The Hunger Games, released just over a week ago, turned out to be a surprising delight.

Upon first glance, The Hunger Games seems not to hold much promise for the non-teen viewer. It is based upon a series of books aimed at a teen or pre-teen audience, and, unlike the Harry Potter series, it wasn't until after the film came to dominate the box office that the adult world took notice of the story.

Also, the first previews of the movies seemed to show it as a pointless American rehash of the Japanese cult favorite Battle Royale. In games, teens from around "the districts" are taken, two from each area, to compete in a strange competition staged for a sadistic population. The teens, 24 in all, fight to the death, until only one remains standing. This one is the victor.