I have recently started reading "The Hunger Games" series by Suzanne Collins.  At first I did not think I could get into a sci-fi type of novel, but I found out... I was wrong!  I love it!  I whizzed through the first two books in days and now I have moved onto the third book.  In total there are three books, that will be made into movies.  The first book "The Hunger Games" will be released later this year... I'm torn.  Sometimes I really, really love the books so much that the movies stand no chance in my mind.  I hope not to offend, but the "Twilight" movies disappointed me greatly.  I LOVED the books, however the movies did nothing for me.  I have a feeling this will be the case with "The Hunger Games."

The premise for "The Hunger Games" :
In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Collins's characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing. This book will definitely resonate with the generation raised on reality shows like 'Survivor' and 'American Gladiator.' 
(Taken from Amazon.com)


I really enjoyed the first two books and just bought the third book! 

What Do You Think?

So... I know this is a blog about movies and such, but I have a short story I'd like some feedback on =)
Let me know what you think?  I'd like to do this every now and again for a little bit of feedback.

                                                            THAT BASTARD 

“Remember that day you slammed my finger in the door? I bled so badly that ruined my brand new white shirt.  Do you remember?”  He says somewhat annoyed, “Yes.  Yes, I remember! God ,will you ever let that go?  I mean really!”  The girl slowly walks into the kitchen staring at the man she used to love and pours a glass of water.  “That shirt costs me one hundred and fifty dollars.  I waited all season to buy it.  Ruined because you never pay attention.  Then to top it all off I had to pay a three hundred dollar hospital bill!”  The man yells from the living room while completly engrossed in whatever is on the television at that moment, “Jesus, I told you I’d pay for the shirt and the bill!  You said no… It’s just something else to rub in my face.  God! I just want to watch TV in peace.”  Circling the living room, the girl picks up the remains of the man’s lunch and cleans up around him. “I only bring it up because that is the finger where something else should be! It’s been three years and you know exactly what I’m talking about.”  “Well”, the man says matter of factly, “ think of the scar from the stitches as a ring and how much I care!”  Fuming she throws a dish at him and storms towards the door,    “ You bastard!  When I’m gone and not around to clean up your mess you’ll regret those words!”  She slams the door behind and storms off in a huff.   The man looks in his pocket and pulls out a ring.  “She’ll be back.”  With an awkward smile he puts it back in his pocket and stares mindlessly at the TV.  She made up her mind this time…. she was never going back to him.  Who cares about his smile and the laugh she grew to love?  It was done.  He had gone too far.   She was moving on…. She had to move on; being stuck is no way to live.

If YOU ARE IN THE MOOD FOR SILLY COMEDIES...

"Saved!" is one of the best movies ever. I can state this do to the fact that I have seen it a million times.  It is a little cheesy, but given the fact that I did 14 years in Catholic school, I can relate!  It was a featured premiere at Sundance (which I attended) in January of 2004. I can honestly say (and not because I had become friendly with) that the actors in this movie are perfectly cast. I don't want to give away anything about this movie because I want to make people see it. The co-writer/director, Brian Danelly, is a mastermind… Cute movie alert! "Win A Date With Tad Hamilton" was such a surprisingly good movie. Kate Bosworth was so cute and "Tad Hamilton" himself, Josh Duhamel, isn’t too bad either,lol. It was a light comedy, which required absolutely no thinking what so ever. It is a good chill out movie. I originally thought it was going to be cheesy, but after watching it my mind was completely changed. Ms. Bosworth gets hometown points, having grown up in Cohasset, MA. Don’t expect a huge plot or anything of that nature… It just is entertainment.

OBSCURE, but GREAT movie ALERT!

Hannah Takes the Stairs-

 First off, I must give kudos to the writers/actors in this film.  It was all the way indie (yeah!!!!) and in a word.... engaging.  The film was written by Greta Gerwig, Kent Osbourne, Joe Swanberg (who directed as well), but also lists the rest of the cast as adding additional material (very cool to get props for adlibbing or fixing lines!!).  This movie is very much low budget and shot on a dv camera....  so I automatically loved it.

 Now about the story.... Hannah is a twenty something playwright working for a TV show developing a pilot, but really all they do is goof off.  She is a serial dater who calls herself "chronically dissatisfied". NICE!!  She likes the smart, GEEKY, goofy kind of guys.  These are in fact pretty much the type of guys who she is surrounded by daily.  She infiltrates the overrated “no dating in the work place” line with ease.  I must say BRAVO to her ability to break up and move on rather quickly!!!  The movie basically revolves around Hannah and her "chronic dissatisfaction" with men.  There is a bit of full frontal on both the female and male end of things... just a warning! Oh, I have to mention that there are some beautiful captures of awkward silence between Hannah and her guys.  It almost made me feel uncomfortable.   I loved it! And the last shot of the movie is priceless! It almost makes me want to take up the trumpet!

What ever happened to growing old gracefully?

"The Golden Compass"-

Ok. It was a long movie, however, I liked it (in a non-conventional way).  I liked the Narnia movies too, though.  I read all "The Chronicles Of Narnia" books when I was younger, but I hated the cartoon version they had out.  So, I never went to the movies to see it.  I hate really long movies that I know children will be at.  I know if I'm 31 and I get antsy and fidget....  a kid definitely will.  Nicole Kidman's non-moving, botoxed to the high heavens, face was really scary!!!! I loved the little girl, Liira, and the fact that she is going to be the hero.  The ending was such a "Back to the Future II" ending.... you know it led you right to the next step... than BOOM... to be continued.  UGH... I hate that!!!! Suspense is so awful.  I'm an instant gratification kind of person in these cases.  Now, I have to wait for the sequel… whenever that will be.  I like movies that stimulate the imagination here and there.   I'm still not over Nicole Kidman's face, man.  Botox is stupid for actors.  Isn't the emotion supposed to show in your face??? Hello?? I really like her too, but the no wrinkle forehead is creepy.  Jeez.... what ever happened to growing old gracefully?