunes

Marina Antunes — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:29:46 +0000

You’re absolutely right Joe – I haven’t read the book (though it will soon be on the TBR pile) so I was referring to the film alone. Obviously there are some similarities between the two films but I also think that if adapted correctly, it can be its own thing and NOT BRL. Here’s hoping at least.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:42:43 +0000

I thought The Hunger Games was totally Battle Royale Lite! It had a very similar plot and and it focused around two people pulling together to get themselves through like the 3 from Battle Royale. Also there is no equivalent to Kazuo Kiriyama who is the most disturbing pschopath in literature since Hannibal Lector.

The way you referenced Battle Royale made me think you were commenting on the movie version which was far far inferior to Battle Royale the book. Plus BR the book gives you a handy checklist at the front so you can cross of the students who don’t quite make it.

By: Marina Antunes

Marina Antunes — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:14:46 +0000

It’ll be interesting to see how they proceed since the book ends on a cliffhanger. It works as a stand alone but definitely leaves you wanting more. That ending would be perfect for a film adaptation; if they have the guts to go that route.

By: Shannon the Movie Moxie

Shannon the Movie Moxie — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:33:51 +0000

Sounds like it has potential, although I don’t have much more to add as the book it totally on my ‘to read’ list, and Battle Royale is on my ‘to see’ list.