The Romance of The Hunger Games

What's wrong here is to know that the Girl you want

 (Katniss) is in the game with you!?

But Wait a Minute, what about Gale?

Which one would you pick?? Care to vote??

Natalie says: So, I realize The Hunger Games has romantic overtones, but am I the only one who saw it as something more than that? I mean, Katniss is not a particularly romantic character, and while she does fall in love, the story isn't really all about that. I get a little disappointed when I see people only discussing the romantic aspects of the book, because it's such an epic action novel as well.

The Hunger Games is a cautionary tale about our own culture's obsession with reality TV and how we don't care who it hurts as long as we're entertained. It's also about government's pervasive influence in our daily lives and what would happen if those two things were to be married. I mean, sure, the romance is a very interesting element that helps us learn about the characters as people (not to mention I'm all for people interpreting books the way they want to, I mean, that's the point of stories in the first place...), but there's a much larger message that I think tends to be ignored when the romance a much easier and less scary thing to talk about than casting a critical eye on our obsession with television and flash over substance.
Does anyone else feel this way?
Anyone disagree and want to defend their position?

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/575349-romance-or-something-more  Give your opinion?

Romance? Yes, but ongoing Action is its main draw.

Both in the Movie and on the set:

During the three-month shoot in North Carolina, the cast members weathered grueling workouts and 14-hour days on the set. "It's a very physical film," a production insider tells OK! exclusively. "But the cast was hard-working and wanted to do justice to the characters."
They even survived stifling heat, humidity — and bugs! "It was like some weird summer camp," said Jennifer, who plays Katniss, and who got to play hero in real life when someone stepped on a hornets' nest on the set. "I got stung four times in the face, [but] Jennifer came to the rescue," says Amandla Stenberg, who plays Rue. "She picked me up and ran to the car!"   http://www.okmagazine.com/news/ok-cover-story-exclusive-hunger-games-secret-romance


By Molly Reff Contributing writer

With just days until the premiere of the long-awaited film, “The Hunger Games,” fans everywhere are ordering their tickets for the midnight premiere Friday. Suzanne Collins’ critically acclaimed trilogy has been said to be as popular as the “Twilight” or “Harry Potter” series. People are buying T-shirts, re-reading the books, and choosing whether they’re Team Peeta or Team Gale.

What makes “The Hunger Games” successful is its combination of action and romance. Katniss fights for her life but can’t help acting like she loves the boy from her district, Peeta. Whether it’s only for the cameras, nobody’s sure. The book also has so much suspense, making readers want to stay up that extra hour to read the next chapter. Fans can relate to the story, too. Sure, none of us have been forced to fight against 23 teenagers on television for a shot at a better life, but we’ve had times where we’ve had to be brave and take risks. Katniss says that she wants to win the Games in order to help her mother and sister. We all can remember a time where we’ve had to make sacrifices for our family.

I can’t tell you what happens at the end of “The Hunger Games” but I can tell you that its immense action and conflicting romances have been captivating readers since its 2008 publication. Fans can’t wait to see it hit the big screen. Whether or not you can get tickets, well, “may the odds be ever in your favor.”

Katniss, Peeta and Gale

Did you see the Film?

The Hunger Games Weapons of Choice

Fandango's Interview of Katniss at the Bottom of this Post

Katniss' Weapon was the Bow.  To train for her part some days she drove over 60 miles.  She had to learn Archery and was required to climb walls and  do vaults and jumps.  It was lots of work but she loved it.

I had Archery for many weeks...

 Josh Hutcherson remembers, "Everyone else was learning to do the weapons and things like that.  And in this film, Peeta doesn't do a whole lot with the weapons.  So for me it was all about getting into the right physical condition, which was bigger than I was.  They wanted me to put on about 15 pounds of pure muscle for the role, so I had to eat a lot of food and I was working out five days a week -- it was very rigorous."

Katniss and Gale

For Dato, Alexander Ludwig, it was the Sword.  "We did some very intense fight training.  That's what I was focusing on the most, because that is what Cato is really," says Alexander Ludwig, "Cato's weapon of choice is a giant steel sword.  I like to think I've become very skilled with the sword..."

Cato's character is kind of brutal.  "I like to think that Cato, before he gets into the Games, is kind of popular and charming, but he's always had that violent anger inside of him.  When he gets into the Games he gets lost in this whole sick game and he almost goes insane toward the end."  Alexander Ludwig.

Fandango's Interview Video

If you're planning to celebrate today's The Hunger Games release, might we suggest a party? In this case, the fun is in the details. They may be called the Hunger Games, but nobody will go hungry with food like lamb stew with dried plums and fresh bread topped with goat cheese. Turn your home into a scene from the glamorous Capitol, and discuss what your strategies in the arena would be. For our party suggestions, keep reading.    Go here for some very cool ideas.... http://www.yumsugar.com/Hunger-Games-Party-Idea-22332471

The Food of the Hunger Games

Food is a Big Part of The Hunger Games Story

The name The Hunger Games seems to have no relationship with the story at first.  But food, its quality and quantity is the ongoing underlying story.  Much of President Snow's control is maintained by the give and take of food availability.  By Watching the changing food from the outlying districts as the players move toward the Capitol you can see a steady improvement in the quality and looks of everyones food.

The Food of The Hunger Games

Something I’ve been wanting to do for a while is post blog entries that list all the foods in a particular book, which gives me a nice, concise list of foods to tackle for any given novel. 
So without further ado, here’s my hit list for the first book in The Hunger Games Trilogy (some of it already done). Some are meals and some are just single items. You’ll be surprised at just how much food there is in this one book!    See this list of Food at :  http://www.fictionalfood.net/2011/09/fictional-food-hit-list-hunger-games/

"What's impressed you the most since you arrived here?" I rack my brain for something that made me happy here. Be honest, I think. Be honest. "The lamb stew," I get out. Caesar laughs, and vaguely I realize some of the audience has joined in. -Katniss, The Hunger Games

Katniss first tried this stew on her way to participate in the Hunger Games. She loved it so much, she ordered it as her final meal before stepping into the Games to fight for her life. Before trying stew, Katniss had only eaten bread and squirrels she hunted illegally. While you probably won’t be foraging for squirrel meat before you try Herbed Lamb Stew, it will fill you with a hearty richness that will leave you wishing you were hungrier.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/03/22/hunger-games-tribute-recipes/#ixzz1q2YEMcRm

Katniss' Lamb Stew

Get the Recipe Here: http://www.foxnews.com/recipe/katniss’-favorite-herbed-lamb-stew

At one point in the story when Katniss is starving Peeta tosses here some Burnt Rolls to eat.



Burnt Rolls from Peeta



Have you always wondered what Katniss’ favorite Lamb Stew tastes like? Did you read about all the glorious food of the Capitol and just want to eat it along with Katniss and Peeta? Even some of the food in District 12 sound appetizing? You’re in luck! Short-Story author Emily Ansara Baines debuts ‘The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook‘ on December 14th! After a short introduction, the chapter lists include Breakfast of Champions, Breaking Bread, Humble Beginnings and Wild Games for Wild Girls. The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook also includes Tips from Your Sponsor, which are some small tips to make the recipes a little easier, and Katniss’s Family Book of Herbs. Want to try a recipe before you buy? The recipe for Katniss’s Favorite Lamb Stew has been released! If you give it a try, let us know what you think!

Of course in the Capitol the food look so good you didn't have to eat it to feel good.



Almost too Good to Eat



Anyone for Pig?

 Are you up to a food challenge?  All Raw Food?  Then Watch this....

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss

"The rules of the Hunger Games are simple.  In punishment for the uprising, each of the twelve districts must provide one girl and one boy, called tributes, to participate.  The Twenty-four Tributes will be imprisoned in a vast outdoor arena that could hold anything from a burning desert to a frozen wasteland.  Over a period of several weeks, the competitors must fight to the death.  The Last Tribute Standing Wins."
--- From The Hunger Games

Jennifer is not unknown, having earned an oscar nomination for her role in Winter's Bone.  In The Hunger Games she plays Katniss.

Gary Ross says of Jennifer's audition:  "I've worked with amazing actors.  Someone like Jen comes by once ina a generation.  I mean, this is an unbelievably rare thing.  This is Michael Jordan, this is Barashnikov, this talent is almost stunning to witness.  There's nothing you can ask her to do that she can't do."

Peeta played by Josh Hutcherson

"And then we moved on to Peeta and Gale," says Robin Bissell, "and it was almost exactly the same thing.  Josh came in and he sat down and read the cave scene, where he's hurt and Katniss is nursing him back to life, and immediately he was Peeta.  I mean it was so clear."

Also with past acting experience as Laser in 'The Kids are All Right', back in 2010.  Same year that Jennifer did Winter's Bone.

Suzanne Collin's the author of the book-trilogy said this about Josh at his Audition. "If Josh had been bright Purple and had had six foot wings and gave that audition, I'd have been like, 'Cast Him! We can work around the wings!'  He was that Good."

 To learn the Acting Skills needed  to enter Commercials Now!

Click Here!

Hunger Games Is Finally Here

Thats right, if you like a movie where those in power decide to hit the adults where they hurt the most, through their kids?  Yeah, bring it on!  Out of 24 kids, 2 from each district, only one is allowed to survive.

Jennifer Lawrence is Katniss

Katniss volunteers to be one of the candidates to save Primrose?  What guts, and as the movie(book) progresses she show she is a true Heroine.

Here we have a synopsis that rings:  Hollywood didn't screw up the film version of Suzanne Collins' young-adult bestseller about a survival-of-the-fittest reality show that sends home all its teen contestants, save the victor, in body bags. The screen "Hunger Games" radiates a hot, jumpy energy that's irresistible. It has epic spectacle, yearning romance, suspense that won't quit and a shining star in Jennifer Lawrence, who gives us a female warrior worth cheering.

That's more than you can say for the castration job that the suits did on Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" franchise. I'll admit that "Games" isn't the scary, eruptive firecracker of my dark,   See the Rest here: http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/22/showbiz/movies/hunger-games-review-rs/index.html

But the Trailers have the feel of the book and draw us in.  Will you be 1st in line tomorrow?  Behind me, I would bet!

Hunger Games Trailer

Hunger Games Trailer HD. First official HD Trailer of The Hunger Games Movie, after a first teaser, unveils the Gary Ross Movie starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth.

‘The Hunger Games’ Ultimate Hope Trailer!

Here’s a new Hunger Games trailer that expands on the original countdown trailer, with a couple amazing new scenes!



If you are really into the story and would like to read the books you can get them here at Amazon.


 

   The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxed Set

Here, we provide a quick introduction to the key players in Panem, the post-apocalyptic country where the story takes place (See? You just learned something new!). Keep clicking to find out more about the cast and characters, so you're prepared when "The Hunger Games" hits theaters March 23.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8334-31749_162-57401037-10391698/the-hunger-games-a-look-at-the-cast-and-key-players-in-panem/

Don't Miss it?  See You There!

The Hunger Games Movie