Hunger Games - Berthoud,CO

I have read all the books, more than once! My daughter is only 3 so this isn't an issue for me yet. I, however, and super excited to see it! And I never get excited about movies!

My eldest read it when he was 10 and he will be seeing the movie with his friends as his birthday party. All the kids have read it in his class with the approval of their teachers (he goes to a fairly conservative Catholic school). It is violent, but it also sparks very intelligent discussion about a lot of important issues....so I vote yes for 13 and up seeing the movie.

I'm thankful my son's only 2 and I don't have to agonize about whether to let him see it or not. I just read the first book though and can't wait for the movie for myself!! Team Peeta! :oP

Of course it's PG13, the book is is a young adult novel, meaning it was written for ages 13 to 17.
I read it, my daughter (almost 13) is reading it now, it's a great story. Strong, independent, courageous female lead fighting for survival in a very difficult and dangerous environment.
There's a bit of romance but it's not at all the center of the story which is nice for a change.
It really gets kids thinking about big issues, how much control should the government have over our lives? What role does the media really play in forming our opinions? What would you be willing to risk if your family lived a life of complete and total oppression?
Why WOULDN'T you want your teen (or even mature tween) to see it? We can't wait! Go Katniss!!!

It's one of the most haunting and disturbing books that I've ever read, but I think it reads differently to teens than it does to parents. I think that much of the horror for us is the premise, not the actual game, which is no more violent than many other books and movies. I know that when I was reading it, I found the first part the most haunting but the rest of the book was not as disturbing. Anyway...no I'm not surprised that it's PG-13 and yes my two oldest, 13 and 14, will be seeing it.

I have the read the books and thought they were fanstatic. I absolutely would expect a PG-13 rating for these. For the theme and the violence. My kids are way to young (4 and 19mths) to watch it but if they were in the 13ish range (plus or minus a couple years) and were mature enough to understand the concepts and have a discussion I abolutely would allow they to watch the movie. I think this is a great opportunity to have some great conversations with your kids about goverment, personal rights, etc. I would much rather them watch this PG-13 movie because its very thought provoking as opposed to one with stupid potty humor.

Hunger Games is a young adult series, so an R rating would mean it missed its target demographic.
My kids are 1 and 4, so won't be going, but I will be, and I would be fine taking older children who had read the book.

I LOVED the books and cannot wait for the movie! Their target audience forced their hand on the rating, but how would you expect the movie to be made without graphic violence? The book is full of graphic violence! It's a violent story. I would be infuriated if they completely whitewashed all of it - it would ruin the story! I would have no problem taking 9 or 10 year olds on up or letting them read the books. I know several people whose kids are 8-10 and have read them. I would have read them at that age. My boys are only 3 and 6, so we're not there yet.

I think the violence serves as a great conversation point and learning opportunity. You can't really compare it with "Saw" where the violence is gratuitous and basically IS the movie. In "Hunger Games" the violence is an integral part of the plot - but not the whole plot.

I have read all the book and LOVED them. I cannot wait to see the movies!! My kids are 4 and 1 so obviously they will not be going. I am kind of torn on the PG-13 rating because I know the books were written for the teenager age group but the subject matter is kind of tough. HOWEVER, I read Lord of the Flies when I was in that age group and watched the movie in some class and it was not easy subject matter either and I was fine.

I loved the books and don't know why you would be shocked it is PG-13. It's a ya/teen book, obviously the blood and violence can be edited for the screen, just like in Lord of the Rings/Star Wars/Twilight... other movies with battles in them. I am definitely planning on seeing it, but my children are too young (only 6 and 4). I would take them if they were preteens, but I would have to screen it first.

*really, 13 year olds are reading Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations in school. So, I don't think the content in Hunger Games is any worse than those social issues.

*The difference between Saw and this movie, is Saw shows strong, graphic gore and torture at length, in The Hunger Games, some is shown, but not as bloody/gorey and much of it is implied. As for the IMDB ratings, those are user based, so Saw has a 7.7 for a 'gore movie' based on fan ratings, and Hunger Games has a 9.7 rating, by fans who haven't even seen the movie yet. The two movies are uncomparable gore and violence wise.

After hearing aIl the fuss I just finished "Hunger Games" but I have not read the rest of the series.

It is one of the few books, in recent memory, that I read virtually start-to-finish. I could not put it down.

It is dystopian fiction, with a very sad state of affairs. But the story is excellent. If your kids could read and enjoy "1984" they'd probably love "Hunger Games."

That being said, I think it would either be too intense or go over the heads of most little kids (below the age of 8-9?). It really depends on the child too. You know your child best.

I would think the PG-13 rating is for violence.

I read the book and the rating sounds right to me. However, without seeing the movie it's hard to know just how violent they will go. Remember, kids usually understand violence isn't real in a movie. Sex, on the other hand, is usually real. In Hunger Games there really wasn't anything past kissing... if I remember correctly.

The whole idea of the movie is too adult for most children, even without the violence.

The books are written for teens. The premise of these books are that children ages 12-18 are sent to an arena to fight to the death. Only one child can live. So there is definitely death and blood and some gore involved. My children are young but I wouldn't take anyone younger than 13 to it. But with that being said I LOVE the series and I'm definitely going to go see it myself.

LOVE the book, I read that and the next one, Catching Fire. I have been waiting a week for the third one, Mockingjay from my local library and it is just available, I found out this morning. I'm going to get it this afternoon. My hubby and I both love the series, although it is "easy reading" and definitely for young adults. PG 13 seems appropriate to me, depending on how they do it in the movie.

If this movie is as intense and violent as the books, then the rating is WAY too low. I agree with you. I've read the books and cannot see how they can rate it so low if they actually follow the storyline.

I was looking for a new book and the summary alone for this series made me crinkle my nose. Seemed very dark and mean-spirited/disturbing, but I haven't read it so maybe there's some uplifting value that didn't come across in the story plot summary. Would never let my children see it. Kids killing kids??? No.

I know the general premise, but haven't read it yet. I am reading it for book club in a few months. My 12-year-old read it and really enjoyed it, although that seems like a strange word to describe it given the premise. I will allow him to see the movie, but I am going to try to get my husband or someone else to take him. I want to read the book first and I'm not sure I want to see the movie. I don't think I would let anyone younger than middle school read it or see it. One of my son's middle school speech coaches read it at his suggestion and thinks it has some very valuable themes for middle school kids. She is actually planning to do a read aloud of it with her English as a second language learner students.

I will not let my children see as they are almost 7 and 4. If they were older then yes I would. PG-13 I think is the correct rating for a movie like this.

I read all the books last spring/summer. I am still undecided if I am going to take the plunge to see the movie myself. Just because I am not a fan of books to movies.

As I said be before though we minimally censor books, movies in our house. Not that we don't but we do watch a lot of movies as a family and they are not all G rated.

I am such a sponge. Things that I see, hear, and most especially what I read become part of me. They change me. Because of that, I'm fairly careful what I let in and definately what I let into my kids. This isn't making it past my squimish filter.

My boy is only 5 (although he'll be 6 in less than a month) so there is NO WAY I would allow him to see it! Considering the main storyline, I can't imagine that any parent would drop off their 13 yo and let it go at that. I realize that they are Young Adult books and that there are plenty of young adults that could handle it. But there were some awfully big issues addressed in the books, issues that would make me seriously uncomfortable if my child went without me!

My daughter has read the series and loves it! She is 14 yrs old. She wants to see the movie and of course i will let her. She said that she read in People mag that the reason for that rating is due to the violence and some of the language. Not like she doesnt already hear that at school. I personally have not read the books or will watch the movie. I am a Twilighter! LOL

My kids are too little but I think it's going to be a great movie - and I usually shy away from the whole book to movie thing - I'm always disappointed. However - with this series the entire time I was reading it I kept thinking "this would be a great movie" - lol - we'll see!

I have not read all of your other responses. However, I read the books and thought that they were really good. I would not allow my 10-year-old daughter to read the books because of the amount of violence contained in them.

None of us will be seeing the movie. Personally I think that the books are meant more for a teenage and above audience and same with the movie.

However, I know of a couple of people who have allowed their 10 year olds to read the books, and those same kids are VERY excited to see the movie. - just not something that I would ever do

PG-13 sounds about right given that it is a book for young adults and teens (and 40-something moms...). I read all three and loved them. Violent, yes, but it's not gratuitous and prolonged violence (like in Saw).

If I had a particularly mature 10-12 yo, I would consider taking them if they had read the books, and if we had talked about the content. The book theme is really ripe for discussion.

But I have a 2 and 5yo, so they won't be seeing it. I'll have to see it without them.

love, love, love that this series is commanding so much attention from tweens, teens, young adults, & adults! Not many series can claim that fame. Both of my sons (15 & 24) have read the series, & now I am. My 15yo read them 2 years ago.....& my older son just finished the series. He picked them up based on his brother's recommendation.

I am on the 2nd book. The 1st was read beginning to end. I reacted very different to the dystopian theme....more so than my 15yo son. He loved the theme of districts & what the USA could be "after". He thought the author was bold in her topics. Interesting comments coming from someone who read them at age 13-14!

For me, the thought of living that life is very bleak. I felt the same way when I read "Life as We Knew It"....another "aftermath" tween book - again recommended by my 15yo! But....honestly....I would rather read any of these books over having to read another tween vampire/urban fantasy novel (well, other than Kim Harrison's! - which I consider adult material).

Moving on, PG13 feels about right. The brutality in the book has to be brought to the screen. & the only way it will fly is with that rating....if they want the tween audience in the theater.

I am looking forward to seeing it with both sons!

My husband and I are reading the series (almost done with the second book), and we love them. The target demographic is teens/tweens, similar to the Twilight series. I read in a newspaper article a couple of weeks ago that this "dystopian teen" theme is the new big thing after the vampire and zombie craze is finally dying down. The books are kind of violent, but it's the idea of it all that is the most disturbing, and the part that can't be changed. There are some good lessons to be learned in them, though. We are really looking forward to the movies.

I LOVED the books and I seriously doubt I will go watch the movie.

As far as taking children to it, that would depend on their ages. Mine are 7 and 3, so no.

It's probably PG-13 for violence, I would imagine.

I've seen all the hype & have no clue what it's about!! Looking forward to reading all your posts!!

My children aren't allowed to watch something before I and/or my husband have watched it first. (We learned the hard way on that after seeing even some G-rated movies were crossing the line.) PG-13 doesn't necessarily mean we won't allow them tho watch it... We may allow them to watch and prepare to explain certain thematic elements or skip those parts. Or we may allow our older child/ren to watch, but not the younger ones. It just depends on what's happening. I plan to see The Hunger Games and am hoping it's okay for my 9 year old son to see. He loves those types of action/adventure movies and really wants to see that one. I don't think it will be any more violent than The Chronicles of Narnia movies and my kids have watched all three of those with no problem. :)

I have read the first book and can't wait to get my hands on the 2nd and 3rd. My kids are too young to read the books and see the movies but hubby and I will be seeing it. That being said, my friend's 10 (almost 11) year old daughter is reading it in school....I was surprised by that but also thought it was kind of cool! So if I were reading it in school but then my parents said I could not see it because of the rating, I'd be bummed big time!

The books were AMAZING! I am not sure the movie will be all the hype its being made out to be. Maybe it's just me but who they picked I just dont see for the characters. Like Haymitch, Woody Harrelson??? Really?? And Lenny Kravitz isnt who I pictured for Cinna either. Nor Gale. Although Peeta looks like I thought.

I wish they would have done a better job with casting. Either way if the movie is great, or it bombs the books will always be the best I've ever read!