The Hunger battle games royale

The Hunger Games and Battle Royale compare less than you think

I know, the whole 'Hunger Games-ripped-off-Battle Royale' discussion has pretty much been beaten to the ground, with fans of each series adamantly opposed to the other — although, I've found that most of those are Royale fans who have not seen Hunger Games.

However, if you will indulge me, I'd like to throw my two cents in to the fight to the death, with regards to each property as a film, disregarding any of their sequels.

This post should be relatively spoiler free, but to be on the safe side, you have been warned.

Before Friday night, when I saw The Hunger Games at Alamo Village, I was strongly in opposition to the series and agreed that Gary Ross' (Pleasantville, Seabiscut) adaptation of Suzanne Collins' 2008 novel would be a PG-13 Battle Royale.

The Hunger Games succeeds as a cohesive piece of film, and next to it, Royale feels like an excuse to watch Japanese teenagers kill each other for two hours.

And, like many who weren't already Hunger Games fans, I was ready to dismiss the film as a watered down rip off of a Japanese cult classic. As it turns out, Hunger Games is not only original enough to stand on its own, but is, in fact, a better film than Battle Royale. Allow me to explain.

Royale is great largely thanks to the carnage that starts early and lasts throughout most of the film. During that period, the viewer is treated to 42 gruesome deaths, with very few punches pulled. This is absolutely acceptable, and provides for a very visceral experience, but that violence isn't enough to make for a great film.

In nearly every regard — most notably the acting, writing and pacing — Hunger Games is better than the Japanese classic. Well, except for the camera work. Pointless shaky-cam nonsense has to stop, especially when it detracts from the action.

Regardless, Hunger Games succeeds as a cohesive piece of film, and next to it, Royale feels like an excuse to watch Japanese teenagers kill each other for two hours.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Battle Royale fan, but the two films really are very different, and dismissing one because of a shared — and fairly common, mind you — dystopian premise is simply unfair.

The conclusion: similar, but different

I won't go in to much detail about how each film borrows from previous influences (if you're interested, IGN has a good run down of movies that use the “fight to the death” trope), but the fact that Royale and Hunger Games share a common premise isn't enough to warrant the rip-off accusation.

Each film approaches the dark subject matter — government's forcing teenagers to kill each other — uniquely.

Battle Royale depicts the game as a public secret, a necessary evil used to curb an out of control teenage population. The violence is savage and frenzied, in perfect contrast to the classical score, and the players themselves are largely naïve and terrified. Most of them are bratty kids with little survival intuition and ill suited for the chaos.

The Hunger Games, on the other hand, broadcasts their competition throughout the nation. The Capitol forces its people to watch, a reminder to their citizens that the tyrannical coalition has power to do whatever it pleases.

The broadcast feels almost like American Idol; each contestant is introduced to the audience, they are rated by “sponsors” and then the viewers are manipulated in to caring for particular players. A nice critique of reality TV, Hunger Games focuses less on out right violence and more on survival. The players struggle with nature nearly as much as they do each other, and are taught early on in their training the importance of finding water.

The two films really are very different, and dismissing one because of a shared dystopian premise is simply unfair.

In conclusion: both movies are worthwhile, for different reasons.

Yeah, both movies are about children killing each other. And yes, Battle Royale was released 12 years before The Hunger Games.

But each movie looks at the premise in a unique enough way, focusing on different aspects of the grim narrative, so that they really are set apart.

I revisited Royale today, expecting to like it less in comparison, but that didn't happen. I enjoyed the carnage as thoroughly as I did my first viewing, and was just as wrapped up in the nasty situation those poor kids were roped in to. So take a sigh of relief: it's a fantastic movie, and so is Hunger Games. It is both possible and acceptable to like them both, without compromising any integrity.

If any readers out there are boycotting either movie because of the other: stop. Go see them both!

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Anyone But Glen

Austinites select Glen Powell look-alike with help from actor's mom

Photo courtesy of Case Ellis

Max Braunstein shakes Glen Powell's mom, Cyndy's, hand after placing first in the contest.

On November 24, 2024, Austin resident and physician's assistant Max Braunstein made history, winning the first-ever Glen Powell Look-alike Contest.

This competition was "very much a spontaneous event," said organizer Kate Carpenter. She was inspired to put this event together just a week in advance after seeing how successful these look-alike contests in other cities have been.

"Why not take something that other cities have done, put it in our city that already accepts things like this with open arms, and celebrate a hometown hero?" Carpenter said.

Timothée Chalamet famously crashed his own look-alike contest in New York, and there were some hopes that Glen Powell would show up to his. Powell couldn't make it, but he did contribute a video message and sent his mother, Cyndy Powell, in his stead.

Powell was also a good choice because he was presumed to be a top contender for People's Sexiest Man Alive, who was announced on November 12. The honor ended up going to John Krasinski.

Glen Powell look-alike contest All the Glen Powells lined up from Number 1 to 19.Photo by Natalie Grigson

The contest started up just after 1 pm at Auditorium Shores, beneath sunny skies and in front of a crowd of almost entirely college-aged women. The 18 Glen Powells (and a Torchy's Tacos mascot) gathered close to the trees, all adorned with name tags that simply stated their numbers. There was some resemblance between them.

"I think I've found some cousins," one of the Glens told CultureMap.

Prizes for the winner included an undetermined amount of money, a cowboy hat, a Torchy's Tacos Gold Card for free queso for a year, an offer for a family member to cameo in a future Glen Powell project, a quick congratulatory FaceTime call with the actor, and of course, the recognition and adoration that comes from looking kind of like Glen Powell.

Before the voting began, Braunstein was feeling good. He walked over wearing a partially unzipped flight suit, à la Top Gun, which he borrowed from a friend who is a veteran. When he arrived, a few women in the slowly-building crowd gasped and pointed.

"I'm feeling pretty confident," he said. "If I'm ever going to own a cowboy hat, it's going to be through this."

Torchy's Tacos mascot Glen Powell look-alike contest The contest's "Glen Powell Number 2" was none other than Torchy himself, of Torchy's Tacos. Photo courtesy of Case Ellis

The first round was judged by the crowd's applause and screams; the second round was determined by a group of judges — friends of Carpenter's. The real decider, though, was the man of honor's mother.

"It's just fun," Cyndy Powell said before the contest. "When Glen's not in Austin, I need like an emotional support son. So maybe I can find one here."

She added that the whole "Glen Phenomenon" has been really fun, and that it hasn't necessarily felt sudden. "He's been doing this for 25 years now. So it's not an overnight thing. But it's something he loves."

Max Braunstein and Glen Powell's mom, Cyndy Winner Braunstein is all smiles with the real Glen Powell's mom, Cyndy. Photo courtesy of Case Ellis.

Although the real Glen Powell was busy filming in Europe, he did whip up a video the day before the contest. Carpenter played the video for the crowd on a big TV. Unfortunately, most of the crowd couldn't hear the audio. However, the video is now available on YouTube.

Glen Powell look-alike contest The real life Glen made a video appearance before the winner was chosen.Photo courtesy of Case Ellis

After the video played, the contestants each got 15 seconds to step up in front of the crowd and make a case for why they should be Austin's Glen Powell Number 2.

"If Glen Powel's momma says [I look like him], I'm not going to argue!" Braunstein said. Other Glens referenced the actor's many movies. There were many exclamations of "Hook 'em"; two Glens said they were looking to find their Sydney Sweeney, who co-starred with Powell in Anyone But You; one Glen just ripped off his shirt; and another doused himself with a bottle of water.

One contestant showed some skin to garner some points with the judges. Gratuitous shirtlessness is a necessary part of any Glen Powell look-alike contest, according to the actor himself.Photo courtesy of Case Ellis

Once the votes were in, the top three Glens were awarded with the sort of medals a player would get in a recreational soccer league. Glen Number Four, a.k.a. Max Braunstein, was given a giant check that literally said "some money," and was promptly swarmed by the crowd of women.

Among the throng of adoring new fans were two local students who showed up because "this is hilarious." While they were half-expecting the real Glen to show up and were a bit disappointed that he didn't, they were still happy to wait in line to get a photo with Braunstein.

Max Braunstein Glen Powell look-alike After Braunstein won the title of Austin's "Glen Powell 2.0," he was swarmed by the crowd for selfies. Photo by Natalie Grigson

"I did tell people I was going to win!" he said in between photos. One would think he was the real Glen Powell with the crowd that was jostling to simply get near him.

When asked if he was expecting this sort of response, he said, "No, not at all!"

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