QWhat are the differences between the British BBFC 12 Version and the Uncensored Version?
ADespite the book being aimed at a rather young audience, it does contain a few scenes of violence, which were worrying the producers even before the filming had started. Keeping the scenes true to the book would have meant receiving the R-Rating, but of course this was supposed to be a movie for the PG-13 viewer. Therefore, the scenes were softened and The Hunger Games was rated PG-13 for intense violent thematic material and disturbing images - all involving teens. The British branch of Lionsgate had similar problems, they were aiming for the BBFC12A rating. In order to get the rating, it was decided that the movie was to be censored. Accordingly, a rough cut was given to the BBFC so they could say which alterations they wanted made in return for the lower rating. These included cuts and the digital removal of some blood. However, the first cut version that was created to meet these limitations was still rejected and The Hunger Games did not get the BBFC12A rating before a few more cuts were added. On DVD the movie was released in a censored version with a BBFC 12 rating, whereas the Blu-ray features the uncensored version with a BBFC 15 rating. In comparison 14 alterations can be found and a detailed comparison between both versions with pictures can be found here.
QWhat are the fates of the characters?
AThe following answers apply only to the HUNGER GAMES movie and ignore what happens to surviving characters in the book sequels.Katniss: Survives to the very end, nearly commits suicide, but is stopped by the capitol. Returns home with Peeta.Peeta: Survives to the very end, almost commits suicide, but is stopped by the capitol. He returns home with Katniss.Glimmer: Stung to death when Katniss drops a trackerjacker nest in front of her group.Marvel: Attempts to throw a spear at Katniss, who ducks, only for the spear to hit Rue. Katniss immediately shoots Marvel with one of her arrows and kills him instantly.Rue: Stabbed by Marvel's spear.Clove: Attacks Katniss when she tries to get Peeta's medicine. She starts to gain the upper hand but after a few remarks about killing Rue she is attacked by Thresh, who beats her to death against the wall of the cornucopia.Foxface: Unknowingly eats a few poisonous Nightlock berries mistakenly picked by Peeta and dies quickly as a result.Thresh: Presumably killed by mutant killer dogs added to the game area by the capitol.Cato: Makes it to the very end of the game, attempts to use Peeta as a human shield. Katniss shoots him in the hand and he falls off the cornucopia where he is attacked by the mutant dogs. Katniss shoots him one more time to put him out of his misery.Seneca Crane is locked in an empty room with a bowl holding the Nightlock berries that Katniss and Peeta threatened to swallow together. Presumably, Seneca is forced to commit suicide by swallowing the berries, as punishment for failure to "contain" the growing hope spread among the colonies by Katniss and Peeta's struggle.
His fate very closely mirrors the Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger, who was condemned to suicide by blood loss.
QWhy would anyone volunteer to be in the Hunger Games, or even make a career out of being a tribute?
AThe movie briefly touches upon the motivation of some people to become a Career and to volunteer as tribute during the introduction movie played at the Reaping. President Snow mentions that the victor of each Hunger Game is 'bathed in riches' as a reminder of the Capitol's generosity and forgiveness. Since the Districts live in varying degrees of poverty, winning the Games is the fastest (albeit a dangerous) way to obtain personal riches. If one trains for the Games an entire childhood, the odds of winning can increase substantially. The book goes into even greater detail about this. The winner gets medical treatment to recover from the wounds received during the Games. Upon return to his or her District, the victor gets to live in the 'Victor's Village', an area with luxurious villas with hot water. Even more, all the families in the victor's District receive additional food and products for an entire year. So winning is not only good for personal gain, the entire District benefits from it as well, giving the tributes an extra incentive. Most Careers are from District 1, 2 and 4, and are frequent winners of the Games, which may explain why those areas are among the wealthiest of Districts within Panem (Katniss' District 12 has very few past winners and is amongst the poorest). Furthermore, where most tributes are unwilling candidates, some Districts actually pride themselves on being frequent winners, which has likely started a tradition of young people becoming Careers, expected to bring more glory (and luxuries) to their District, despite the risks. Cato, the male District 2 tribute, mentions briefly that killing and bringing pride to his District is all he knows to do.
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