To answer some questions:
For example, why are kids forced to fight to the death and not adults?
[BLACKOUT]It is the Capitols punishment to the districts for them losing the war. It keeps the districts in line and stops them from revolting again.[/BLACKOUT]
I realize that part, as that was somewhat explained in the movie. What I don't understand is how the people in Capitol City don't find the whole practice totally sick.
Besides, wouldn't it be just as effective and more entertaining to choose young adults (18 to 21 year olds)?
With the luck of the draw, you could have (and in the movie, did have) total mismatches with 12 year olds trying to take on 18 year olds.
[BLACKOUT]Yes and it has happened before[/BLACKOUT]
But what's the point? It's like when WWE/WWF wrestling programs used to show an hour of squash jobs between Superstars and Jobbers. Gets really dull really quick.
Why do Districts 1 & 2 get to have special training academies for their sacrifices, while everyone else has to get trained when they reach the capitol? What makes these regions so damned special that they get to have both a training AND an age advantage over everyone else?
[BLACKOUT]When you win the Hunger games you win food for your district. District 1 and 2 support the Capitol to gain favor. Also they have no actual age advantage as anyone can ask to take someone else's place. People in those districts just wait til they are 18 to do so for optimum advantage.
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The part about the districts gaining food & favor for winning should have been included in the movie. There was a vague mention of winning "wealth and glory", but little elaboration on that part. And there was no mention at all of Districts 1 & 2 supporting Capitol City.
While they did make it clear in the movie that anyone could volunteer to take another's place, they also say that Districts 1 & 2 do so EVERY year (and then only after having studied martial and survival skills from the age of 5). That not only gives them a training advantage, but also a garanteed size and strength advantage over younger sacrifices. Why don't other Districts get the same advantage? Sure, the older kids can volunteer in other districts too, but they still lack years of training.
What's the point of winning? You fight and kill 23 other kids, just to go home and continue to live in poverty? The winners should be allowed to move themselves and their families into the capitol city or SOMETHING.
[BLACKOUT]When you win you get to live in the best part of the District and pretty much get enough money for food for life for your family.[/BLACKOUT]
That part should have been made more clear in the movie. As I said before, they made a vague mention of the winners gaining "wealth and glory". But then they mentioned that the kids would be "living in luxury while they're in Capitol City, but only temporarily".
And are the rest of the winners families exempt from participating in future draws? Seems to me, that would be a major motivating factor for the participants. Especially those with younger siblings.