The disconnect between the book's message and basically anything related to the movies has always baffled me. Did the marketing team willfully ignore the idea that monetizing the suffering of the districts was bad or did they really think that I wanted eye shadow themed after the mines where Katniss's dad died? The in universe Capitol 100% has their own Hunger Games theme park.
In the first book, Katniss mentions how arenas normally get used as tourist destinations where you can participate in re-enactments of the games… so yeah, basically hunger games theme parks. If any of these theme parks decided to create an experience based on an arena it would be ripped right from the capitol lol
Suzanne Collins wrote the Hunger Games because she had a story to tell and a message for her readers. Lionsgate bought the movie rights and made the Hunger Games movie because they saw a popular franchise that could generate profit. This explains most of the disconnect between the book's themes and the marketing, merchandising and such.
I think we are all forgetting this is in China. A country that claims to be for equality and the ideals of communism yet has a ruling class that lives in opulence while much of their population especially in rural areas struggles. The struggles of the rural populations of China compared to the opulence of many of their cities may strike a cord with the people in a way the government wouldn’t like.
they need to go absolutely insane with it in order for it to work. full capitol, luxury, make-overs, glitz, and like, a gladitorial show to go crazy over. and there need to be KIDS in that arena, like teens from the local high school drama club doing extra credit killing each other for the entertainment of guests. you need to be able to bet on these fights. guests need to get so wrapped up in the extreme wealth and glamour and death games to the point that when they're in the shower after they leave the park they have a bit of a crisis about it. like wow i was really screaming for those children to die in that arena while i drank a 10 dollar virgin champagne. THAT'S how u do a hunger games land experience.
What if we adapted this Challenging material to a medium where you’re meant to be challenged? I’m thinking Escape Rooms! Escape the Capitol; Escape the Hunger Games Arena; Escape the District under cover of night.
That could work thematically and me as a fan would probably check that out, But I personally think it would still be wierd to make profit off of this story in that way, because probably escape rooms like this would also exist in the capitol for their entertainment, and it would take away from the criticism of society the story originally has, you know? Of course we do still live in capitalism and more awareness and publicity for the hunger games would help spread the message the story has to more people.
@@charlygestern6556 that depends on what you’re doing in the room. If the point is to escape is to aid the rebellion, say by taking over the post of a captured rebel and uncovering their secret caches so you can use them yourself and feed intel back to the rebellion, then I think it could work. You could also do luxury themed rage rooms where you break the capital’s facades, or a haunted attraction where you go into the underbelly of the capital and experience the mountains of abuse and oceans of blood necessary to keep them on top. This would allow an audience to glimpse the capital for what it is, a gold cap on a rotten tooth
The only thing I can think of is where you're explicitly told you're in a post-capital world during onboarding and that the "theme park" is a historical reenactment of the depravity of the capital. But then you would still have to, y'know, acknowledge the capital is bad.
@@Manakuuchiha yes, that solves the problem-dictatorship issue the other parks land in, and it allows us to access the underserved punk and rebel markets in a brand-safe way.
They should do a bait and switch where when you show up to the theme park it just turns out to be a museum about war crimes, exploitation, and atrocities being committed in the present day
To keep the guests from leaving (cus they don’t want to be confronted with real world problems) they could “hide” the info by camouflaging it to be “things happening in panem “. And when they get to the end it reveals that these things are happening today and isn’t just a fictional problem, this way they get to reflect on what they have just experienced instead of going through it with ignorance
This felt so absolutely unsurprising thinking about how they adapted Squid Games into a game show. Like- The success grows, the money comes a-sniffing. But I think this is a reminder NOT to become numb to this sort of shit, to continue to be a little upset the way capitalism and executives twist anti-capitalism media into a palatable funhouse mirror version of itself for unchallenging consumption.
Exactly this!! The message of Squid Games got completely lost about how fucked entertainment is in society. To use it’s just watching a game and being entertained when in reality it’s not a game at all, kind of like how the capitol’s people watched the hunger games and only saw it as a silly game they can put money into to sponsor people and bet on
The problem isn't capitalism. It's really just an issue of the source material not having an optimistic world that people would want to immerse themselves in. Theme parks are supposed to be inspirational, and it's hard to do that when the source material is inherently cynical. In The Hunger Games, the world is portrayed as an authoritarian dystopia in which the government has complete control over people's lives. There's no freedom of speech or private enterprise in Panem, so it's hard to imagine anyone wanting to visit a place like that. Sure, The Hunger Games still has a bit of optimism with its heroes winning the battle at the end, but that sort of storytelling can't be adapted into a theme park experience where those heroes are absent and the dystopian theme needs to be present in order to be recognizable. If anything, it almost makes me wonder if the American designers behind the theme parks were aware of that and used it to make a subtle statement against the governments of China and the UAE.
13:42 also while we’re at it, in one of the later books, the mockingjay symbol quite literally became a fashion statement. It’s only Plutarch who has his hidden, which implied that he was actually a member of the resistance. So by eating the mockingjay symbol, you’re still a member of the capitol, you’re just a fan of Peeta and Katniss as winners
So much of The Hunger Games tie-ins feel wrong. The theme park is the top of the heap, but I remember cringing at the makeup campaigns during the original films.
As a Hunger Games fan who has been in the fandom since 2010 I think a Capitol inspired experience like the one in China could work with one small addition: an ARG/LARP element, similar to the MagiQuest game at Great Wolf Lodge resorts, in which visitors have the option to "help the rebellion" in various ways through things like message deliveries, hacking minigames/other puzzle solving elements, dropping specific code words to let shopkeepers know you're on the same side, etc. Even the "escape the Capitol" simulator ride could be part of this, because if you remember in Mockingjay there were rebels from the Capitol who did end up having to escape to Thirteen. Effie for instance. So it could be a thing where once you've done enough you get a ticket for that. That would also solve the problem with Universal-inspired "you are a part of this fictional setting" theme park rides that was mentioned in the Flight of Passage video where they always have to thank you for saving the day at the end even though it's a theme park ride and you didn't actually do anything. This would also allow for a greater exposure to the more challenging themes of the source material without making guests feel powerless against it, which I think is the biggest issue with trying to explore these topics through this particular medium- a theme park, being an inherently passively consumed form of art in a lot of ways, has to contend with that if it wants to explore challenging topics.
I did LARPIng as a Resistance spy at Galaxys Edge at the beginning yeah it could work doing undercover missions for Resistance or in this case The Mockingjay Rebellion
LOVE this idea. I'm a huge fan of immersive experiences and interactive theater, and I think a lot of engrossing and powerful stories could be adapted and told through this medium.
The tonal disconnect between films and their tie-ins or theme parks is so wild to me, and yet becoming more and more prevalent. Another not as egregious example of this is how Disney has somehow made the storm troopers the best part of the Star Wars areas at their parks, making them seem like fun lil guys instead of… you know, soldiers with guns? 😅
Also just the plain fact that while movies and books aren’t necessarily written to be purely for profit; they are more often than not first to tell a story and make a point to the audience, theme parks are first and foremost all about profit. Theme parks are completely based on capitalism and therefore often sacrifice the more controversial or dark critiques explored in movies and books for something more sanitized all for the purpose of profit
To be fair, with The Hunger Games I recall even the film promotion being horrible compared to the book. The Capitol-oriented nonsense was already there at that point.
I remember when they tried to do "which distrcit are you from" personality quizzes when the first movie came out, kinda like the Hogwarts house quizzes. Except the districts werent divided based on personality, but their industrial resources. So the quizzes were basically "which brutally oppressed starving slave colony do YOU belong in??", which wasnt nearly as fun because, unlike most of Harry Potter, Hunger Games has an actual fucking message and themes.
All of the Hunger Games promotions make me feel like nobody involved even read the books Would be super funny to see a district 12 recreation in a park with the gallows and whipping post in the square, or make an activity where you have to hunt illegal game for your starving family and sneak it by the hostile peace keepers, however
Either that or being its located in china of all places, it would be hard to make a rebellion theme for a country that censored a certain event in the past. One wrong move and its jail time for the park's developers/managements.
I really appreciate this video. Ever since Motiongate Dubai opened their Hunger Games Land I have always wondered, why would I want to go to Peeta's bread stand? Why the hell would I want to "travel to the capital" Famously full of the bourgeoisie at the suffering of the poor. Especially when the same thing is starting to play out in the real world with the slow erasure of the middle class. Execs. are so clueless and focused on money. I have thorougly enjoyed watching the Dubai parks fail (while wishing I could visit) because once again execs did not factor in that people CANNOT AFFORD TO GO (in terms of flying there), in the same capacity that American's visit Disney or UK citizens visit Thorpe.
@@melynn_0355 I completely agree. Although I will say late stage capitalism is pretty much a daily cruel death game for many many people. And that it is televised in a variety of non direct ways. I completely agree.
I remember when they came out with nail polish and make up tie ins when I was around twelve. It felt wrong then. I remember none of my friends really wanting to buy it because instead of being a fun way to participate in the film, it felt like we were taking part of the capitol’s exploitation of the characters we identified with. The only characters who would have access to those products would be in the capitol, the only time the characters would need to wear makeup representing their district would be before they fought in. a death game. It was off putting and a misunderstanding of their target demographic.
It would be an interesting twist of irony to have something akin to a Hunger Games themed lazer tag arena, or even a child's play place with fake axe and spear throwing inspired by the training center, as adults sit on the sidelines and watch their kids pretend to train for the death games. This video has given me a lot of ideas! Maybe a walk-through where you begin as a resident of District 12 surrounded by a bustling cast of weary coal miners, and then you reach the end only to turn a corner into a Capitol-inspired section, the catch being that as you enjoy the delights of the Capitol there is the window side of a one-way mirror where you can see into the 12th district as you enjoy luxury. I could imagine that there are ways to adapt this accurately, but I think an important element would be to compartmentalize the district 12 experience and the Capitol experience as two very separate experience where you only get a glimps of the other side.
I was absolutely convinced and terrified that Part 4 was "there's actually a third Hunger Games theme park that actually got things right" when you segued into it.
They actually had one (or something like one) in Las Vegas too! It was more of an exhibition of various outfits and gimmicks from the movie than a true theme attraction but in this one they did take the fascinating thematic plunge and treated us like we were actually tributes in the Hunger Games, complete with an archery training game. Adults and kids alike were participating as families "training" to be put in the death games together. I was admittedly tipsy going through so I don't remember too much about specific parts of how they tackled the contradictory theming but it is notable they've done *something* like it in the US.
OMG Mike you’re at this party too!? Crazy. It’s been so long. What are you drinking?? Hunger games theme park flavored seltzer? nice, nice . you still do that th-? Yeah. Cool. Let’s talk about theme parks again
13:03 "As if this dystopian wasn't bad enough, it seems they're still making Avengers Movies." Don't worry, the next Justice League movie is still in development hell.
Maybe hot take here, but I feel like the China park might have a better incentive to glamorize the oppressive government than accurately depict a rebellion movement.
I love the party framing of these videos. I thought "Oh i'd love someone to get talking to me like this at a party, that's never happened" Then i remember me, years ago, ranting to some poor people at a party about the history of Eurovision and the slow realisation that I am not the party rantEE, I am the party rantER.
I really feel like there has to be SOMETHING aspirational in a given property for it to be adapted well to a theme park. All of the successful theme parks I can think of adapt that kind of thing. Some things just probably shouldn't be theme parks, it's not the right medium. Just like not everything should be adapted to a musical, and not everything should be a video game. Great video, thank you!!
even as a Hunger Games fanatic who loved makeup, the Covergirl tie-in was so ghoulish I was just standing there at the Walgreens with my jaw on the floor.
Honestly in 2024, life increasingly feels like living in a Hunger Games theme park 💀 I do think maybe a hunger games theme park could be possible, but it would end up a lot darker, and less mainstream (so it would never happen lol), more like a thought-provoking interactive thing, like Jubensha or something of the like! The darker themes of the franchise are more relevant than ever
But yes, Panem is just a really weird theme for a place that people are supposed to want to visit on vacation. It's like that scene in "Total Recall" where Arnold's character sees a news report about oppression and unrest on Mars and is like, "Hey honey, why don't we move there?" :D
The ride in the UAE is basically the same plot of Star Tours at the Disney parks, we’re on a tour & then have to escape the villains & join the rebellion on accident in the end
There is no way of salvaging neither park but after Ballad the Dubai one could at least change its show from that... High School Musical 2 thing to the underground country club Lucy Gray played in. Maybe there's even a tribute (lol) band covering her songs.
I thought the title said "why isn't there a hunger games theme park" and was preparing to go on a rant as to why it's a terrible idea You took the words out of my mouth
Id love, love, LOVE to see your take on Dismaland! The anti-disneyland made by Banksy that is depressing and covers themes such as war. An interesting subject in the theme of ‘can a dystopia be fun when depicted in a theme park?’
Here’s an idea: have the guest be people visiting the capitol (so you can have the glamor) but in the details you get the feeling that something may be wrong. Different brands popping up around the victors both alive and dead. Maybe have some faded graffiti of the rebellion on the walls. Let me be uncomfortable dang it
that would be amazing it is such a colorful world with so many theme park possibilities! Morally there would be no problem at all with depicting it, opposed to the hunger games, since it is very clearly a fight between good and bad,, you could even do a "kill al the orks" simulator or stuff like that haha
The entire time I was watching this I was like "how the fuck did they build these parks in these two particular countries?" So I'm glad you addressed it.
While I know a Hunger Games theme park that's accurate to the themes of the books would be recieved very poorly by consumers, I'd actually really love to see what an experience like that would be like
Interesting video! I think you make a couple of great points and I can't really argue with it... But it does make me wonder besides movies and music and books. What other visual mediums would this series work in? VR maybe? Idk. Just a thought
I remember back in the height of the Hunger games' popularity, this meme circulated about how all other fans of franchises would love to go to their respective worlds/ locations (think Hogwarts, Camp Halfblood, Avenger's tower) but the Hunger Games fans were like "...nah, I'm good!". Maybe these companies should have taken more notice of that. None of the hunger games fans were clamouring to go to Panem - in spite of its interesting world building, it is very much a dystopia with aspects uncomfortably similar to our own world. At best, you are emulating the Capitol, forcing the parkgoer to confront their own privellege and role as complacent members of "bad guys" of this world. At worst, you are making a fun attraction about child murder. You can't win.
Fantastic analysis! This property is in the very interesting space where a themed experience could do a lot to immerse you in the themes of the setting, but the nature of themed experiences as entertainment products necessitates avoiding those themes entirely, as you said. Almost feels like it would make a great museum exhibition instead.
I've watched this channel semi-consistently for over a year now, and Mike's work is of the same quality and analytic depth as that of big video essayists on the platform. I could have sworn this channel had at least a hundred thousand subscribers. 7.6k is FAR too little for how consistently great these videos are. Hoping this is the video to finally change that. The algorithm is incredibly unpredictable, but may the odds be ever in your favour.
"I've watched this channel semi-consistently for over a year now" Tell me you're a bot without telling me you're a bot. How do you semi-consistently watch a channel that rarely uploads?
@@ShaCaro Buddy… I’ve been here since there were 3 videos total on this channel. What I meant by “semi-consistently” is that I’ve been watching videos as he uploads them with me taking longer to get to some. You have to be out of your gourd if you think that my poor choice of wording somehow means I’m a bot.
@@dogboyslobberGonna back you in this. I got notified about Mike on the Twilight ride video because the algorithm was suggesting it to anyone who watched Themepark History, Philosophy Tube or Defunctland. I also rolled back through the catalogue that was there at the time to see what Mike's style was. I even straight up told him I thought he was onto something massive here and actually unique. @ShaCaro don't be a f###. This is a channel that deserves way more subs. What does it matter to you how someone supports or doesn't support the channel? Either way, Mike goes forward 🤷🏾♀️
Great video. Vibes are perfect. I love feeling like I’ve snuck off from the main party to listen to you talk about theme park rides. Also that end was so fun.
I’m not even a fan of the franchise but an idea for a theme park surrounding it would be to have sections for each district, the capital, and each game arena. The thing linking the districts to the capital would be more propaganda the closer you get to the capital
Hunger Games theme park: Just go to North Carolina where they filmed the first movie's arena scenes and go off I guess, I lived in that area during filming and one of our swimming spots was blocked off bc they had to do the Peta by the river scene haha
Yeah it’s stuff like these parks that really made me reconsider if I really wanted to work in themed entertainment, as it’s hard to approach from an audience perspective, and I can’t even imagine how I’d approach it as a designer. Great vid!
To me, these parks are trying to capitalize on the wrong parts of the world. Because of that, I agree there are better themed locations (not necessarily a park) where a Hunger Games theme could work.
Great video! I feel like the only way to make this theme park (other than just not making it at all) is to focus on the capitol. Trying to tie in the other districts feels more like “oppression simulator,” which ironically can come off more tone deaf than other iterations. A similar thing happened with Disney Land’s Star Wars “Galactic Starcruiser” experience that had guests cosplay Imperial prisoners (to their credit they shut this attraction down shortly after it seems)
It's amusing how you compared how badly suited Hunger Games is for consumerism compared to how well suited Harry Potter is. I remember a joke about how it seemed like Harry bought all the candy on the Hogwarts Express.
I’m realizing as a poverty struck adult that Harry Potter was written by an author who had or came from money. Also from someone who never experienced trauma cause Harry being yelled and possibly beaten, I’m not sure he’d feel comfortable spending the money or doing half of what he did.
Theme parks get criticized for sanitizing things, but anyplace where people go to celebrate is probably going to do something similar. Let's say you go to an Italian restaurant to celebrate your wedding anniversary. No matter how "authentic" it's supposed to be, you're probably going to expect a more romanticized view of the country, not a museum-like depiction of the reality. Come to think of it, though, there was a local Irish-themed pub that leaned heavily on the romanticized view, but had a placard about Ireland's history of being oppressed...in the men's restroom. And even that felt a bit strange.
Sure, but maybe a theme park based on a story that takes place on a dystopian totalitarian regime that yearly executes teenagers as punishment for rebellion and a form of inducing fear in the population, is probably not the best idea ever
There is a Hunger Games Exhibit in Las Vegas, Nevada that can be used as another sort of case study for how the USA would approach a Hunger Games Theme Park… it’s mainly an exhibit of some of the outfits from the movies but it also has an interactive archery exhibit that teaches the audience how to shoot a bow and arrow. So it sort of acknowledges the games more than the theme parks in the sense that it’s only interactive portion is training for the games
The exhibit in Vegas is perfect. It has props from the movies and outfits that the actors/actresses wore and has a training center where katniss shot her bow in catching fire. Also interactive holograms that tells the story
I'm kinda for a dystopian-based theme park land or ride honestly, just look at what Alton Towers has done for example with the Smiler. I think the main problem here was that it was done with a franchise that made no sense to make into a theme park.
I want one minor change to the Mike lore. Like we legitimately came to party to hear you spout theme park philosophy with a solo cup. 7.74k of us. I'm kinda surprised the corridor has space but hey. If we have to fight for our region of corridor to stay at the party.... welp may the odds be in everyone else's favour. 20:29 it is at that point, I realised, Thorpe Park should have had a crack at a Hunger Games ride. This is their whole schtick
I love how in the books, people of the capital literally go to old hunger games arenas as if they are theme parks. We spent a whole series hating the capitol just turn around and be. The Capitol
I would make 15 rides, one for each district, the capital, and the game. The land would be separated into 15 sections based on which ride is in that area. Each area would have a restaurant and shop that has to do with that area. For example for 12 a bakery and a shop with coal items, or for the game have a cornucopia that has toy weapons and food we see in the arena.
I might be a little biased but I reckon that the Forbidden valley and X sector at Alton towers is probably the closest you can get to a good theme park dystopia. X sector is themed to a top secret government research facility ran by the Ministry of Joy, who create the area’s two rollercoasters Oblivion and the Smiler to “marmalise” the population of the UK and make them feel nothing but Joy. The forbidden valley is themed to a secret branch of the military called the Phalanx who accidentally unearthed an alien called Nemesis before trapping it and performing experiments on both it and its eggs.
I think an interesting semi-parallel to the Chinese Capitol theme park experience is The Great Gatsby. The novel has a pretty clear message that the trappings of excess wealth, the partying, the pursuit of pleasure, is all meaningless and empty. The wealthy characters are horrid people who "smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made." Yet, people throw Gatsby parties all the time. Not just "roaring '20s" - Gatsby specifically. Heck, I'm a high school English teacher and I do a Gatsby party with my AP Lit class after we finish studying the novel, in spite of the fact that we literally just examined the novel and its messages in depth. Why? Because 1) it's fun to pretend to be rich, and 2) the aesthetics are appealing as a theme. I think this is a pretty fair explanation as to why the designers thought guests would enjoy playing dress-up as a Capitol citizen. Let's also not forget the fact that there is fun to be had in taking on the persona of a villain, too. I would argue that rather than being a purely tone-deaf experience which dodges a critical reading of the source material, the Capitol makeover experience allows guests to say "yes, and."
Can't believe I found your channel this early! I know you're gonna have hundreds of thousands of subs one day! Just found your videos today and I love them :) such a clever concept, the party theme
in hindsight, im not surprised they exist. hunger games is an interesting franchise to me, with striking aesthetics and a "gameified" story, but it deconstructs these "cool" things as bad. im not surprised that corporations would look at the admittedly interesting and gorgeous capitol fashion and cuisine and try to portray it as good - because corpos are pretty out of touch.
I am not that surprised about lionsgate making a hunger games theme park land since they already have a saw rollercoaster at thorpe park which i still pinch myself about because it doesn't seem real
Wouldn't you just love to be a fly on the wall throughout the development of these lands. "so there's peacekeepers watching a musical number with One Direction playing. Oh! and Peeta finally got to open his own bakery! (in the capitol)" Amazing video as always Mike!
The disconnect between the book's message and basically anything related to the movies has always baffled me. Did the marketing team willfully ignore the idea that monetizing the suffering of the districts was bad or did they really think that I wanted eye shadow themed after the mines where Katniss's dad died? The in universe Capitol 100% has their own Hunger Games theme park.
"did they really think that I wanted eye shadow themed after the mines where Katniss's dad died"
and I am deceased. like Katniss' Dad
In the first book, Katniss mentions how arenas normally get used as tourist destinations where you can participate in re-enactments of the games… so yeah, basically hunger games theme parks. If any of these theme parks decided to create an experience based on an arena it would be ripped right from the capitol lol
Suzanne Collins wrote the Hunger Games because she had a story to tell and a message for her readers. Lionsgate bought the movie rights and made the Hunger Games movie because they saw a popular franchise that could generate profit. This explains most of the disconnect between the book's themes and the marketing, merchandising and such.
Don't want to starve like the people in District 12? "Get your Fiery Footlong Sriracha Chicken Melt at Subway. Eat fresh."
I think we are all forgetting this is in China. A country that claims to be for equality and the ideals of communism yet has a ruling class that lives in opulence while much of their population especially in rural areas struggles. The struggles of the rural populations of China compared to the opulence of many of their cities may strike a cord with the people in a way the government wouldn’t like.
they need to go absolutely insane with it in order for it to work. full capitol, luxury, make-overs, glitz, and like, a gladitorial show to go crazy over. and there need to be KIDS in that arena, like teens from the local high school drama club doing extra credit killing each other for the entertainment of guests. you need to be able to bet on these fights. guests need to get so wrapped up in the extreme wealth and glamour and death games to the point that when they're in the shower after they leave the park they have a bit of a crisis about it. like wow i was really screaming for those children to die in that arena while i drank a 10 dollar virgin champagne. THAT'S how u do a hunger games land experience.
LMFAO I would actually love that
It just feels like you’re a Capitol citizen who‘s a rabid fan of Katniss and Peeta.
What if we adapted this Challenging material to a medium where you’re meant to be challenged? I’m thinking Escape Rooms! Escape the Capitol; Escape the Hunger Games Arena; Escape the District under cover of night.
That could work thematically and me as a fan would probably check that out, But I personally think it would still be wierd to make profit off of this story in that way, because probably escape rooms like this would also exist in the capitol for their entertainment, and it would take away from the criticism of society the story originally has, you know? Of course we do still live in capitalism and more awareness and publicity for the hunger games would help spread the message the story has to more people.
@@charlygestern6556 that depends on what you’re doing in the room. If the point is to escape is to aid the rebellion, say by taking over the post of a captured rebel and uncovering their secret caches so you can use them yourself and feed intel back to the rebellion, then I think it could work.
You could also do luxury themed rage rooms where you break the capital’s facades, or a haunted attraction where you go into the underbelly of the capital and experience the mountains of abuse and oceans of blood necessary to keep them on top. This would allow an audience to glimpse the capital for what it is, a gold cap on a rotten tooth
The only thing I can think of is where you're explicitly told you're in a post-capital world during onboarding and that the "theme park" is a historical reenactment of the depravity of the capital. But then you would still have to, y'know, acknowledge the capital is bad.
@@Manakuuchiha yes, that solves the problem-dictatorship issue the other parks land in, and it allows us to access the underserved punk and rebel markets in a brand-safe way.
Just say you wanna slain a preteen
They should do a bait and switch where when you show up to the theme park it just turns out to be a museum about war crimes, exploitation, and atrocities being committed in the present day
To keep the guests from leaving (cus they don’t want to be confronted with real world problems) they could “hide” the info by camouflaging it to be “things happening in panem “. And when they get to the end it reveals that these things are happening today and isn’t just a fictional problem, this way they get to reflect on what they have just experienced instead of going through it with ignorance
@alfie947 Unfortunately I don't think China would let them get away with showing the genocide they commit
This felt so absolutely unsurprising thinking about how they adapted Squid Games into a game show. Like- The success grows, the money comes a-sniffing.
But I think this is a reminder NOT to become numb to this sort of shit, to continue to be a little upset the way capitalism and executives twist anti-capitalism media into a palatable funhouse mirror version of itself for unchallenging consumption.
Exactly this!! The message of Squid Games got completely lost about how fucked entertainment is in society. To use it’s just watching a game and being entertained when in reality it’s not a game at all, kind of like how the capitol’s people watched the hunger games and only saw it as a silly game they can put money into to sponsor people and bet on
The problem isn't capitalism. It's really just an issue of the source material not having an optimistic world that people would want to immerse themselves in. Theme parks are supposed to be inspirational, and it's hard to do that when the source material is inherently cynical. In The Hunger Games, the world is portrayed as an authoritarian dystopia in which the government has complete control over people's lives. There's no freedom of speech or private enterprise in Panem, so it's hard to imagine anyone wanting to visit a place like that. Sure, The Hunger Games still has a bit of optimism with its heroes winning the battle at the end, but that sort of storytelling can't be adapted into a theme park experience where those heroes are absent and the dystopian theme needs to be present in order to be recognizable. If anything, it almost makes me wonder if the American designers behind the theme parks were aware of that and used it to make a subtle statement against the governments of China and the UAE.
Capitalism provided you every item you own, and has kept you safe and alive.
13:42 also while we’re at it, in one of the later books, the mockingjay symbol quite literally became a fashion statement. It’s only Plutarch who has his hidden, which implied that he was actually a member of the resistance.
So by eating the mockingjay symbol, you’re still a member of the capitol, you’re just a fan of Peeta and Katniss as winners
Something extremely ironic about the parks being located in China and the UAE.
So much of The Hunger Games tie-ins feel wrong. The theme park is the top of the heap, but I remember cringing at the makeup campaigns during the original films.
"Don't you want to look like the people of The Capitol?! The people killing children?!"
@@PyroGothNerd but they're killing children and serving /j
As a Hunger Games fan who has been in the fandom since 2010 I think a Capitol inspired experience like the one in China could work with one small addition: an ARG/LARP element, similar to the MagiQuest game at Great Wolf Lodge resorts, in which visitors have the option to "help the rebellion" in various ways through things like message deliveries, hacking minigames/other puzzle solving elements, dropping specific code words to let shopkeepers know you're on the same side, etc. Even the "escape the Capitol" simulator ride could be part of this, because if you remember in Mockingjay there were rebels from the Capitol who did end up having to escape to Thirteen. Effie for instance. So it could be a thing where once you've done enough you get a ticket for that. That would also solve the problem with Universal-inspired "you are a part of this fictional setting" theme park rides that was mentioned in the Flight of Passage video where they always have to thank you for saving the day at the end even though it's a theme park ride and you didn't actually do anything.
This would also allow for a greater exposure to the more challenging themes of the source material without making guests feel powerless against it, which I think is the biggest issue with trying to explore these topics through this particular medium- a theme park, being an inherently passively consumed form of art in a lot of ways, has to contend with that if it wants to explore challenging topics.
I did LARPIng as a Resistance spy at Galaxys Edge at the beginning yeah it could work doing undercover missions for Resistance or in this case The Mockingjay Rebellion
LOVE this idea. I'm a huge fan of immersive experiences and interactive theater, and I think a lot of engrossing and powerful stories could be adapted and told through this medium.
The tonal disconnect between films and their tie-ins or theme parks is so wild to me, and yet becoming more and more prevalent. Another not as egregious example of this is how Disney has somehow made the storm troopers the best part of the Star Wars areas at their parks, making them seem like fun lil guys instead of… you know, soldiers with guns? 😅
Also just the plain fact that while movies and books aren’t necessarily written to be purely for profit; they are more often than not first to tell a story and make a point to the audience, theme parks are first and foremost all about profit. Theme parks are completely based on capitalism and therefore often sacrifice the more controversial or dark critiques explored in movies and books for something more sanitized all for the purpose of profit
The stormtroopers arrest the guests and then the guests laugh at them
To be fair, with The Hunger Games I recall even the film promotion being horrible compared to the book. The Capitol-oriented nonsense was already there at that point.
I remember when they tried to do "which distrcit are you from" personality quizzes when the first movie came out, kinda like the Hogwarts house quizzes. Except the districts werent divided based on personality, but their industrial resources. So the quizzes were basically "which brutally oppressed starving slave colony do YOU belong in??", which wasnt nearly as fun because, unlike most of Harry Potter, Hunger Games has an actual fucking message and themes.
Teenagers: Our society is corrupt and needs to change.
Capitalists: Shut up and eat Subway.
Many people make it as their personality or a weird aesthetic but actually don’t give a crap
@@hallooos7585men worship convenience over what will help them live
I do like Subway..
Teenagers: Our society is corrupt and needs to change
Capitalist/Socialist: I bet if you give those corrupt individuals more power it would fix it 😏
They’re wrong anyway.
Running into you at a party would be an absolute dream.
All of the Hunger Games promotions make me feel like nobody involved even read the books
Would be super funny to see a district 12 recreation in a park with the gallows and whipping post in the square, or make an activity where you have to hunt illegal game for your starving family and sneak it by the hostile peace keepers, however
Either that or being its located in china of all places, it would be hard to make a rebellion theme for a country that censored a certain event in the past. One wrong move and its jail time for the park's developers/managements.
I say the best Hunger Games-esque theme park is the one in Katy Perry’s video for “Chained to the Rhythm”
Underrated song, not joking
i find it interesting how the UAE one is essentially "what if the Capitol made a tourist experience in the same style the UAE handles theirs"
I really appreciate this video. Ever since Motiongate Dubai opened their Hunger Games Land I have always wondered, why would I want to go to Peeta's bread stand? Why the hell would I want to "travel to the capital" Famously full of the bourgeoisie at the suffering of the poor. Especially when the same thing is starting to play out in the real world with the slow erasure of the middle class. Execs. are so clueless and focused on money. I have thorougly enjoyed watching the Dubai parks fail (while wishing I could visit) because once again execs did not factor in that people CANNOT AFFORD TO GO (in terms of flying there), in the same capacity that American's visit Disney or UK citizens visit Thorpe.
To me it's kind of like a cruel irony. The world is so so much like The Hunger Games. All we're missing is a yearly death game.
@@melynn_0355 I completely agree. Although I will say late stage capitalism is pretty much a daily cruel death game for many many people. And that it is televised in a variety of non direct ways. I completely agree.
@@cadekerry7772problem is the only people who care to fix that are not the ones with the guns
Also espacially DUBAI feels like it could be the capital!
I remember when they came out with nail polish and make up tie ins when I was around twelve. It felt wrong then. I remember none of my friends really wanting to buy it because instead of being a fun way to participate in the film, it felt like we were taking part of the capitol’s exploitation of the characters we identified with. The only characters who would have access to those products would be in the capitol, the only time the characters would need to wear makeup representing their district would be before they fought in. a death game. It was off putting and a misunderstanding of their target demographic.
It would be an interesting twist of irony to have something akin to a Hunger Games themed lazer tag arena, or even a child's play place with fake axe and spear throwing inspired by the training center, as adults sit on the sidelines and watch their kids pretend to train for the death games. This video has given me a lot of ideas! Maybe a walk-through where you begin as a resident of District 12 surrounded by a bustling cast of weary coal miners, and then you reach the end only to turn a corner into a Capitol-inspired section, the catch being that as you enjoy the delights of the Capitol there is the window side of a one-way mirror where you can see into the 12th district as you enjoy luxury. I could imagine that there are ways to adapt this accurately, but I think an important element would be to compartmentalize the district 12 experience and the Capitol experience as two very separate experience where you only get a glimps of the other side.
I was absolutely convinced and terrified that Part 4 was "there's actually a third Hunger Games theme park that actually got things right" when you segued into it.
Mike is that dude at the party that my husband is stoked about knowing that im probably talking about themeparks or videogame writing.
They actually had one (or something like one) in Las Vegas too! It was more of an exhibition of various outfits and gimmicks from the movie than a true theme attraction but in this one they did take the fascinating thematic plunge and treated us like we were actually tributes in the Hunger Games, complete with an archery training game. Adults and kids alike were participating as families "training" to be put in the death games together. I was admittedly tipsy going through so I don't remember too much about specific parts of how they tackled the contradictory theming but it is notable they've done *something* like it in the US.
OMG Mike you’re at this party too!? Crazy. It’s been so long. What are you drinking?? Hunger games theme park flavored seltzer? nice, nice . you still do that th-? Yeah. Cool. Let’s talk about theme parks again
13:03 "As if this dystopian wasn't bad enough, it seems they're still making Avengers Movies." Don't worry, the next Justice League movie is still in development hell.
Maybe hot take here, but I feel like the China park might have a better incentive to glamorize the oppressive government than accurately depict a rebellion movement.
true but there is an underground resistance movement in china
@@JBTriple8 Even more reason for the theme park to glamorize the oppressive government! 😅
13:46 you can’t just add that clip like is just regular footage lmao. Great video as always!
Absolutely love how when you say it's 30 minutes to taxis, it is in fact exactly 30 minutes until you go to the taxi.
I noticed that too 🤣
Very lucky it ended up being accurate hahaha
I love the party framing of these videos.
I thought "Oh i'd love someone to get talking to me like this at a party, that's never happened"
Then i remember me, years ago, ranting to some poor people at a party about the history of Eurovision and the slow realisation that I am not the party rantEE, I am the party rantER.
Relatable
I really feel like there has to be SOMETHING aspirational in a given property for it to be adapted well to a theme park. All of the successful theme parks I can think of adapt that kind of thing. Some things just probably shouldn't be theme parks, it's not the right medium. Just like not everything should be adapted to a musical, and not everything should be a video game. Great video, thank you!!
The commitment to the bit is outstanding. Great vid as always !
We dont need to build a hunger games theme park, we already have one, its called earth.
Ouch! Sorry... this one was so edgy I cut myself while reading it.
even as a Hunger Games fanatic who loved makeup, the Covergirl tie-in was so ghoulish I was just standing there at the Walgreens with my jaw on the floor.
It’s like when Che shirts were being sold in Target and Walmart
Honestly in 2024, life increasingly feels like living in a Hunger Games theme park 💀
I do think maybe a hunger games theme park could be possible, but it would end up a lot darker, and less mainstream (so it would never happen lol), more like a thought-provoking interactive thing, like Jubensha or something of the like! The darker themes of the franchise are more relevant than ever
Or it could be something like Banksy’s Dismaland
@@tiamysticOh I haven't heard of that before! That definitely matches the vibe I was thinking of
But yes, Panem is just a really weird theme for a place that people are supposed to want to visit on vacation. It's like that scene in "Total Recall" where Arnold's character sees a news report about oppression and unrest on Mars and is like, "Hey honey, why don't we move there?" :D
The ride in the UAE is basically the same plot of Star Tours at the Disney parks, we’re on a tour & then have to escape the villains & join the rebellion on accident in the end
There is no way of salvaging neither park but after Ballad the Dubai one could at least change its show from that... High School Musical 2 thing to the underground country club Lucy Gray played in. Maybe there's even a tribute (lol) band covering her songs.
I thought the title said "why isn't there a hunger games theme park" and was preparing to go on a rant as to why it's a terrible idea
You took the words out of my mouth
Id love, love, LOVE to see your take on Dismaland! The anti-disneyland made by Banksy that is depressing and covers themes such as war. An interesting subject in the theme of ‘can a dystopia be fun when depicted in a theme park?’
Here’s an idea: have the guest be people visiting the capitol (so you can have the glamor) but in the details you get the feeling that something may be wrong. Different brands popping up around the victors both alive and dead. Maybe have some faded graffiti of the rebellion on the walls. Let me be uncomfortable dang it
I still don’t understand why nobody has made a middle earth theme park yet, imagine the hobbit barrel scene but as a ride.
that would be amazing it is such a colorful world with so many theme park possibilities! Morally there would be no problem at all with depicting it, opposed to the hunger games, since it is very clearly a fight between good and bad,, you could even do a "kill al the orks" simulator or stuff like that haha
Evermore.
the party concept is soooo good and your videos are always so interesting!!! best mike on youtube
The entire time I was watching this I was like "how the fuck did they build these parks in these two particular countries?" So I'm glad you addressed it.
Yay, always a treat when you upload
While I know a Hunger Games theme park that's accurate to the themes of the books would be recieved very poorly by consumers, I'd actually really love to see what an experience like that would be like
Dubai couldn't make a theme park based around a soulless luxury facade because that's already the rest of Dubai.
Interesting video! I think you make a couple of great points and I can't really argue with it... But it does make me wonder besides movies and music and books. What other visual mediums would this series work in? VR maybe? Idk. Just a thought
I remember back in the height of the Hunger games' popularity, this meme circulated about how all other fans of franchises would love to go to their respective worlds/ locations (think Hogwarts, Camp Halfblood, Avenger's tower) but the Hunger Games fans were like "...nah, I'm good!". Maybe these companies should have taken more notice of that. None of the hunger games fans were clamouring to go to Panem - in spite of its interesting world building, it is very much a dystopia with aspects uncomfortably similar to our own world. At best, you are emulating the Capitol, forcing the parkgoer to confront their own privellege and role as complacent members of "bad guys" of this world. At worst, you are making a fun attraction about child murder. You can't win.
I feel like a Hunger games theme park is the very antithesis of the message the books were trying to give
I was not expecting thereto be TWO Hunger Games theme parks, not just one.
Can’t wait for this guy to find out about the Paramount Park in China…
Fantastic analysis! This property is in the very interesting space where a themed experience could do a lot to immerse you in the themes of the setting, but the nature of themed experiences as entertainment products necessitates avoiding those themes entirely, as you said. Almost feels like it would make a great museum exhibition instead.
Thank you so much Skye!!
I've watched this channel semi-consistently for over a year now, and Mike's work is of the same quality and analytic depth as that of big video essayists on the platform. I could have sworn this channel had at least a hundred thousand subscribers. 7.6k is FAR too little for how consistently great these videos are. Hoping this is the video to finally change that. The algorithm is incredibly unpredictable, but may the odds be ever in your favour.
"I've watched this channel semi-consistently for over a year now"
Tell me you're a bot without telling me you're a bot. How do you semi-consistently watch a channel that rarely uploads?
@@ShaCaro Buddy… I’ve been here since there were 3 videos total on this channel. What I meant by “semi-consistently” is that I’ve been watching videos as he uploads them with me taking longer to get to some. You have to be out of your gourd if you think that my poor choice of wording somehow means I’m a bot.
@@dogboyslobberGonna back you in this. I got notified about Mike on the Twilight ride video because the algorithm was suggesting it to anyone who watched Themepark History, Philosophy Tube or Defunctland. I also rolled back through the catalogue that was there at the time to see what Mike's style was.
I even straight up told him I thought he was onto something massive here and actually unique.
@ShaCaro don't be a f###. This is a channel that deserves way more subs. What does it matter to you how someone supports or doesn't support the channel? Either way, Mike goes forward 🤷🏾♀️
Great video. Vibes are perfect. I love feeling like I’ve snuck off from the main party to listen to you talk about theme park rides. Also that end was so fun.
I’m not even a fan of the franchise but an idea for a theme park surrounding it would be to have sections for each district, the capital, and each game arena. The thing linking the districts to the capital would be more propaganda the closer you get to the capital
remix of the hanging tree is going into my club mix as we speak
4:50 I am happy and proud to hear people talking about make-up, the make-up industry, misogyny. Good shyt, you've earned my sub. Not even kidding
Hunger Games theme park: Just go to North Carolina where they filmed the first movie's arena scenes and go off I guess, I lived in that area during filming and one of our swimming spots was blocked off bc they had to do the Peta by the river scene haha
I was SO EXCITED when I saw this was coming and stoked to watch rn !!!!!
What a good video!! I like your chill and funny vibe, you're really easy to watch. Also I love this concept lol
Yeah it’s stuff like these parks that really made me reconsider if I really wanted to work in themed entertainment, as it’s hard to approach from an audience perspective, and I can’t even imagine how I’d approach it as a designer. Great vid!
To me, these parks are trying to capitalize on the wrong parts of the world. Because of that, I agree there are better themed locations (not necessarily a park) where a Hunger Games theme could work.
Great video! I feel like the only way to make this theme park (other than just not making it at all) is to focus on the capitol. Trying to tie in the other districts feels more like “oppression simulator,” which ironically can come off more tone deaf than other iterations. A similar thing happened with Disney Land’s Star Wars “Galactic Starcruiser” experience that had guests cosplay Imperial prisoners (to their credit they shut this attraction down shortly after it seems)
It's amusing how you compared how badly suited Hunger Games is for consumerism compared to how well suited Harry Potter is.
I remember a joke about how it seemed like Harry bought all the candy on the Hogwarts Express.
I’m realizing as a poverty struck adult that Harry Potter was written by an author who had or came from money. Also from someone who never experienced trauma cause Harry being yelled and possibly beaten, I’m not sure he’d feel comfortable spending the money or doing half of what he did.
FANTASTIC party as per usual, king
Theme parks get criticized for sanitizing things, but anyplace where people go to celebrate is probably going to do something similar. Let's say you go to an Italian restaurant to celebrate your wedding anniversary. No matter how "authentic" it's supposed to be, you're probably going to expect a more romanticized view of the country, not a museum-like depiction of the reality. Come to think of it, though, there was a local Irish-themed pub that leaned heavily on the romanticized view, but had a placard about Ireland's history of being oppressed...in the men's restroom. And even that felt a bit strange.
Sure, but maybe a theme park based on a story that takes place on a dystopian totalitarian regime that yearly executes teenagers as punishment for rebellion and a form of inducing fear in the population, is probably not the best idea ever
@@carlosvaldez4356I agree. See my other comment on this video: "But yes, Panem is just a really weird theme..."
There is a Hunger Games Exhibit in Las Vegas, Nevada that can be used as another sort of case study for how the USA would approach a Hunger Games Theme Park… it’s mainly an exhibit of some of the outfits from the movies but it also has an interactive archery exhibit that teaches the audience how to shoot a bow and arrow. So it sort of acknowledges the games more than the theme parks in the sense that it’s only interactive portion is training for the games
The exhibit in Vegas is perfect. It has props from the movies and outfits that the actors/actresses wore and has a training center where katniss shot her bow in catching fire. Also interactive holograms that tells the story
If I remember correctly in the books previous arenas were kept as tour destinations for capital citizens to visit
I'm kinda for a dystopian-based theme park land or ride honestly, just look at what Alton Towers has done for example with the Smiler. I think the main problem here was that it was done with a franchise that made no sense to make into a theme park.
I want one minor change to the Mike lore. Like we legitimately came to party to hear you spout theme park philosophy with a solo cup. 7.74k of us. I'm kinda surprised the corridor has space but hey.
If we have to fight for our region of corridor to stay at the party.... welp may the odds be in everyone else's favour.
20:29 it is at that point, I realised, Thorpe Park should have had a crack at a Hunger Games ride. This is their whole schtick
Oh how I missed you theme park daddy! Thank you for your offering! 🤩
Incredibly fascinating analysis
Was that Bethnal Greens Working Mens Club at the end?
Great video and commentary as usual! Genuinely love the party concept more with every vid
I love how in the books, people of the capital literally go to old hunger games arenas as if they are theme parks. We spent a whole series hating the capitol just turn around and be. The Capitol
I would make 15 rides, one for each district, the capital, and the game. The land would be separated into 15 sections based on which ride is in that area. Each area would have a restaurant and shop that has to do with that area. For example for 12 a bakery and a shop with coal items, or for the game have a cornucopia that has toy weapons and food we see in the arena.
Your videos are so great, I get genuinely excited every time you show up on my feed
You've quickly become my fav theme park youtuber and one of my favorites in general
I might be a little biased but I reckon that the Forbidden valley and X sector at Alton towers is probably the closest you can get to a good theme park dystopia. X sector is themed to a top secret government research facility ran by the Ministry of Joy, who create the area’s two rollercoasters Oblivion and the Smiler to “marmalise” the population of the UK and make them feel nothing but Joy. The forbidden valley is themed to a secret branch of the military called the Phalanx who accidentally unearthed an alien called Nemesis before trapping it and performing experiments on both it and its eggs.
The subway one got me
I can’t believe you made me remember the rebel remix against my will
I think an interesting semi-parallel to the Chinese Capitol theme park experience is The Great Gatsby. The novel has a pretty clear message that the trappings of excess wealth, the partying, the pursuit of pleasure, is all meaningless and empty. The wealthy characters are horrid people who "smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made." Yet, people throw Gatsby parties all the time. Not just "roaring '20s" - Gatsby specifically. Heck, I'm a high school English teacher and I do a Gatsby party with my AP Lit class after we finish studying the novel, in spite of the fact that we literally just examined the novel and its messages in depth. Why? Because 1) it's fun to pretend to be rich, and 2) the aesthetics are appealing as a theme. I think this is a pretty fair explanation as to why the designers thought guests would enjoy playing dress-up as a Capitol citizen. Let's also not forget the fact that there is fun to be had in taking on the persona of a villain, too. I would argue that rather than being a purely tone-deaf experience which dodges a critical reading of the source material, the Capitol makeover experience allows guests to say "yes, and."
The Hunger Game Subway ad had me rolling… it’s so hilariously out of touch. I-I just can’t lol
Can't believe I found your channel this early! I know you're gonna have hundreds of thousands of subs one day! Just found your videos today and I love them :) such a clever concept, the party theme
Man I appreciate sm that all your vids have subtitles
Taking a picture with a peace keeper is WILD
this is a really well put together video essay, you did a really good job! I really enjoyed it
Making a Hunger Games theme park is like turning Evangelion or Attack on Titan into cutesy kid's cartoo- oh wait....
Attack on titan jr high’s existence will always astound me, but funnily enough it’s what got younger me less terrified of the original show 😅
Another great party, Mike hope to catch you at the next one!
My boy cooked once again 🔥🔥
Honestly, I like this corner of the party vibe I feel like youd have groups of people slowly listening and sitting on the floor around you 😂😂😂
The capitol people singing one direction was so funny to me
in hindsight, im not surprised they exist. hunger games is an interesting franchise to me, with striking aesthetics and a "gameified" story, but it deconstructs these "cool" things as bad. im not surprised that corporations would look at the admittedly interesting and gorgeous capitol fashion and cuisine and try to portray it as good - because corpos are pretty out of touch.
I am not that surprised about lionsgate making a hunger games theme park land since they already have a saw rollercoaster at thorpe park which i still pinch myself about because it doesn't seem real
I've made a video on the Saw rollercoaster too :)
it needs to be done like horror mazes are. make you feel like a tribute and make it scary
Wouldn't you just love to be a fly on the wall throughout the development of these lands.
"so there's peacekeepers watching a musical number with One Direction playing. Oh! and Peeta finally got to open his own bakery! (in the capitol)"
Amazing video as always Mike!
Thanks king!
I FORGOT ABOUT THE SUBWAY TIE IN
Great video!
I must confess however that, due to my audio processing disorder, I could only hear you say "the Hungie Games"
😅
they completely missed the opportunity to have the covey performing in District Twelve, with the songs they actually did in the book