My Hunger Games » Hamilton

New Official Catching Fire Poster and Contest

Hamilton — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:23:24 +0000

We were promised a surprise today by Lionsgate and they have given us an incredible new Catching Fire poster that’s very different from any we’ve seen yet from either film! Be sure to click for full size!

Not only are we getting a new poster, but news of an awesome new official contest for all Hunger Games fans!

Today’s poster of Katniss Everdeen includes a tagline pulled straight from the incredible words of Suzanne Collins – The sun persists on rising, so I make myself stand.

We are encouraging fans to design and illustrate the first chapter of ‘Catching Fire’ for the chance to see their work featured on The Hunger Games’ official Facebook page! Fans can incorporate photos, drawings, GIFs & video to create an eye-popping multimedia experience inspired by the words of the book – http://lions.gt/GlossiCF

What do you think of the poster? I love how the clouds become wings! Are you going to enter the Catching Fire illustration contest? If you do, we’d love if you could share your entries with us too – we always love to see your creative fan art!

New Official Catching Fire Poster and Contest My Hunger Games

Catching Fire Trailer Analysis: Part 2

Hamilton — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:53:22 +0000

My Hunger Games

Ok, so now we’ve all watched the Catching Fire trailer 25 million times (no, seriously, look at the view count on youtube) and you probably have it memorized by now. I did my frame by frame breakdown and made a lot of comments – some of which are probably right and some of which are probably wrong. We won’t know for sure until November. I’ve read through all of the comments by you, our readers, and there are some great observations there. I just wanted to share some of them here and respond to them.

1. Nearly all of you pointed out that what I called the Chariot Costumes in my breakdown are actually the outfits being worn to the banquet at Snow’s mansion. You all are probably right. I realize that is what the other scenes in that point of the trailer are from, but in my mind when I watched it, the “chins up, smiles on” line was Effie escorting the two of them either too or from the tribute parade. The costumes just looked too extravagant to be party outfits. The more I watch it though, the more it seems like that is all one scene at the mansion like you all have said. That means we still haven’t gotten a look at the chariot costumes – I hope they’re holding back something fantastic for us! The costumes from the first film were pretty good but a little bit of a letdown considering how they were described in the book.

2. I wondered what the scene where Gale and Katniss are running together was and you all answered with some certainty – they are running to The Hob as it burns to the ground. I don’t have my copy of Catching Fire right now to go back and check but I seem to remember that being something Katniss learns about after the fact. Am I remembering that incorrectly? Either way, it is quite reasonable to assume that in the film version she sees it in person and might even try to put out the fire with the rest of the people of The Seam. I’m inclined to agree that this is Katniss and Gale running to (or maybe from?) a burning Hob.

3. Reader Henry mentions that “not having access to guns is not necessarily the sign of a corrupt government. There are plenty of countries in the world, where citizens don’t have access to handguns and still have real democracy.” Of course, I didn’t mean to imply that countries with tight gun control have corrupt governments. It does make sense though that any corrupt government that is afraid of its people rising against it, as The Capitol obviously is, would certainly keep any weapons out of the hands of citizens. Thematically it is an effective way in film to illustrate who holds the power and what kind of power it is.

4. Reader KJ suggests that some of the scenes might be from Mockingjay since Francis Lawrence is directing those films as well. It’s always possible, but pretty unlikely. When shooting a movie you want to keep things as consistent as possible regarding costumes, lighting, actors, etc. I don’t think we’ll see any of these scenes in Mockingjay except maybe as flashbacks. I do agree with KJ and Lia though that the scene with Prim could very well be her and Katniss packing snow for Gale’s back wound. It would be a good opportunity for them to have a conversation about Prim’s future role as a healer.

Thanks for all the great comments and observations everyone! It’s always fun to analyze things like this and hopefully we’ll get something else interesting to discuss later today!

Catching Fire Trailer Analysis: Part 2 My Hunger Games

Catching Fire Trailer Analysis

Hamilton — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 23:46:38 +0000

My Hunger Games

When the very first Hunger Games trailer came out, I broke it down frame by frame, analyzing each scene, trying to figure out what part each was from and going over what I liked and didn’t like. Now that we’ve had a bit to digest the first Catching Fire trailer (how many times have you watched it?) it’s time to do the same thing again! Warning, here be spoilers of all shape and size.

Here’s the trailer again so you can follow along.

1. District 11

It’s a smooth transition from the end of The Hunger Games to the beginning of the Catching Fire trailer. Katniss and Peeta are being announced as the recent victors on their first stop on the victory tour in Disctrict 11. The mayor(?)’s announcement is reminiscent of Effie‘s “Welcome, welcome,” we all heard so many times as we replayed that very first trailer, giving a sense of continuity not only from the end of the first film, but from the very first trailer as well. From the first frame, it’s obvious this is a Hunger Games film. The same look is there as we are on the steps of another district courthouse.

2. The Peacekeepers

I like the new look. They still have a similar feel as the original peacekeepers, but are much more put together looking and much more menacing. In The Hunger Games, the peacekeepers looked pretty similar to what the police look like today, if they wore white uniforms. The new peacekeeper look is much more futuristic and menacing. Closer to a Star Wars stormtrooper than a police officer, which I think is great. The fact that they have been turned into even more faceless tools of The Capitol via the dark visors is perfect. I’m also noticing that they are very noticeably carrying guns. I could be mistaken, but I don’t think a gun ever turned up on screen during the first film. They are mentioned in the books, with The Capitol being the only ones allowed to have such weapons. Including them emphasizes the separation between The Capitol and the people and again reminds us that

this is actually a modern/futuristic society despite the fact that those in the poor districts are imprisoned in the past in some ways.

3. Effie

The book says she has pumpkin colored hair – looks like she’s right on the money here. Still has the crazy Effie fashion going on that we all love.

4. Katniss’s Hair

One of the things that stands out most is that Jennifer Lawrence has much darker hair in Catching Fire than The Hunger Games. Obviously this follows more closely to the book’s description of her, and also goes with the darker tone to the movie overall. It is a little distracting because I’m so used to seeing Katniss with lighter hair, but I do like the look better. It’s just jarring because it isn’t kept consistent. I wonder if it was died in the movie (though that doesn’t seem like a very Cinna thing to do) or if we’re just expected to accept that her hair has gotten darker since the end of the Games.

5. Snow

Oh Donald Sutherland, what a great President Snow you portray! I love how intelligent he is shown to be. The trailer makes it quite clear that he is not under any illusion that the “star crossed lovers” is anything more than an act, or that Katniss intended to become a symbol of revolution. “She’s just trying to save her skin,” he says in a scene that we were not privy to in the book.

6. Plutarch

Phillip Seymour Hoffman is not nearly as visually interesting as Plutarch as Seneca Crane was, which is a little disappointing. At the same time, it fits his character much better. He’s not about drawing attention to himself, but planning and manipulating things in the background. Plutarch is described as being a “large man,” and Hoffman fits that description nicely. He’s on the heavier side, but not only that, he just has a very large feeling about him. When he’s in the room, you know he’s in control. In that scene with Snow where they are plotting Katniss’s demise, he is wonderfully devious. We, of course, know that there is much more going on with him than anyone knows, and I have a feeling that his character is going to be played in such a way that unless you know what is happening, his motives and allegiance are going to be constantly second guessed, which is perfect.

7. “Show them that she is one of us.”

Initially this bothered me. Plutarch suggests that to destroy the meaning behind the Mockingjay, Katniss should be made to look like just another victor infatuated with The Capitol. There is nothing in the book that says that this was ever Snow’s intention – tainting Katniss’s image of a hope rallying symbol. When I think about it though, did Snow ever think that by putting on the star-crossed lovers act and going through with the wedding would convince anyone that she did not defy The Capitol with the berries – regardless of what motive the people thought she had? By turning her into a “media darling” of The Capitol, with the public wedding and everything that went with it, it makes perfect sense that Snow would hope the people would start to think less of her. I’m glad Catching Fire is continuing in the tradition of showing us some of the behind the scenes politics with Snow, giving us glimpses of his thought process instead of just what Katniss thinks is going on. While Seneca Crane was naive and showy, Plutarch knows just what is going on. His interactions with Snow are going to be fun to watch, I guarantee it.

8. Humvees and Graffiti

Again, this goes back to the fact that I think Panem is being portrayed more as the modern/futuristic place with recognizable elements like military vehicles and protest signs – “The odds are never in our favor,” spray painted on the walls is quite effective and building a real feeling, gritty world that is closer to what Panem would probably look like should we ever go down that path. One thing that bothered me about Gary Ross‘s portrayal is that despite the slick tech of The Capitol, Panem still felt like something out of the past – an alternate history rather than a grim future. I think that has changed here and I like it.

9. The District 11 Incident

It looks like the scene where Katniss inadvertently causes the death of the old man is much more explicit here rather than something she wasn’t supposed to know about. I love Josh Hutcherson‘s look of shock and horror at what just happened as the door slams in their face and the trigger is pulled.

10. “Be a distraction.”

Haymitch tells Katniss and Peeta right out that their job is to be a distraction to the bad stuff that is going on. Maybe my memory is faulty, but I don’t remember anything like that happening. It’s not until Katniss meets Bonnie and Twill that she even really has a clue that people are paying attention to her or rallying around her as a symbol of revolution. She never thinks of herself as someone to entertain people and distract them from the problems either. Of course, from what we know, Bonnie and Twill are cut from the film version so she has to come by these things through different means. I’m not so sure this would be something Haymitch would tell them though, but we’ll have to see how it plays out in context. I’m also not sure how I feel about Peeta being there as Haymitch is saying that “it doesn’t end after the trip.” The fact that her life has changed and the people she cares about are in danger because of being “the Mockingjay,” is more of a burden she carries by herself.

11. Chariot Costumes

The gothic-like costumes that Katniss and Peeta are wearing as Effie gives them the solid advice of “chins up, smiles on,” I can only assume are their costumes for the tribute parade. I can’t wait to see them in action, “glowing like embers” assuming those effects are added in as they are described. Everything about this story is darker than the first – and considering The Hunger Games is a pretty dark tale to begin with, that means things are going to get pretty bad. Everything about this trailer points us in that direction. While the flaming costumes made an impression and helped make Katniss a favorite to win, this costume is smouldering anger, reminding everyone how dangerous the two tributes from District 12 can be. I like how the feathers of the Mockingjay are subtly incorporated into Katniss’s outfit. Flames and feathers go well together.

12. Fireworks and Fire Breathers

The Capitol looks a little more lively and lived in this time around, which is good. I was disappointed that we didn’t really get to see a lot of The Capitol during the first film. It was a little too much digital background for me. This time around it looks like we might see a bit more of the city and its inhabitants.

13. Caeser Flickerman

Stanely Tucci is back as the energetic talk show host. I thought he was one of the best parts of the first film and I’m happy to get a glimpse of him announcing “the girl on fire,” here. His hair is appropriately changed to lavender and he looks as over the top as before, though I almost wish he was even more over the top.

14. Riots

It’s hard to tell where these riot scenes are from. Reading the book we know that there are protests happening all over Panem that Katniss doesn’t see, so they could really be just about anywhere. District 12 is being filmed in a different location for this movie, so I can’t even say for sure whether or not any of those scenes are from Katniss’s home. Again, I like how these scenes look much more like something we could see today in terms of style. There are modern vehicles and SWAT gear going on. It’s most likely that these are scenes from District 8 - even though Bonnie and Twill are not in the movie, we still know there is some pretty intense action that takes place there and that the people of that district are using the Mockingjay as their symbol of freedom and rebellion, like the flag that is being waved here.

15. Gale

This looks like Katniss trying to convince Gale to run off with her before everything goes south and his response that she needs to think about what she represents and not just about herself and her friends/family any longer. My guess is that the shots here are actually reversed and that the first scene with Gale is actually the response to the scene a few seconds later where she says that they have to go before they are killed. Oh, and then there is the kiss. I’m glad this is actually the only scene that implies the love triangle. Of course the relationships between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale are important, but I’m glad to see them not over emphasized. Ultimately the story of The Hunger Games is about much more than that, and promoting a triangle can only serve to alienate an audience who thinks this is just another Twilight. Just that scene with the kiss gives away more than enough.

16. Prim

I’m not sure what Prim is talking about here. Obviously she feels this way and once the revolution gets under way she acts on those feelings, but unless I’m forgetting something, there isn’t anything in Catching Fire that has Prim taking action. This could be a case of making her character more important, or a case of my looking too much into one line out of context. I like it though and can see that conversation being something that makes Katniss realize it’s not just about staying alive, but doing something with her life, ultimately leading her to accept the role as the Mockingjay.

17. Gale and Katniss Running

Again, it could be that it has been too long since I’ve read the book, but I can’t seem to come up with a part that this scene would fit. I don’t think it’s actually the same scene as the rioting and other people running from attacking Peace Keepers, though the way the trailer is edited it looks that way. Any ideas?

18. The Whipping

It’s always good to see key scenes confirmed. Gale getting whipped is pretty important and it looks like it could be a pretty brutal scene. A difference I noticed is that instead of the whip catching her in the face, Katniss gets punched here, though it doesn’t seem to do any damage. As we remember, her getting injured has some significance. The Peacekeeper also draws a gun on her. Perhaps she ends up taking a bullet to the side of her face instead? I don’t want to get all political, but once again I like the emphasis on how the government has the guns here. Once of the best ways to show an imbalance of power is by showing how a corrupt government is in control of firearms while the citizens have none to use to fight back. It helps show just how in control and abusive the Capitol really is.

19. The other Victors

We never get the answer in the books, but here, as Snow says the other victors must be eliminated, it is obvious that the Third Quarter Quell is not a coincidence, but a calculated move because of Katniss and Peeta’s unprecedented victory. It had never occurred to me before that it might not have been just about killing Katniss and the Mockingjay, but it is clear that Snow is now thinking that all other victors could pose a threat as well. It makes sense. They all have a sense of invulnerability and I don’t think Snow wants any of them – skilled killers and popular figures – deciding to form some sort of victor alliance with Katniss. Pitting a bunch of them against each other and eliminating a large amount at the same time is the obvious solution.

20. Closing Thoughts

This is a solid trailer by all accounts. It’s well constructed and intriguing without giving away too much. If you haven’t read the book it is unlikely that you would guess they end up back in the arena from what is shown here. We don’t even see any of the new tributes which makes things less confusing for someone who is not familiar with the story. A clear plot is outlined in as much as because of Katniss, the people are rising and using her as inspiration. It has a lot of political intrigue and looks to be setting up for some intense action. While that is a bit deceptive, knowing what happens, it is enough to get people’s interest. I think if I had not seen the first movie, this trailer might make me consider going back and watching it.

Catching Fire Trailer Analysis by Hamilton who also runs FilmHamster

Catching Fire Trailer Analysis My Hunger Games

Katniss Looks Pensive in Latest Catching Fire Still

Hamilton — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:42:59 +0000

My Hunger Games

The most recent still from Catching Fire has been released via The Hunger Games Explorer and it shows a worried looking Katniss looking off into the woods.

What scene do you think this is from and what do you think the next picture revealed is going to be?

Click for the full size

If you haven’t caught up with it yet, the Twitter

camapaign is calling on fans to tweet using the #HungerGamesExplorer tag in an effort to unlock five images from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

The first image released was of Katniss and Prim

You tributes are doing an amazing job! Keep it up, we got this!

Katniss Looks Pensive in Latest Catching Fire Still My Hunger Games

First Catching Fire Teaser Trailer to Premiere April 14

Hamilton — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:33:02 +0000

My Hunger Games

No fooling this time – MTV has just announced that they will be premiering the exclusive first look at the Catching Fire teaser trailer during the MTV Movie Awards, airing April 14, 9:00

pm Eastern / 8:00 Central.

And apparently it’s not just any old trailer, but two and a half minutes of “not-to-miss” footage from The Hunger Games sequel.

MTV also posted a video where we can catch the first glimpses of the film!

UPDATE 2 – Thanks to QuarterQuell.org, here is a youtube version of the video for those of you outside the US

MTV TO EXCLUSIVELY WORLD PREMIERE
THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED TEASER TRAILER

FOR LIONSGATE’S “THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE”
DURING THE “2013 MTV MOVIE AWARDS” LIVE

SUNDAY, APRIL 14 AT 9:00 P.M. ET/PT

Film’s Star Liam Hemsworth Will Introduce 2 ½ Minutes of Not-to-Miss Footage

Teaser Trailer to Debut Online at THEHUNGERGAMESEXPLORER.COM following the Show

First Catching Fire Teaser Trailer to Premiere April 14 My Hunger Games

EXCLUSIVE – Lionsgate Announces Hunger Games Twilight Crossover

Hamilton — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:11:43 +0000

My Hunger Games

UPDATE: Happy April Fool’s, everyone!

Exclusive: In a surprise move, Lionsgate has announced that there will be a Hunger Games Twilight crossover television show coming

to the CW this fall to coincide with the release of Catching Fire. From the press release:

“Ever since Lionsgate and Summit merged we have been excited at the prospect of having The Hunger Games and Twilight under one roof. Now we’re delighted to announce we’ve taken the next step in bringing the fans of both of these franchises together. This fall, the CW will debut a thrilling new television crossover series – The Hunger Games: New Light. If you’ve ever wondered if Katniss would have fallen for Edward or how well Bella and Jacob would have fared in the Arena, now is your chance to find out. The principal cast from both franchises has signed on to star in this epic mini series crossover event. We’re really excited about this and think both fandoms will be as well.

What do you think? Are you surprised by this news? Will you watch New Light?

EXCLUSIVE – Lionsgate Announces Hunger Games Twilight Crossover My Hunger Games

How Passover is Like The Hunger Games

Hamilton — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:18:49 +0000

My Hunger Games

If you’re Jewish, you’re probably celebrating Passover right now. Had enough of matzah yet? Smoosh has put together a list of how the story of how Moses led the Israelites out of captivity is like The Hunger Games. It’s pretty entertaining and if you’re not Jewish, you just might learn something!

The Good Guys Are Enslaved To Tyrannical Overlords

This is the most obvious one. Each story involves major haters. In The Hunger Games, you’ve got President Snow and his Capitol goons. The story of Passover has Pharaoh and anyone who supported ancient pyramid-building labor laws. The underdogs live in horrible conditions and need to leave civilization (i.e. hunt in woods, struggle through the desert) to help themselves.

Everyone Wants To Kill The Children

When the going gets tough, storytellers throughout time screw over the children. In The Hunger Games, we have the Games themselves, in which each district is forced to offer up one child (usually a firstborn, since they’re the ones entering their names multiple times for the sake of getting their siblings food). The story of Passover begins with Pharaoh ordering that all Jewish male children be killed. And when we’re done with that, we get into the slaying of the firstborns as one of the plagues. Kid-killing is like its own genre of literature. Axe the old people, next time!

There’s The Hero And The Spokesperson

How weird is that? The person we’re supposed to identify with in both stories (Katniss, Moses) is the one who’s like, “People don’t like me. I’m not good with public speaking.” They’re forced to pair up with a mouthpiece (Peeta, Aaron) in order to survive. Moses and Aaron don’t
order cialis online

hook up, though, that I know of.

Head on over to Smoosh to read the rest of the similiarities.

How Passover is Like The Hunger Games My Hunger Games

Catching Fire Character Portrait – President Snow

Hamilton — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:26:17 +0000

My Hunger Games

The latest Catching Fire Character Portrait can best be descirbed as evil in it’s most elegant form. Say hello to President Snow.

This is the last of the Capitol Couture portraits and has been brought to us from yahoo. We’d love to know what you thought of the portraits. Is there anyone else you would have liked to have seen sitting in the chair. I particularly loved seeing the new characters – Beetee, Johanna and Finnick, while I thought Katniss in the wedding dress was spectacular!

See the rest of the portraits:

Effie Trinket
Caesar Flickerman
Haymitch Abernathy
Cinna
Katniss
Beetee
Johanna Mason
Peeta
Gale
Finnick
President Snow

Catching Fire Character Portrait – President Snow My Hunger Games

Costume Designer Trish Summerville Talks Katniss Wedding Dress and More

Hamilton — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:26:16 +0000

My Hunger Games

When Katniss was revealed to be in a wedding dress in her Capitol Portrait, of course we all wondered if it was the wedding dress. Costume designer Trish Summerville talked to The Hollywood Reporter about this and other costumes we’ve seen so far.

“Katniss’ white gown is by a designer named Tex Saverio in Jakarta. He is amazing! I found his designs quite some time ago and saved his information for a perfectly fitting project, then came Catching Fire – perfect!” she said.

…

“We did several Skype calls with sketches to work together in designing the wedding dress. I had seen a dress he designed with a similar metal bodice, and I wanted to incorporate
cialis in uk

it into our wedding-dress design,” Summerville adds.

She also pointed out the bodice, a Swarovski-crystal-clad “organza corset under a metal cage.” The metal pieces rising up are meant to signify fire and flames, while layers of laser-cut feathers at the waist and shoulder tie in the film’s “Mockingjay” concept.

The skirt also has numerous layers of organza and chiffon ruffles giving it grandness but still making it seem airy and fluid for movement. As Summerville explains, “This is very important for the twirling/ spinning Katniss does onstage, per Caesar Flickerman’s request.”

Summerville confirms that Effie Trinket’s red ruffled poster dress and matching shoes are indeed from the house of Alexander McQueen, as THR had reported. But she also reveals that Peeta’s suit is by a Korean designer that she is “obsessed with” called Juunj. “He is unbelievably talented,” she writes. “And Peeta’s boots are by Rick Owens. “

What do you think – is it too early to be revealing this dress? Is it pre or post twirling Mockingjay reveal? With talk about the flame and mockingjay inspiration behind the dress, it would seem odd that this would be the Capitol approved design.

Via THR.

Costume Designer Trish Summerville Talks Katniss Wedding Dress and More My Hunger Games

Catching Fire Character Portrait – Gale

Hamilton — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:19:59 +0000

My Hunger Games

The latest Catching Fire Character Portait comes to us

from PopSugar: Say hello to Gale.

Any guesses as to why the Capitol decided to give him his own portrait??

The next clue says: He’s the #CatchOfTheCapitol! 3pm PT, @MTV. Retweet for #YourCapitolCrush. No prizes for guessing FINNICK! Can’t wait to see what Sam Claflin looks like and how the Capitol will protray him.

Check out the other portraits:

Effie Trinket
Caesar Flickerman
Haymitch Abernathy
Cinna
Katniss
Beetee
Johanna Mason
Peeta
Gale
Finnick
President Snow

Catching Fire Character Portrait – Gale My Hunger Games