1. A Riot Instead Of Bread
After Rue is killed in the arena, District 11 begins to riot. However, they dont send any bread to Katniss, thanking her for helping Rue. In the novel, each district has distinct loaves of bread, so sending some of their own to Katniss was a gesture of good faith and unity amongst the Districts. The riot is a similar rejection of Capitol, but it lacks the unity the bread suggests. As a result, it appears to be an isolated incident, easily contained and rolled over by Capitol. It may not be an isolated incident, but the bread could have asserted a more powerful and dynamic rebellion. The film makers sacrifice a symbol that makes frequent reappearances in the trilogy. The different breads throughout the Districts demonstrate their unique qualities through a common staple. They may be different, but they all survive on this basic product. Sending bread to Katniss in this novel, as well as later in the trilogy, inspires Katniss and the tributes to rise (evenly, of course) against their common enemy. Im sure most of us are going to be catching the next instalment in this trilogy. The first Hunger Games was alright, but these mistakes suggest the film makers, including Suzanne Collins, arent putting enough thought into the films. However, its not the film that suffers from these mistakes. The novels provided a compelling story which the filmmakers seem to dismiss. Statements surrounding identity, politics, and rebellion are lost in the action. I hope the filmmakers pull back and adjust their aim, because right now, theyre soaring at the box office, but are putting the integrity of the novel in the trash.
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