An Overview of “The Hunger Games” Trilogy

"The Hunger Games" - Image via Wikipedia

“The Hunger Games” is the best-selling YA book series by Suzanne Collins.  The titles the make up the trilogy are “The Hunger Games”, “Catching Fire”, and “Mockingjay”. As a whole the series is quite gripping and it is definitely one of those series that draws you in, so much that you need to know how it ends.

To describe “The Hunger Games” trilogy think “Lord of the Flies” meets “Gladiator” with an essence of “Harry Potter” and “Percy Jackson”. The Heroine of the novel is Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year old girl, who basically is the “chosen one”. In a time where poverty is high, the Capitol, which is the governing body hosts annual games where children/teens compete from different Districts for food for their Districts and riches for their families. There only can be one winner, as they would be the sole survivor…literally. Also the competition is a reality show and each competitor, called tributes in the novel, gets their own team of stylists and coaches, whom all strategize to promote their tributes and try to keep them alive. While the competition is underway, the tributes who become popular may receive gifts from sponsors and these gifts received during the games can be the key(s) to their survival.

“The Dark Knight Rises” – Teaser Trailer

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Check out the teaser trailer for “The Dark Knight Rises”, which is slated to be released in theaters on July 20, 2012. Returning stars include Christian Bale who plays Bruce Wayne/Batman, Michael Caine (Alfred), Gary Oldman (Jim Gordon), and Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox). Anne Hathaway joins the cast as Selina Kyle/Catwoman. As for the rest of the cast, this “final” installment of “Dark Knight” prequels seems to be Batman meets Inception (which Christopher Nolan also directed) as most of the Inception cast sans Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page are in this movie. Those cast members include Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy who plays Bane, and Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose”).

To view the full cast list visit IMDB.com. Thoughts on the trailer? Share them in the comments section below!

“X-Factor” First Look Video

Check out the World Premiere Preview of Simon Cowell’s “X-Factor”, which aired during the MLB’s 82nd All-Star game on Tuesday, July 12, 2011. “X-Factor” will be airing this Fall of 2011 on Fox. Joining Simon Cowell on the judging panel will be L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul, and Nicole Scherzinger.

The X Factor‘s two-night series premiere airs Wednesday, Sept. 21, and Thursday, Sept. 22.

“Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” – Trailer

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Check out the first trailer for “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”, which is due out in theaters on December 16, 2011. This time around as hinted from the first “Sherlock Holmes” film, Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) faces Professor Moriarty played by Jared Harris. Has Sherlock Holmes met his match?

Jude Law returns as Dr. Watson along with some new faces. Full cast list can be found on IMDB.com:

You can also watch the trailer in HD on Apple.com. For more info. on the movie, visit the official website for “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”.

Summer Movie Season: July 2011

The Summer Movie Season is in full swing! The box office this month is sure to set off fireworks! The films this month are sure to please all as the themes of the month are Fun, Fantasy, Laughs, and Action. The month kicks off with Selena Gomez starring in “Monte Carlo” which is reminiscent of a “Prince and the Pauper” type of theme in terms of mistaken identity of individuals from different social classes.

Following week we have “Horrible Bosses”, which I feel can be a sleeper hit. The film stars Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, and Colin Farrell as the “Horrible Bosses” while Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and SNL‘s Jason Sudeikis are the employees that work for them. The film also stars Academy Award winner, Jamie Foxx (“Ray”). From the writers of “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”, Kevin James stars in “Zookeeper”, which looks like a cross between “Dr. Dolittle” and “Night at the Museum”. It could be a big hit or a big flop.

Mid-month is probably one of the most anticipated films this summer, which is the final installment of the “Harry Potter” franchise, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II”. This film definitely promises to be a big box office hit. I know I’m excited to see it!

Chris Evans (“Fantastic Four”) is Captain America in the next Marvel comic hero film, “Captain America: The First Avenger”. This film could go either way, but it definitely won’t stop movie goers from going to see it. Also opening with “Captain America”, is “Friends with Benefits” starring Justin Timberlake (“The Social Network”) and Mila Kunis (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”). Not sure how this is any different than “No Strings Attached“, as it is a similar premise but perhaps it has a different angle.

Toward the end of the month we have “Cowboys & Aliens”. The film stars James Bond star Daniel Craig and Indiana Jones‘ Harrison Ford with direction by “Iron Man” director Jon Favreau and Steven Spielberg producing, this film promises to be a big production. Also opening the same weekend is the 80’s cartoon brought to the screen in CG and in 3D, “The Smurfs” The film stars Neil Patrick Harris (“How I Met Your Mother”), Jayma Mays (“Glee”), and Hank Azaria (“Run Fatboy Run”).

My spotlight picks of the month are “The Ledge” and Crazy, Stupid, Love.” “The Ledge” is a thriller that stars Liv Tyler (“Lord of the Rings”) and she is caught in between two men, Charlie Hunnam (“Nicholas Nickelby”) and Patrick Wilson (“Phantom of the Opera”) who have differing religious beliefs as one is an atheist and the other is a devoted Christian. Crazy, Stupid, Love. stars Steve Carrell (“The Office”) in a film that is reminiscent of “Dan in Real Life” but yet seems different in a way. The film also stars Emma Stone (“Easy A”), Academy Award nominee Ryan Gosling (“Half Nelson”), and Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei (“My Cousin Vinny”).

Well that’s my July overview, click on the link below to check out the rest of the movies coming out this month and check back next month for more Summer Movie Season picks and if you’ve seen any of the films from this month…leave some feedback/suggestions in the Comments section on what to see.