NOT RECOMMENDED

Yesterday, I watched the first annoying hour of the self-indulgent, self-aggrandizing two hour documentary called "The Making of 'The Hunger Games.'"  Everyone appeared on camera, from the script writer-director to the guy who cleaned up after the horses.  (Actually, there were no horses.)  To listen to them, the film was as influential  as the Bible and sliced bread, wrapped up together in a sort of messiah sandwich.

It isn't.

Without discussing all the child-like plot elements which degenerated into an unrealistic view of human life, the story, for me, went south almost immediately.  Twenty-four young people (why only young people?) were chosen to fight each other on TV until twenty-three were dead.  To insure only one survived, the Obama-like government did most of the killing with various booby-traps.  I never understood why the heroine didn't kill anyone to forestall their attacking her.  I would have had her push some of them off the train to the contest venue.  Of course, the contrived ending was very depressing.  I'm not bloodthirsty;  I just prefer realistic, predictable, self-preservationist human behavior.

ALSO I was blown away by the look of "The Adventures of Tintin," but much like "The Hunger Games," the plot was intended for children, and therefore, quite unengaging.  For different reasons, both failed to arouse my emotions.

The third film of my weekend, "M I 4," didn't even try.  Strike three.

AT NOON on Christmas Day, on  my way to the capitol city, I had occasion to visit a highway rest stop.  Entering the men's room, I encountered a pleasant young man preparing to sweep and mop.  That someone was willing to work on a holiday and not complain, reaffirmed some of my belief in the goodness of man.  I should have added a gift to my words of good cheer, but I was somewhat amazed.  .  .  someone actually cleans public restrooms.