A blog about JDramas, Movies, Music, Young Adult Books, Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Twilight, etc. Breaking news, movie cast predictions, fan videos, rave reviews, disgruntled rants, and everything profound (and stupid) in between.
How much do you love the Hunger Games? Did you read the book (and watch the movie) over and over again? Do you play the OST on repeat throughout the whole day? More importantly, do you imagine yourself in the Hunger Games world - daydream about how you'd survive, how you'd upstage Katniss perhaps?
Imagine no more! The Hunger Games has achieved such massive success and popularity that a literary tour of the Hunger Games movie set universe is going to open really soon. And this isn't going to be a mere watch, "oooh", and "aaah" tour. This will be an interactive tour - where you'll be handling a bow and arrow, making fire, creating your shelter (do you think they'll teach us how to sleep on a tree branch??), etc.
Before you hyperventilate, allow me to describe it further. The tour is going to be held in North Carolina, which was where the movie was filmed. You'll be going to several spots like DuPont recreational forest and Blue Ridge Mountains... you can even zip-line along Pisgah National Forest for a bird's eye view of the set location.
This fan tour is co-created by Leigh Trapp who certainly knows how to organize a fan tour, having done Harry Potter and Twilight tours in the past. As early as now, I'm pretty confident the Hunger Games Fan Tour will be the best and most accurate tour among the three young adult book tours, considering the story line is based on more realistic concepts (no wolves, vampires, magic spells... you get the picture). Now if we can have Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth drop by, it would be insanely perfect.
I'm obsessed with Back to the Future. I've watched the movie 10 times (each!)... maybe more. I know most of the lines and every time I watch it again, I keep my eyes peeled for any new details that I might not have noticed before.
That being said, I now feel absolutely compelled to show you this link I saw which features all of Marty McFly's costumes during the whole trilogy. All I can say is - I can't wait till Halloween this year!
Because what better way to add fuel to the dying fire of American Idol than to place the most talked about contestant (at least on Yahoo) under boiling water?
Not to say that there is cheating involved with the counting of texts. But how easy is it for American Idol's producers, etc. to be the ones to text against her? The fact that judges Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson, and Steven Tyler still have a save gives them a good safety net to still keep her talent in the show (perhaps even boost the number of active supporters she has) and later on produce her best-selling records.
With the Hunger Games book trilogy finished since 2010, and the 2nd Hunger Games movie still happening late next year, I'm pretty sure a lot of you out there are hungry for some new reads. Here are some books like the Hunger Games, which I recommend, with corresponding reviews and comparisons.
To define "similar", I'm featuring dystopian novels for young adults - books where the main characters are 1) in their teens and 2) living under / battling against a tyrannical, repressive society. It is a coincidence that the books I feature below are also trilogies though it seems to be the trend these days.
Before I begin, I would like to first let you all know that I am not a book purist. I watched the Harry Potter and Twilight series without ever complaining about a scene in the book that was missed out, a movie interpretation that went wrong. But for the Hunger Games movie, I found some crucial differences from the book that affected my overall review of the movie.
But first, for the positive points. I thought the movie cast was golden. In particular, I thought Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, and Liam Hemsworth were spot on for their respective roles. So much that I was literally giddy during the first few minutes of the movie as I saw the movie come alive in front of me. I even got goosebumps from the reaping scene. The depiction of District 12, the breathtaking Capitol, Effie Trinket's quirky behavior, Haymitch's drunken stupor, Caesar Flickerman's Ryan Seacrast-like charisma, Peeta's natural friendliness in contrast to Katniss' more pessimistic outlook. These were all perfectly translated into the big screen.
However, when the official Hunger Games started, things went slightly awry. I attribute it greatly to the lack of time that was allotted for the games - something that I blame the director for. An extra 30 minutes would have helped the movie a lot. I expected more detail, more insight into each tribute and his/her respective demise (with more gore). More evidence of Katniss' athletic prowess and hunting instincts. And I certainly expected more Peeta and Katniss scenes.
I was so underwhelmed by the end of the movie, that I had to go back to the book. I ended up reading it twice again. Suffice to say, I got a renewed and even stronger respect for the book.
Here are the main things that the movie failed to portray correctly / failed to show altogether, in chronological order:
1. The movie should have explored more sides of Peeta's personality. This is important because it allows us to get a better idea of why Katniss was suspicious of the baker's son. A scene of Peeta crying, and then a scene of Peeta volunteering to help Haymitch when he vomited from the alcohol, and then finally a more intense scene of Peeta trying to get Haymitch to stop drinking so he can help him. In the book, he pushes Haymitch's glass away which ends up with him getting punched in the face. Then, when Peeta was waving to the Capitol, they should have mentioned Peeta's line about hoping to get someone rich to notice and like him. Just in that train scene, Suzanne was able to give us a multidimensional glimpse into Peeta's character - his vulnerability, kindness, juxtaposed with his sudden impatience and almost scheming side.
These are all important, because we want the audience to doubt Peeta's intention and really believe that he allied with the careers later on.
2. More scenes should have been placed in between Katniss realizing Peeta was with the Careers and the tracker jacker scene when Peeta asked her to run. To show to people how good Katniss really was at the games because the movie made it seem like Katniss relied more on other people than herself. And to add more to the suspicions of the viewers about Peeta's character.
3. Peeta's injury was HUGELY understated in the movie. The director wanted to keep it as PG as possible but seriously, this just removed the impact of Peeta's sacrifice for Katniss! In the book, Cato had cut him up pretty badly, and he was already in danger of dying from blood poisoning. The book goes on to describe that the wound was so deep it was almost down to the bone. A simple external ointment could not have healed his wound. He needed a hypodermic injection. In fact, he loses his leg at the end of the book!
4. The Katniss/Peeta cave scene needed to be explored further. First of all, none of my non-reader friends who watched it understood that Katniss was really showing affections to Peeta just to get sponsors. They thought she had fallen for Peeta just like that! Secondly, even though Katniss was pretending for the most part, she actually notices that there was a certain hunger in one of her kisses to him. This was important because it gives you the two sides of this Katniss/Peeta relationship and it also gives you that open-ended feeling in the end which we never got.
5. What the heck happened to Cato? In the movie, this wasn't clearly depicted. He suddenly shows up deranged, with a wound on his head, lacking all the confidence he showed during the training. It should have shown that Cato was running away from the evil muttations.
6. Speaking of muttations, why did they suddenly turn into pitbulls? These muttations were supposed to be ridiculously bat s*** crazy creatures with the eyes of fallen tributes! It was supposed to be a lot, lot more gruesome and scary!
7. I think the nightlock berries scene should have been stretched out a bit more. The game master just retracted his decision so quickly that the audience laughed!
8. The ending was so anticlimactic that the director just pretty much gave whoever is directing the second movie a huge problem in attracting viewers and continuing the story. We don't get that Peeta was angry at the realization that Katniss was pretending. We don't get that Katniss was confused as well. And we don't truly grasp that Snow was going to raise hell come the second movie.
I think the second movie should do with a lot more violence. If the concern is the young teens watching, then perhaps you can show two versions of the movie? The book attracted a huge adult following (me included!) and we deserve a more gripping and intense movie adaptation!
And finally, to nitpick, I think Rue's character was better portrayed by this fan-made video:
This was made by the brilliant MainstayPro, who also created an awesome, epic second quarter quell fan made video that has more action and intensity. How about we let them help out in the second movie? Who agrees?
I'd like to show you below the full list of songs you can get from the Hunger Games OST, which they call the "Songs from District 12 and Beyond", and when some of them play during the movie.
The songs are a great blend of folk and indie, with a usual hint of melancholy and ambient sound effects. In other words, awesome and perfect for the basic theme of the movie.
1. Abraham's Daughter by Arcade Fire - Love the vibe this gives. This song is the first song you hear during the end credits.
2. Tomorrow Will Be Kinder by The Secret Sisters This was sadly not played during the film but would have been a suitable song for several scenes - even during Rue's death. The lyrics of the song carry a positive note and betray the sad mood of the tune.
3. Nothing To Remember by Neko Case Again, this was not heard during any part of the movie. Would have been appropriate in any Katniss-centric scene - the lyrics, for me, describe an aspect of the heroine well: "I spent my life becoming invisible, it's hard to maintain and it's hard to get by, I don't recall fight or flight setting in, I have no introduction I just breathe it in like the air, and there is nothing to remember, there is nothing to remember, I owe you nothing, that's all I've got for you..." Then: "I'm ashamed that I'm barely human and I'm ashamed that I don't have a heart you can break" seemed to be a good fit for the end of the book when Peeta starts to realize Katniss' true intentions (which sadly was not featured in the movie).
4. Safe & Sound by Taylor Swift feat. The Civil Wars Arguably the most popular song of the OST, this was the second song in the end credits.
5. The Ruler And The Killer by Kid Cudi Again, not included in the film. This has a stronger, edgier tone to it which sets it apart from the other songs. I think this song would have played well whenever they featured Cato's ruthlessness (which I feel they didn't show enough of during the movie!)
6. Dark Days by Punch Brothers Not included in the film. Could have been a good fit during the last time Prim and Katniss see each other before Katniss is whisked away to the Capitol?
7. One Engine by The Decemberists Not included in the film. A nice upbeat tune that would have fit during the train ride to the Capitol.
8. Daughter's Lament by Carolina Chocolate Drops Did not play during the film but the lyrics were clearly inspired by the book with mentions of bows and arrows and even mocking jays.
9. Kingdom Come by The Civil Wars Third / last song during the end credits
10. Take The Heartland by Glen Hansard This song is also pretty upbeat and the vocals are strong and edgy; it would have been a good song to play during the suspenseful parts of the hunger games.
11. Come Away To The Water by Maroon 5 - this is a little retreat from Maroon 5's usual dance-y, upbeat songs, and jives perfectly with the overall theme of the soundtrack though it, too, did not play during the film.
12. Run Daddy Run by Miranda Lambert Did not play during the movie.
13. Rules by Jayme Dee Did not play during the movie.
14. Eyes Open by Taylor Swift Did not play during the movie.
15. Lover Is Childlike by The Low Anthem - so far one of my favorites:
Yup, you guessed it - did not play during the movie.
16. Just A Game by Birdy Not included in any of the scenes.
I guess the director felt like musical scores were a better fit to the movie rather than ones with vocals. None the less, these songs, though they were not played during the movie, resonates with the Hunger Games atmosphere very well.
OMG Hilarious! The main cast of Twilight Breaking Dawn 2 agrees to do a silly skit with Ellen about what happens 1 year after Bella's transformation. The script is certainly mocking the whole movie and premise, but everyone was game enough to join the ride. Ellen was crazy hilarious as always, presenting Edward and Bella with a gift - "What to expect when you're expecting a Demon Baby" book.
At the end, Ellen tells the cast they can go back "to looking beautiful and pouting" which seriously they do a lot of!
I am also super stoked that Jackson Rathbone wasn't his usual stoic vampire self here and was extremely charming with his one-liner, looking like Flynn Rider from Tangled. (Honestly, he looks like a lot of people! First, it was Edward Scissorhands, now it's Rider!)
Check out the Breaking Dawn spoof video here, which might end up in Breaking Dawn 3 (haha):
There's also an allusion to the Taylor Lautner - Taylor Swift tandem, and Ellen mentions he's imprinting on her. LOL!
With the Hunger Games movie just two weeks away (almost shaking with excitement as I type this!!!), CapitolTV released a high quality leaked scene featuring Katniss at the end of the training session, showing off her archery skills! Do you remember that scene? It's one of my favorites. You know, the one where Katniss makes sure Seneca Crane and the judges pay attention to her and not the pig?
If all the scenes are played as well as this one, then we're in for a great treat at the movies! In the meantime, Capitol TV, can you release another scene and feed the Hunger Games hungry fans (ie. me)? Perhaps Peeta's training session? Pretty please?
P.S. My friend says Seneca Crane is like Dave Navarro with a Borat accent. LOL! Wonder how Dave Navarro would comment.
The Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2 Movie will be showing this 2012. Are you all excited to see if the last movie will end the whole franchise with a great, successful bang? The movie will show the earliest on November 14, 2012.
Here is the full list of movie release dates all over the world, per country:
November 14, 2012: Belgium, France, Netherlands
November 15, 2012: Argentina, Australia, Denmark, Hungary, New Zealand, Portugal, Qatar, Spain
November 16, 2012: Canada, Finland, Lithuania, UK, USA
November 22, 2012: Armenia, Germany, Singapore
November 23, 2012: Sweden
There are a couple of other countries who have not confirmed their showing dates yet (several Asian countries like Hong Kong and the Philippines, European countries like Greece, etc), so stay tuned here, and I'll be updating this list from time to time.
I am looking forward to seeing all the action that will take place in part 2, when the Cullens and their other ally clans protect Bella and Edward's child, Renesmee from the Volturi. And of course, Jacob and the wolf pack's participation in the whole chaos would be a sight to see.
I have been counting the days like mad waiting for the Hunger Games movie to finally be released into the theaters. For those who share my insanity, here is the full list of theater showing schedules for the movie all over the world.
When is Hunger Games Movie Showing? The earliest showing date is on March 21, 2012!
March 21, 2012: Belgium, France, Netherlands, Philippines (these lucky countries!)
March 22, 2012: Argentina, Australia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia
March 23, 2012: Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Turkey, UK, USA
March 30, 2012: Vietnam
April 13, 2012: South Africa
April 20, 2012: Spain
May 1, 2012: Italy
Hang in there, everyone - A few more sleepless nights to go!
