The Hunger Games - Book

So, back in '10 I saw The Hunger Games at the library and put it on my list of books to read.  But I had about 20 other books on the list, so it was pretty far down on the bottom.  Then more and more people I know started reading it, and then I found out it was being made into a movie, so I figured I should probably bump it up a couple notches on the list so I would know what all these people are talking about. So I went and checked it out of the library, and spent all day one Wednesday reading it.  I couldn't put it down.

***SPOILER ALERT*** I will be discussing things that happen in the book that may give away certain plot points, so if you don't want to know, stop now.

The Hunger Games is a well written book and to be completely honest I enjoyed it very much, but it was also rather disturbing.  The government takes
a bunch of kids, throws them into an arena and has them fight to the death on television and the whole country is forced to watch.  If you've read the books or watched the movie, detach yourself from the fact that the books are very well written and interesting and that the movie was pretty faithful and well made and think about that premise for a minute.  A group of

Ella Enchanted

Supposedly based on a book of the same name by Gail Carson Levine, this whimsical romantic comedy is a delight to watch. But, before all of the Levine fans get excited, let's clarify one thing. The ONLY things this the movie has in common with the book is (1) Names and (2) the fact that Ella has the "gift" of having no choice but to obey. Other than that, there is no comparison. The stories are SO different. If you read the book first and loved it, you will probably hate the movie, unless you can accept the fact that it is nothing like the book.
The story gets a 4. I thought it was very original, but I did like the book better.
How well its made gets a 5. It was well made.
Language gets 1. There wasn't any.
Sexual content gets a 2. There was some kissing and a couple of girls who were ridiculously enamored with Prince Char.
Violence gets 2. There was some random slap-stick violence that was more comedy than painful.
Overall, I'm giving this movie a 5. It was a fun, family friendly video.