It’s only a few days away – the premiere of The Hunger Games. The much hyper-film premieres Friday and has sparked debates between diehard Twilight Saga fans and those who swear by the power of Katniss Everdeen.
Which side are you on? Or are you so over the whole two guys and a girl and a book series turned multi-movie deal thing? We asked the collegiettes at Her Campus, and here’s what they told us!
And don’t forget to let us know YOUR opinion, by leaving a comment below!
I love both, but I’m leaning more towards Hunger Games simply because it seems like there’s more substance and action. The Hunger Games is also something original, whereas vampires are being re-done and re-done to death, no pun intended!
– Serena Piper, Campus Correspondent, University of Oregon
I am team Hunger Games because they are well-written, exciting books about a dystopian world that encourages personal strength, morals and the importance of friendship, rather than the importance of having a boyfriend.
– Kayla Riley, Contributing Writer, University of Maine
Team Hunger Games! I liked the Twilight books, but refuse to see any of the movies. I fell in love with the Hunger Games instantly, and finished all three books within four days (the first book took me two days to read; the others, I finished in a day). The character of Katniss is someone I respect — for going through everything she has, going through everything she knows that lies ahead of her, and never sacrificing herself completely. She’s also very blunt, honest, brash, and stubborn — qualities that I relate to 100 percent, for better or worse. Twilight told a good story, but The Hunger Games has so much more to it than just a war story, or just a love story. It has everything I love in a book, and I can’t tear myself away from the books, no matter how many times I read them!
– Erin Nemeth, Contributing Writer, Quinnipiac University
HUNGER GAMES!!! Because Katniss is a badass, multi-dimensional character with likable qualities unlike Bella, who does essentially nothing, is not friendly, always needs a man to protect her and spiraled into a deep dramatic depression after her obsessive boyfriend left her. Please. I love Twilight and Edward Cullen is my man but let’s be real Hunger Games are way better as a series because of the strength in Katniss’s character and even though there’s the same love triangle, in this one you can actually understand why both guys like the girl.
– Shelby Carignan, Contributing Writer, Boston University
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I’m team Twilight. I’ve never read the Hunger Games books even though my friends swear by them. I have however, seen all of the Twilight movies and read all of the books. The movies are too fun to go to with friends and my little sis, whether they take it seriously or we spend the whole time mocking them. We just have fun with it!
– Sydney Nolan, Contributing Writer, University of Missouri-Columbia
Although I can dig a good romance-based story, I have to go Team Hunger Games on this one. The concept is just too unique and intriguing to not win here. Tons of spin-offs/copy-cats could be made in the “vampire” genre, but The Hunger Games would be incredibly difficult to copy. Not to mention, I managed to space out my reading of Twilight whereas I finished all of the Hunger Games books in a few days.
– Brooker Hofer, Contributing Writer, University of Missouri
Um… Neither. I think both are overrated, though I guess I see the merit they have for their target audience (which is a lot younger than the majority of its ACTUAL audience). Can I choose Harry Potter instead?
– Alicia Thomas, Contributing Writer, Penn State
I love them both, but for different reasons! It’s like comparing apples and oranges. With Twilight, it’s all about the love story, there is a focus on Bella becoming more comfortable with herself but all it’s actually about it Bella/Edward action. With Hunger Games, it’s an epic battle between Katniss and the evil government trying to control an impoverished nation. It’s much more intense and complicated than Twilight.
– Jessica Salerno, Contributing Writer, Ohio University
I never got into Twilight because I just didn’t play into the whole “vampire” rage. It doesn’t seem like it’s about the book, but more about the book as a trend — and which star is going to play the main character in the movie. And now, as much as I’m almost buying the hype surrounding The Hunger Games, it kind of turns me off and prevents me from reading them. I don’t doubt I’d enjoy them if I gave them a chance, but there are other books I have on my list that are going to have to come before these trendy ones.
– Lauren Kaplan, Contributing Writer, Emory University
To be completely honest, I have very little opinion on either. What does fascinate me most about each series, however, is the nature of their genres. It’s such a mark of our time and culture that these two literary series that have succeeded so ubiquitously as to be turned into entire franchises that are, in fact, targeted at a pre-teen demographic, though read by all ages. People absolutely devour these series! — but many have never read something by Hemingway.
– Kristen Pye, Contributing Writer, McGill University
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Team Hunger Games! I tried reading the Twilight series, but The Hunger Games is much more addictive. Also Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson? Is there really a competition?!
– Kelsey Mulvey, Contributing Writer, Boston University
I’ve never been a fan of Twilight. Like NEVER. There’s so much about Twilight that I can’t stand, because I think it teaches younger girls to accept abuse and abandonment (both of which Edward does to Bella). As for The Hunger Games, I’ve never read the books so I guess I can’t honestly give an opinion. I‘m not really Team Hunger Games OR Team Twilight. Is there a Team Harry Potter option? ;)
– Alexandra Churchill, Editorial Intern, University of New Hampshire
I’m a Hunger Games lover! Both book series were great, but I have a feeling that The Hunger Games movie may be a bit more on par with the books than Twilight was. I love the actors that were chosen for the roles and I am literally counting down the days until the movie comes out!
– Jenni Whalen, Editorial Intern, Bucknell University
Hunger Games! Obviously, they’re better written. Also, I like that Katniss actually has a personality (unlike Bella) and she’s just all around more of a badass than Bella. I like that Hunger Games are kind of futuristic/dystopian without being TOO far out. I mean, this kind of stuff could potentially happen one day! It’s crazy to think about.
– Mary Beth Hills, Contributing Writer, Aquinas College
HUNGER GAMES! All the way. Although I was an avid Twilight lover at first, I came to realize that what I liked was the plot, but not the way that the books were written. Stephanie Meyer showcases little to no talent in the way that she wrote the books, I feel that she had a lot of material and good ideas to go off of, and she stopped short.
Suzanne Collins, on the other hand, took her material and not only ran with it, but flew. I haven’t had books draw me in this well since Harry Potter! I LITERALLY could not put the books down. Katniss is a true heroine for young readers to look up to, because she showcases bravery, respect, and love, while all that Bella does is sulk around waiting for her vampire to save her… again. Katniss is so willing to protect those she cares for that she not only willingly steps into a vicious arena, but from that moment on, grows way beyond the years of her 16-year-old self.
– Julia Kennedy, Campus Correspondent, University of Portland