The Hunger Games is just yet another example of why I should go into a media blackout as soon as I start enjoying something popular. I saw the movie last weekend. It was a tight action film that let its actors and director of photography tell the story rather than CGI and other action set-pieces. Anything about the story that seemed outlandish or improbable was quickly over-shadowed by the depth and dimension of the characters. I liked this film, and with it’s $155m box office gross, I thought I could go to the internet and have my experience validated. Like an idiot.

I know no film can possibly win over every critic, but the hype behind this film just brought every crazy out of the woodwork. First there were the reviewers who think Jennifer Lawrence is too fat to play a starving person. Are you kidding me?! This is further proof that heterosexual men have no control over how women are portrayed in the media. I hope to god she doesn’t listen to them, because if Lawrence is presenting at the Oscars, and I  see sternum poking out from that versace dress, I’m going have to choke out some film critics.

Next there was this whole rash of tweets flaring disappointment that Rue, an African American character from the book, was black! With the hashtag #sticktothebooksDUDE no less! I was prepared for people snarking that District 11 was the black district or that District 4 was the ginger district, but not this! Thankfully all of the offending twitter accounts were rendered private or removed, proving that there’s some justice against ignorance on the internet.

While these are just the more bizarre examples, I think they all come from the same place. People just want to find fault in everyone’s favourite book/movie/video game just so they can sound like they have more taste than everyone else. It happens with Doctor Who, The Lord of the Rings Movies, Star Wars, every nerd property you can think of. Speaking as a survivor from the era of the Roger Corman Fantastic Four, we are so Goddamned entitled. There is such a glut of entertainment out there, everyone can find what they like. What benefit do you get from pissing in other people’s cornflakes? Or better yet, if you can’t find something you like, create something you like so you can be more like a boon instead of a pox on society!