The Hungry Games: Catching Fur

This video parody appeared in my Facebook feed this morning:

Enjoy, and may the cookies be ever in your flavor.

Catching Fire Teaser Trailer

 

Last night at the MTV Movie Awards a teaser for the upcoming "Catching Fire" movie was finally unveiled.  Enjoy!

Hunger Games Movie Event

I put a lot of effort into planning programs for my teens. But my most successful program of the year in terms of attendance required almost no effort from me! In case you hadn't heart, August 18 was the release day for the highly-anticipated movie "The Hunger Games" onto DVD and Blu-Ray. Since my library is lucky enough to have the licencing required to show movies to the public, I decided to invite the teens to the library to watch this movie.

We started advertising the movie event about three weeks in advance with posters.

Anticipating a large amount of interest, we decided that we would require everyone interested in attending to pick up a ticket in advance. There is a lot of benefit to ticketing for an event like this if you have concerns about there being too many people in the room. Tickets make it easy eager patrons to understand why only so many people are allowed in the room. They also can give librarians peace of mind knowing that the room will be filled past capacity. I made the tickets myself on the computer and printed them on golden paper:

Tickets were available on a first come, first served basis two weeks before the event. We gave away the last of the tickets about one week before we showed the movie.

Food is also essential for any sort of teen event and everyone knows that snacks are great to have during movies, so it seemed pretty important that I serve something to eat. I've had truly horrific experiences with serving popcorn in the past (it's easy to spill and is hard to clean off of carpet when it gets stepped on) and I had a little bit of money left in my summer budget, so I decided to order cupcakes. These cupcakes weren't super fancy - chocolate with orange-tinted buttercream, no fancy decorations. But the color scheme was very appropriate for the movie. You could almost imagine that the orange frosting was a flame. I also served juice to go with the cupcakes.




I hadn't expected everyone who had picked up a ticket to come to the program. There are always a couple of no-shows, and this program was no exception. But any program that has 60 people (mostly teens!) in attendance is a success in my book. Everyone really enjoyed seeing the movie - many for the second or third time, but some for the first.

Another unexpectedly cool aspect of this program was the intergenerational potential. I had targeted teens in the advertising for this event but decided to ultimately leave the program open to anyone who wished to attend. Yes, many teens came alone or with friends. But there were also a good number of teens at the program with Mom or Dad in tow. It was actually very cool to see families in the audience so that they could share the experience. "The Hunger Games" is one of those rare gems with appeal across all ages and I was happy that so many families took advantage of the opportunity to see it together.

If You Liked The Hunger Games

Not too long ago when The Hunger Games movie was released, I started a book display in the teen area full of Hunger Games read-alikes. The book has been so popular and was made even more so with the movie's release, so it seemed like a good idea to give teens something to read until their holds came in. Needless to say, the display has been popular.


Here are just a few of the books included in the display:

The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Thomas wakes up in an elevator with no memory of his past. He finds himself in an area known as The Glade with other boys who have been trying to survive and find a way out of the maze that surrounds them. Action and a sinister setting make for a compelling read.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
Finn is a prisoner who is convinced that he once had a life outside of Incarceron and is determined to escape. Claudia is the warden's daughter who is desperate to find a way out of her arranged marriage and the political games that go with it. When the two find a way to communicate Claudia realizes that they may be able to help each other. This book is more fantasy than sci-fi, but it does have the adventure elements and political intrigue that will appeal to fans of The Hunger Games.

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
In a future where it is illegal for parents to have more than two children, Luke is a third-born hidden away in his attic where no one will find him. Then he meets another third-born girl who makes his dream of freedom seem real. I like to give this book to middle-schoolers and other younger readers who are interested in The Hunger Games but might be too young for some of the other books on this list.

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
Lyn watches her seventh step-father die as a gladiator in the arena. She then realizes that she will have to marry the man who killed him. Much like The Hunger Games, fights to the death are televised on live TV as a part of the culture.

Divergent by Veronica Roth
In this book's universe, the people of what was once Chicago are divided into factions, each of which values a specific virtue above all else. Like the rest of her peers Beatrice takes a test when she turns 16 to determine which faction she is best suited for. Unfortunately Beatrice's results are inconclusive - a feat which is rare and places her in danger. Beatrice must decide which faction she wishes to join and hope that she can survive the rigorous initiation process.

Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Saba lives in a wasteland, and her family finds what they need by scavenging old landfills. But when her brother Lugh is captured, Saba teams up with a group of freedom fighters to get him back.

The Hunger Games Movie

Did everyone go and see The Hunger Games this weekend? This movie came very highly anticipated with much hoopla surrounding all elements of its production. But the question that fans of Suzanne Collins' myriad fans really wanted answered: Would the movie do the book justice?

One of the biggest concerns when a beloved book is adapted to the big screen is in the how true the plot and overall sequence of events stays true to the book. As a whole, the film was very successful in this regard. It probably helps that one of the film's screenwriters was Suzanne Collins herself. Very few big changes were made to the plot, and what few did exist seemed designed to foreshadow the events to come in Catching Fire. A few added scenes showing Seneca Crane and President Snow helped to really establish the Capitol and its authorities as the cruel opponents they are, and also gave viewers some necessary background knowledge about the Games. But as a whole, the plot was very much true to the original story.

My only complaint in terms of plotting: The scene between Katniss and Peeta on the train as they return home. I found this scene disappointing in the film. Peeta's words were far too ambiguous and I think it would have packed a lot more emotional punch if their dialogue had more directly addressed their relationship rather than the games as a whole.

But what about the movie's feel? Did director Gary Ross manage to capture the gritty urgency of the Games? In my opinion, he was mostly successful. There were plenty of moments while Katniss was in the arena where my heart was pounding in anticipation. Similarly, Katniss' home life in District 12 very nearly matched my own mental images of the area. However, I'd hoped for more visual "wow" from the Capitol. I understand that this would have required additional, expensive effects, but I did find myself feeling a tad under-whelmed during a few of these scenes.

Kudos to the film's casting department for rounding up such a strong, charismatic group of actors. Jennifer Lawrence was great as Katniss, and I really thought that Wes Bentley and Woody Harrelson shone in their roles as Seneca Crane and Haymitch Abernathy, respectively. Even still, I have to say that the film's emotional punch was, while certainly present, less than I'd hoped. I can't quite pin down an exact reason for this. Was it the change from first to third-person narrative? Was there too much packed into the time alotted? Is it my own fault thanks to high expectations? Or was it something else entirely? I'm not really sure.

Even still, The Hunger Games was as a whole a good movie. Not a great movie, but a bit better than average and definitely worth my time and money. Fans of the books will be pleased. I would, however, be curious to see this movie a second time to see how much the feeling of anticipation affected my initial response. If I can spend the duration of the film lost in the characters and the drama instead of worried about the quality of the adaptation, will the film be more enjoyable? Only one way to find out...

In the interest of full discolsure: This movie was rated PG-13 for intense violent thematic material and disturbing images. It's also a long one at 142 minutes.

Overall Quality of the Film: B+
Overall Faithfulness to the Book: A-

Edit: I came across this review outlining the high and low points of the movie. I more or less agree with their comments on the movie's successes and failures.

Articles Worth Reading

It's been a busy day for reading interesting articles!

This article, published by The Telegraph, discusses The Hunger Games, the subsequent rise of dystopian fiction, and its impact on teens. Very interesting read. It's worth noting that The Telegraph is a British publication and that several of the examples of other dystopian books are, in fact, British in origin.

This article from the Salon Media Group is slightly off topic for this blog, but is worth reading if you care about children and children's television. It's all about Mister Rogers and the impact he has had on generations of children though his simple, meaningful television show.

Happy reading!

Hunger Games Trailer

For your viewing pleasure:



I'm more and more excited about this movie as we get closer to its release!

Mockingjay

Good news: I'm safely moved and have survived the first two weeks at my new job! I'd say things are going well. My Internet access is still a tad shaky (trouble with wireless = not able to use laptop), but hopefully that'll be cleared up soon-ish so that I can get this blog rolling again.

Amidst all of this month's chaos, however, I did manage to read the book that I've been most looking forward to all year: Mockingjay!

As the final installment in the Hunger Games trilogy opens, Katniss finds herself in a difficult position. District 12 has been completely destroyed. Peeta is being held captive by the Capitol and is certain to face nothing but torture and death. And the rebels who lifted her from the arena desperately want Katniss to pose as a figurehead for the rebellion - their Mockingjay. Distraught by the violence around her but desperate for revenge, Katniss agrees. But will she simply become a pawn in another game - one perhaps even more dangerous than the Hunger Games?

Suzanne Collins has once again done what she is so great at: She has taken a piece of very challenging subject matter and tackled it from all sides. She has created dynamic and interesting characters who crawl under your skin and make you eager for more. The world building as readers explore the underground District 13 is superb. The writing continues to leave you breathless. In these respects, Collins is a crafter of stories like no other.

This book did not go the way I had expected. Mostly I actually think that this was a good thing as the surprises kept me on my toes. And just as in the final volumes of The Underland Chronicles, Mockingjay's exploration of war and violence leaves readers with much to think about as all sides of the argument are explored. Overall, this book is superb. But I can't help thinking of what I had hoped for that we didn't see. I had hoped for a tad more spark from Katniss. Not much, just a little. While Collins does not pull any punches in this action-packed volume, it seemed to me that the ending was a bit rushed. And I do kind of feel that Collins took the easy way out in regards to her expertly-created love triangle. Does it work? Absolutely. Is it great? Certainly. Was it perfect? Maybe, maybe not. Personally, this reader wants to tackle the book a second time to see how it resonates upon a slower, less ravenous reading.

Overall Grade: A-

Catching Fire

I'll admit it: Sequels make me very nervous, especially when the first book was amazing. Will the second installment meet my expectations? Will my predictions come true? Will the sequel be too predictable? Or will it feel cheap and rushed, like it was just a half-hearted attempt to capitalize on something that's already popular? I'm happy to report, however, the the (arguably) most highly-anticipated sequel of this year was a complete success!

Picking up only a few months after the conclusion of The Hunger Games, Katniss finds that despite the wealth that comes with being a victor in the Capitol's barbaric games, her life has become more complicated than it ever was. By defying the Capitol during the Hunger Games, she has created a spark that just might ignite the impoverished districts of Panem to revolt. The last thing that Katniss wants is to see her loved ones suffer because of her actions, but on her and Peeta's victory tour of the districts it becomes clear that there is nothing she can do to appease the Capitol or prevent the districts from being inspired by her defiance. Small fires of discontent have begun burning, and soon they will cause an explosion that will rock Panem off its axis. Is there anything Kaniss can do to stop things from spiraling out of control? And does she even want to? Is the threat to herself and to her family worth the risk?

Author Suzanne Collins has taken the world that she created in The Hunger Games and given it even greater depth. Character development is crucial in this book as new characters are introduced and old ones are expanded upon. Much of the book's initial action actually doesn't happen to Katniss - it happens around her and she reacts to it, reminding readers that the impending rebellion in Panem is clearly bigger than any one person. Despite all of the political problems Katniss faces, those who enjoyed the direct action in this trilogy's first installment will not be disappointed either, and those craving romance will find the love triangle between Katniss, fellow Hunger Games victor Peeta, and longtime friend Gale to be perfectly executed.

The only problem - the book's cliffhanger ending will keep readers on the edge of their seats, desperately waiting for the trilogy's final installment to come out in 2010.

Overall Grade: A+

The Hunger Games

I finally got my hands on a copy of The Hunger Games this weekend. There's been an awful lot of hype and even some Newbery talk about this book which usually makes me a little bit skeptical - but I was not disappointed! Set at some point in the future, North America has been reorganized as the nation of Panem, consisting of the all-controlling Capitol and its twelve surrounding districts. As a way of keeping the districts in line and reminding them that they control everything, each year the Capitol organizes the Hunger Games, where a boy and a girl from every district is randomly selected to participate in a televised game. Each of the 24 children selected - tributes - must battle harsh conditions, wild animals, starvation, and ultimately fight to the death. The winner is the last tribute left alive.

In District 12 - one of the poorest and least regarded districts - being selected as a tribute is generally regarded as a death sentence. But when her sweet younger sister is selected as the female tribute, sixteen-year-old Katniss quickly volunteers to take her place in order to save her life. And so begins Katniss' struggle to not only battle the challenges of the games themselves, but also to quietly oppose the Capitol's cruelty and maintain her own humanity in spite of the barbaric nature of the games.

This was an excellent book that will be hard for most readers to put down. Panem's dystopia is vividly drawn and unnaturally beautiful (read, "garish") Capitol contrasts sharply and effectively with the run-down yet homey District 12. The second book in this intended trilogy will be available next fall, and readers will eagerly await to see what sort of challenges author Suzanne Collins has planned for the Hunger Games' aftermath.

Overall Grade: A+