The Hunger Games Exhibition - San Francisco

The Hunger Games Exhibition is in San Francisco! It's been open since February, and the engagement has been pushed back to sometime in July. That means fans have four months left to enjoy what is, in my opinion, the greatest Hunger Games experience for fans out there. It won't stay there forever, so we highly recommend check out the exhibit for yourself. It's highly interactive, educational, and a nice trip down memory lane for long time fans. It's also located at the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts, a sight to see in itself.

Check out photos from the exhibit. For those who plan on going....um.....spoilers?

Introduction of the tour. Projected schematics from Production Designer Phil Messina.

35 Totally Rad Facts from the Mockingjay Part 1 Special Features

HAPPY MOCKINGJAY PART 1 BLU-RAY RELEASE DAY!!!

We hope you all are already enjoying your Mockingjay Part 1 Blu-Ray/DVDs today and whether you are enjoying it by yourself or with friends, we hope it's a RAD experience. The special features in particular are the best that's ever been released so we really want to encourage you guys to enjoy the Making Of documentary and/or the audio commentary from Francis and Nina.

If you don't plan on buying your own and you live in the US remember you guys can enter our giveaways on Instagram and/or our Blu-Ray review page.

Also, if you DO have the Blu-Ray and want to know how to access the easter egg, you can check that out HERE.

The Special Features on the Blu-Ray are VERY informative and for the lazy, but really because we felt like it, we've compiled a list of the most awesome tidbits of info we learned from watching the documentary and the audio commentary. Enjoy!



1. Julianne Moore read the books and sought out the role of Coin specifically.

2.  Mockingjay Part 1 & 2 were filmed all at once.

3. Julianne Moore is a big reason why Coin will have such a drastic character arc in the films.

4. The machines in the control room and other places in District 13 are NASA inspired.

5. Sets for the most part are 100% real, only the extensions are blue screen.

6. Francis went out of the way to make sure the film did not look digital by using smoke, soft lighting, and old lenses.

7. The Bunker staircase is mostly real and pretty long. They built a whole structure to hold it outside the studio, and only the very bottom of it is green screen to extend the effect further.

8. The Bunker set had 100+ real beds installed to add depth to the bombing scene.

9. The Art Department grew 8,000-10,000 plants for the District 13 Hydroponics Department, which isn’t even in the final cut of the film.

10. Wes Chatham and Elden Henson created their own form of sign language, which can be seen in the background of certain scenes.

11. Robert Knepper who plays Antonius is Production Designer Phil Messina’s neighbor.

12. Kurt & Bart wanted to steer away from a superhero look and more of a soldier look for the Mockingjay outfit.

13. The Mockingjay outfit breastplate is actually an iridescent blue referencing a Mockingjay’s wings.

14. The Mockingjay outfit inspiration stems from Japanese archers.

15. The Mockingjay outfit wings were modeled like armor and hold the quiver in place.

16. Cinna’s sketchbook is actually the Kurt & Bart's conceptual design for the Mockingjay outfit.

17. 80-90 prosthetic charred corpses were made for the District 12 scenes.

18. Extensive prosthetic makeup for all the extras in the District 8 hospital scene was such a large scale that it required an exorbitant amount of organization.

19. The Make-Up department worried about the rating of the film due to some prosthetic pieces being so gory.

20. The Hanging Tree scene was shot in an actual Quarry to reflect it taking place in District 12.

21. Half of the District 8 action sequence was shot in Atlanta, half in Germany. The shots inside the factory take place in Germany.

22. 28 giant loom machines were flown in from India for the District 8 factory scenes in Germany.

23. In order to achieve a realistic hovercraft physical effect, a craft was built and suspended by a crane with the actors inside. This part of the documentary is actually really fascinating and a little suspenseful. We HIGHLY recommend seeing it for yourself.

24. For the Tribute Center rescue scene, stuntmen repelled down the entire 500 feet of the Marriot hotel. Mahershala and Liam repelled down the last 100 feet to achieve the full effect.

25. Jennifer’s take of The Hanging Tree on set is the actual version they used.

26. A quote from Alfred Hitchcock inspired Francis Lawrence to move the split to one with some sort of resolution.

27. The beginning of Mockingjay Part 1 originally started with Katniss’ walk through District 12 like the book

28. The research for District 13 came from past contained civilizations.

29. It was only 10 degrees in the first Hangar scene with Jennifer, Mahershala, and Liam.

30. There were 2 Buttercups: One that was good for holding and one for action such as the crazy cat scene.

31. A blooper reel of Part 1 exists…. somewhere.

32. The first Peeta interview scene originally took place in Coin's office.

33. The VFX team responsible for making Chris Evans skinny in Captain America is the same they used for Peeta and Johanna’s tortured looks.

34. Katniss intervening the broadcast to lure in President Snow was Suzanne Collins' idea.

35. Before the split moved, Katniss in the hospital with the neck brace was to be the first scene in Mockingjay Part 2.

Mockingjay Part 1 to be released in IMAX 3D PRESS RELEASE

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 2” SOARS INTO IMAX® 3D THEATERS STARTING NOVEMBER 20

SANTA MONICA, Calif., February 6, 2015 – IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a premier next generation global content leader, today announced that The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, the next installment of the global blockbuster Hunger Games franchise, will be digitally re-mastered into the immersive IMAX® format and released in IMAX® 3D theaters domestically for the film’s November 20th rollout.

“I’m thrilled Mockingjay – Part 2 will be in IMAX theaters,” said director Francis Lawrence. “Fans will now have the chance to see the film in any format they want, which is exciting; we recently saw the 3-D version of Mockingjay – Part 1 before its release in China, and the new level of immersion was really fantastic.”

“It’s exciting to be back in The Hunger Games world and once again team up with our partners at Lionsgate, director Francis Lawrence and producers Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik on what we believe will be a thrilling, action-packed finale to this blockbuster franchise,” said Greg Foster, Senior Executive Vice President, IMAX Corp. and CEO of IMAX Entertainment. “The fan enthusiasm and cultural impact that this series has generated has been truly remarkable and we are thrilled to offer audiences the opportunity to experience the last chapter in IMAX 3D.”

The IMAX® 3D version of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX® DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

The blockbuster Hunger Games franchise has taken audiences by storm around the world, grossing more than $2.2 billion at the global box office, and it was the #1 movie of the year two years in a row domestically. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 now brings the franchise to its powerful fourth chapter in which Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) now fully realizes the stakes are no longer just for survival -- they are for the future.

With the nation of Panem in a full scale war, Katniss confronts President Snow (Donald Sutherland) in the final showdown. Teamed with a group of her closest friends – including Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Finnick (Sam Claflin), and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) – Katniss goes off on a mission with the unit from District 13 as they risk their lives to stage an assassination attempt on President Snow who has become increasingly obsessed with destroying her.  The mortal traps, enemies, and moral choices that await Katniss will challenge her more than any arena she faced in The Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 is directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Peter Craig and Danny Strong and features an acclaimed cast including Academy Award®-winner Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Willow Shields, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone with Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland reprising their original roles from The Hunger Games and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The impressive lineup is joined by The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 co-stars five-time Academy Award®-nominee Julianne Moore, Mahershala Ali, Natalie Dormer, Wes Chatham, Elden Henson and Evan Ross.

###

ABOUT THE HUNGER GAMES

The first three installments of the global blockbuster Hunger Games franchise have grossed more than $2.2 billion at the worldwide box office and counting.  The last two installments of The Hunger Games franchise (Catching Fire and Mockingjay – Part 1) have become the highest-grossing releases at the domestic box office each of the past two years, the first time ever for back-to-back sequels. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire also holds the record as the 10th highest-grossing domestic release of all time.

Based on Suzanne Collins' best-selling trilogy of books which has already sold more than 82 million copies around the world, The Hunger Games franchise continues to expand into exciting new lines of business. Lionsgate will launch a U.S. tour of “The Hunger Games: The Exhibition” in Summer 2015 and is teaming with Imagine Nation to bring The Hunger Games live theatrical experience to London in Summer 2016.  Additionally, The Hunger Games Kabam video game launched in November 2014 as the #3-ranking game on Google worldwide. 

The next installment of the record-breaking franchise, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, will be released on November 20, 2015, directed by Francis Lawrence and starring Academy Award® winner Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Woody Harrelson.

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate is a premier next generation global content leader with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, digital distribution, channel platforms and international distribution and sales. The Company currently has more than 30 television shows on over 20 different networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning Mad Men and Nurse Jackie, the comedy Anger Management, the broadcast network series Nashville, the syndication success The Wendy Williams Show and the critically-acclaimed hit series Orange is the New Black.

Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as the blockbuster first three installments of The Hunger Games franchise, the first installment of the Divergent franchise, John Wick, Now You See Me, Roadside Attractions' A Most Wanted Man, Lionsgate/Codeblack Films' Addicted and Pantelion Films' Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S.

Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rates. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 16,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world. www.lionsgate.com

ABOUT IMAX

IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX’s network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.  IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing.  As of September 30, 2014, there were 880 IMAX theatres (751 commercial multiplexes, 19 commercial destinations and 110 institutions) in 60 countries.  IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience® and IMAX Is Believing® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

Mockingjay Part 1 Review

Team WtoD12!

No Spoilers!!

Courtney:
     If you've followed us for a couple years, you'd know that Mockingjay is personally my favorite book (Well, #2 to The Silmarillion). We spent one year in 2012 researching and plotting out the Mockingjay split to prove to fans of the potential. Then these past couple months we examined the first half of Mockingjay chapter by chapter.  I was overcome with intense emotion after watching Part 1 to realize that the film follows our graph pretty closely. I've always thought our graph had a little too much in it, and was quite sure at least half of it would go by the wayside. THIS IS NOT THE CASE!! Mockingjay Part 1 is a film, at long last, made for fans. So stop worrying about what the critics are saying because if you love Mockingjay you will love this film.
    I felt like most of the scenes I was saying all the lines along with the film, that is how close to the book it is. If they left something out, it was because it would have disrupted the tone of the film. Anything they might have left out is very forgivable because of how close it is to the book. It is DEFINITELY the best Part 1 film I have seen as far as action. I am seeing a lot of reviews mentioning the lack of action, and maybe this is because I am a super fan, but I think I watched a completely different movie. This has the most action in a part 1 I have seen, and they did a great job with the pacing all the while explaining story. As for the ending and feeling "unfinished", Francis made an effort to make it feel as complete as possible. I mean, is it any different than the ending to a movie that is going to have a sequel? So, bottom line -- this is a film for THE FANS. A true book adaptation.

Stay tuned for my score analysis. More than any THG film, there are moments in the score that reference the story HEAVILY. Specifically that last doozy of scene.

Tiffany:
     As a reader of the books, you think you know what you’re getting into with Mockingjay, but even from the first scene, you don’t fully realize the gravity of the situation that Katniss is in until you see it for yourself. The beginning of the movie hit like a punch in the stomach, and it set the mood for the rest of the movie.

     Being a long time fan of the books will reward you with lines of dialogue word for word from Suzanne Collins. But fans of the books won’t be bored. While the payoff of seeing scenes jump from our imagination to the movie screen is amazing, there are plenty of additions that take the story from Katniss’s head to the world outside of District 13.

     I was so impressed with how the story translated to film. Part 1 movies struggle to maintain a distinct and complete story, but this one seems to have achieved it.

Janine:
     Mockingjay Part 1 was everything I thought it would be - everything I’d imagined - but infinitely better. It was suitably dark (unapologetically so for a movie based on a young adult novel. It didn’t compromise the storytelling in an effort to be more kid-friendly or to appeal more to the younger audiences) and very accurately captured the feeling of bleakness and the intensity of war (or the beginnings of it). So much so, that it pulls you in and clenches around your heart, and doesn’t let go. The storylines were translated incredibly well from the book to the movie and so much of the dialogue was straight out of the book, which says a lot about both Suzanne Collins’ writing and Francis Lawrence’s storytelling. None of this would be possible without the incredible talent everyone in the cast. I was never nervous about the new cast additions for this movie, but I was still pleasantly surprised by every new character we were introduced to. Jennifer Lawrence has said in the past that the audience would be pissed about the ending. Having seen the movie, I understand why people would maybe react that way, but I am not at all pissed. I loved the ending and I loved the movie and I’m excited for everyone else to see it so that we can all talk about it!

Denise:
     I was completely enthralled with the movie from beginning to end. The editing and writing that the film did was phenomenal. They cut out scenes in the book that didn't directly tie into Katniss' emotional state and added scenes to enhance the story. The uprise of the rebels was the most moving and uplifting thing I have seen in cinemas in years. All the most important lines that you act out yourself when you read the books made it in and my mouthing "if we burn you burn with us" to myself at ten at night while reading the book like a crazy person holds nothing to watching Katniss' inspiring first propo.

      I was particularly pleasantly surprised by Julianne Moore as Coin. Though biased as you are being on Katniss' side, Coin does draw you in and inspires you as the head of District 13. I was much more sympathetic to her performance in the movie than I had been when reading the books.

      The hands down most heart wrenching moments were watching Peeta's condition deteriorate. Josh shines in this movie more than any other. From the first two films we are moved by his acting as he is very lovable, but watching him go from healthy and whole through to the end of the film is extremely hard to watch. Every scene of his was brilliantly acted as it is probably one of the most important roles in the film.

      Elizabeth Banks as Effie was just wonderful. I loved her addition to the story. Her reactions to the way of life in District 13 are a nice bit of comic relief to the overall somberness of the film.

Haymitch's entrance to the movie is WONDERFUL. Every bit of him was just amazing and a scene between him and Katniss had me crying in both laughter and sympathy towards his plight. 

Philip Seymour Hoffman was such a gem to have in the movies. His brand of lightheartedness sprinkled with his genius in making this revolution take place is irreplaceable.

      Sam Claflin was so wonderful in this film. Watching him was heartbreaking as you see him try not to fall apart. I was so happy to see so much more of the real Finnick and not the Finnick in the arena. I love the friendship between him and Katniss because they are the only ones in that situation that really understand each other.

      The addition of the characters of Boggs, Castor, Pollux and Cressida were incredible. Boggs is an inspiring leader. Castor and Pollux are so great together and Pollux especially shined to me. Natalie Dormer is so great as the focused director Cressida. Prim is all grown up and now acts as the older sister to Katniss. The love between the two sisters is shown more than ever in this film. 

      Jennifer Lawrence completely commands this film from the first scene to the last. From seeing her try to hold it together to accepting her position as the Mockingjay to realizing Snow's plan, I was so grateful to have such a talented actress play out these scenes I had imagined and dreamed about so perfectly.

      My favorite moments in the movie were the time in District 8 and The Hanging Tree. You will be singing The Hanging Tree to yourself for days. The scene along with her singing is probably the most inspiring moment of the film. Also Katniss trying to film the first propo as the best comedic scene in the series.

      My expectations were SO ridiculously high for this film and somehow they still exceeded them. If you leave this movie and you are not happy, I will want to do experiments on your brain because I will not understand at all. Francis Lawrence blew my mind with Catching Fire so I couldn't stop myself from thinking that this one would be even more amazing seeing as it is my favorite book. 

ALSO stay until after the credits as there is ANOTHER logo change!

Mockingjay Cast Interview MEGAPOST

There are a LOT of interviews with almost everyone from the cast/crew of Mockingjay! Thanks to our friends from JabberJays.net and QuarterQuell.org for all of these!


Jennifer Lawrence:


Check out interviews with Josh, Natalie, Donald, Elizabeth, Liam, Francis Lawrence and A TON MORE after the jump!

Hunger Games Ice Bucket Challenge

Our friends at Panem Propaganda nominated a few members of our Hunger Games family for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

And guess what! Some have answered the call, donating AND getting an ice bucket dumped on them.

Francis Lawrence:

He nominated our boys Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson and Sam Claflin.

Nina Jacobson:

She challenged Jennifer Lawrence, Jena Malone and Natalie Dormer.

And while not tagged by Panem Propaganda, we have a couple of other Hunger Games actors doing the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Liam Hemsworth:



Liam nominated Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson.

Willow Shields:

Julianne Moore:

Elizabeth Banks:

Alexander Ludwig:

If we see anymore, we will update this post.

Props to Panem Propaganda for starting the nominations, you guys are awesome. It's a great cause, and we love seeing our fandom involved.

Entertainment Weekly talks to Francis Lawrence about Julianne Moore and President Coin + Mockingjay Parts 1&2 will have 'two distinct stories'

photo from Entertainment Weekly

Francis Lawrence talks to EW about how Julianne Moore was cast as Alma Coin, and how we will be seeing more of her in the Mockingjay movies compared to the book. Read the article below:

Julianne Moore is a big fan of the Hunger Games series, so much so that she directly approached Mockingjay – Part 1 director Francis Lawrence about securing the role of President Alma Coin, the tenacious leader of District 13 who leads the revolution against the Capitol.

“She actually sort of tracked us down and had an interest in the books through her kids,” Lawrence says. The Golden Globe winner’s interest acted as an audition, he notes.

“She didn’t audition. Once we knew she wanted it, that was it—done,” Lawrence says, laughing. “I sat down with her, she had great ideas, we got along and that was it.”

President Coin—who becomes reluctant allies with Katniss Everdeen in the rebellion’s efforts to overthrow President Snow—was written by author Suzanne Collins through Katniss’s perspective as narrator; she is perceived as ambitious and egotistical. But with Moore’s involvement, Lawrence says, the gray-haired politician’s role in his two-part finale has expanded significantly beyond her portrayal in the bestselling Hunger Games series.

“There’s more of her in this than in the book, and because of that, there’s some development,” Lawrence says. “I think the character has developed into something pretty amazing. And Julianne was a big part of that.”

The Hunger Games:Mockingjay – Part 1 is slated for release on Nov. 21, 2014.

We're very excited that we get to see more of President Coin - the short bit from the teaser where she's strategizing with Plutarch has hinted on that - and it'll be very interesting to see her outside of Katniss' perspective, similar to the additional scenes with President Snow in Catching Fire. What do you guys think?

Entertainment Weekly

Edited to Add: Francis Lawrence also talks to EW about how the first and second Mockingjay movies will be different from each other. Here are some highlights from the article:

On adding scenes that are not in the book:

And there won’t be any major changes from the novel—although Lawrence worked closely with screenwriter Peter Craig, producer Nina Jacobson, and Collins to create new elements that will “surprise even fans of the book.”

“Instead of changing the plot and changing characters what we did was have the opportunity to show scenes that could have been happening at different times in the book,” Lawrence says. “For us it’s world expansion instead of changing things. I think it’s exciting for the fan to see certain things. So we’ve been able to open the world up in this and see some new places. We get to see some new districts this time and the scope gets quite large.”

On splitting the book into two movies:

While Lawrence won’t reveal how he divided the final book in Suzanne Collins’ trilogy (“That’s going to be one of the really good surprises,” he says), he shares that the films will have “two different, very distinct stories.”

You can read the whole article here.

If you haven't checked out The Mockingjay Mockup yet, you should! Courtney and Tiffany discuss splitting the book into two movies, including possible omissions and additions!

LORDE is Mockingjay Part 1 Soundtrack's Curator and Single

This is an interesting development in Mockingjay news that Lionsgate released today -- Lorde not only will be writing and releasing the first single of the Mockingjay soundtrack, but she will also be choosing who will appear on the album. I have to admit I am not the biggest fan of Lorde, and even more wary of having her choose the direction in which the album goes, however Francis Lawrence became quite taken with her and her understanding of the Mockingjay story.

Check out the press release:

SANTA MONICA, CA, July 31, 2014 – Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a premier next generation global content leader, announced today that multiplatinum GRAMMY^® Award-winning recording star Lorde will curate the soundtrack album for the upcoming third installment of the global blockbuster The Hunger Games franchise, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.  In addition to hand-picking the artists for The Mockingjay – Part 1 soundtrack, Lorde will provide the first single for the highly anticipated film and album.  The soundtrack will be available via Republic Records this fall.

“I sat down with Lorde on the set of ‘Mockingjay’ this spring and I was immediately struck by how she so innately understood what we, as both fans and filmmakers, were trying to accomplish with the film. Her immense talent and keen understanding of Mockingjay’s characters and themes not only have enabled her to create a song of her own that completely captures the film’s essence, but her insight and passion for our project make her the perfect creative force to assemble the other songs on our soundtrack.  I can't wait to share what she's done with the fans -- it is truly remarkable,” said Francis Lawrence.

Lorde’s unique position as both a songwriter/performer and the curator of the Mockingjay – Part 1soundtrack album came about via her unique relationship with her music publisher, SONGS Music Publishing who was a key architect of the deal.

"Curating the soundtrack for such a hotly-anticipated film was a challenge, but I jumped at the chance,” said Lorde.  “The cast and story are an inspiration for all musicians participating and, as someone with cinematic leanings, being privy to a different creative process has been a unique experience. I think the soundtrack is definitely going to surprise people.”

You can read the full press release HERE 

Francis Lawrence has not steered us wrong yet, so as we always say -- "IN FRANCIS WE TRUST"!

Catching Fire Blu-Ray Review: Which to Buy?

The Catching Fire Blu-Ray/DVD comes out TOMORROW!!

Still stumped on what's the best version? Here's a look at all of them and what our thoughts on the special features:

Deleted Scenes:

Courtney- It's apparent to all of us that the Jabberjay/Mockingjay explanation is a bit of a travesty to leave out. I'd like to think that they want to make a bigger deal of it explaining it in Mockingjay, which is why they cut it out. I hope, hope, hope. While the other deleted scenes are cool, I wish there was more. In fact, there ARE more as mentioned here in there in the documentary or mentioned in the audio commentary, they just aren't finished scenes. Its true that those types of deleted scenes (the ones that don't make it to the final draft) are rarely scene on DVDs but perhaps we can hope they release them after all the films come out along with the ones from the first film which TOTALLY EXIST. Overall, thank you so much Francis for giving us the deleted scenes we so craved!!

Tiffany- One of my biggest criticisms of the movies in general was the lack of explanation of Jabberjays and Mockingjays. The one deleted scene that stood out to me the most was a scene between Plutarch and President Snow that does just that. And I have to say... I am a little upset that it wasn't included in the final cut of the movie. The other scene that stood out has Katniss and Finnick in the training center with Finnick tying knots, which, though I can see why it was cut out,  explains Katniss's knowledge of noose-tying for the Seneca Crane dummy scene.

Denise- Most of the deleted scenes were obvious as to why they were deleted, as most tend to be. One in particular scene explaining the significance of the Mockingjay as a symbol- not so much. Why this was deleted makes literally no sense to me unless they decided to wait on that explanation to show in Mockingjay. I also loved the scene of Plutarch replacing the Quarter Quell envelope with the one that leads to this particular version and the scene of Finnick showing Katniss how to tie a noose, which comes in handy when she hangs "Seneca Crane".

Documentary (BLU-RAY ONLY):

Courtney- HOLY HOVERCRAFT, this documentary is IMPRESSIVE. It's much longer than your normal special features documentary. While those tend to last 45 minutes, this thing is about 2 hours long. They go into INSANE detail on every part of the filming process, which makes my heart sing. All of us are crazy special features consumers and our model is the Lord of the Rings Extended edition. While no other Blu-Ray has come close to that level, Catching Fire Blu-Ray is definitely on the right track. It has given fans an above and beyond amount of content. I would say the Blu-ray edition is a MUST HAVE. I mean....if you want to see the secret easter egg....

Tiffany- The behind the scenes documentary is long and has nine parts. The subjects range from new and returning cast to the different stages of filming and of course the different parts of post production. The cast goes into detail on what it was like for them filming in Atlanta versus Hawaii, how freezing and miserable the water park scenes were and how beautiful Hawaii was. The post production sections were incredibly enlightening. It was amazing to see how much of the arena was fabricated. The costumes and makeup had their own section, and they go into the logistical challenges on styling the Capitol citizens at 40 stations with unique looks for each person. And of course there are the funny anecdotes from the cast and amusing moments, like Josh ripping his pants. During the credits of the documentary, there are some stray behind the scenes clips, like Josh and Jennifer swinging on a rope.

Denise- I love love love the documentary because I am a film nerd who has spent countless hours watching LotR extras because of the detail they go into about the making of a film. This one touched base on so many aspects that go into making a film. We got to learn about the casting process for the new characters and how they got such incredible actors in these roles. We got an in depth look into the makeup and wardrobing departments and the ridiculous lengths they had to go through for scenes like the party at Snow's mansion. We got to learn about preparing a water park to look like the Cornucopia. We got to learn about the training and the film making process. This documentary could be it's own movie about the process of filmmaking. You even learn about the different film and cameras they use! To someone who is just casually a fan to film students, this documentary is both entertaining and informative.

Commentary:

Courtney- I sat down and watched the DVD commentary with Francis Lawrence and Nina Jacobson and it is a really good listen. They do give a lot of information, much you would know from watching the documentary but there is some new info in their too! A while back we got some info that they filmed in L.A. at Universal, but had no idea what they did. Turns out they used it to film pick up shots of people diving and swimming in the arena. They even mention some things they will probably do in the next film such as explain the Avoxes. I highly recommend checking out this feature!

Final Thoughts:

Courtney- I give these special features a 9/10 because it really did go above and beyond with the documentary. There's always room for improvement, we want ALL the deleted scenes as well as more set footage. I mean we can watch Josh and Jen be silly all day long. I am incredibly thankful that Lionsgate bumped up the amount of contents up a notch since last time. Lionsgate, if you are reading this please know that we appreciate all the content you have offered but THE MORE THE BETTER!!! Honestly we can never get enough of it, but you have floored us with that 2 hour documentary. Fantastic job!

Tiffany- It's great that the 9-part documentary is included in all the Blu-Ray packages. Though some might think it's long, for me, the more information the better. It encompassed a lot and hit on the various areas of filmmaking in a fairly balanced way that can satisfy a movie fan like me. The deleted scenes weren't enough, in my opinion. Where was the scene with Peeta and morphling in the training center painting that we saw a still of but still have yet to see? So many were very quick moments, but I'm thankful to have gotten deleted scenes.

Denise- The amount of work and information that went into making this rivaled the Lord of the Rings extras, which I'd say is the definitive version of dvd extras. Though I wasn't able to watch it all, owing to real life getting in the way, I was extremely satisfied and am excited to watch more!

WHICH DO I BUY?

Target. 

Pretty simple choice because it's the only option with an extra disc. With the extra disc you get 45 minutes of interviews that mostly talk and discuss about the books and their themes as well as the cast and crew's deep connection to one another. Honestly, I wish there was more set footage on this disc but I suppose we can't have everything. It's still enjoyable to watch!

Aside from the content, the box and case is VERY ideal. It opens up like a book and has a very sleek look and feel. DEFINITELY get this version! Here's the details:

Target Exclusive (45 minutes of content): 

• “ONE VISION” (A FAITHFUL ADAPTATION)--translating Suzanne Collin’s source material to the big screen
• “THE ALLIANCE” (RETURNING CAST)—an inside look at the close-knit relationships of the returning actors
• “FRIEND OR FOE” (NEW CAST)--finding the perfect embodiments of the new characters

Additional Special Features (over 2 hours of content):
• Filmmaker Commentary
• 9-part Making-of Documentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Divergent Sneak Peek

Best Buy

Tiffany- The Best Buy exclusive includes the main Blu-Ray disc that includes the behind the scenes documentary and a digital download with no DVD. It comes in a metal casing with Katniss and Peeta on the cover. This is a great one to have if don't need a DVD since the case itself is fairly nice.

Walmart Double Feature

This is straight up DVDs of both films, no special content whatsoever. If that appeals to you, then this is for you.

If you don't own a Blu-Ray player I really highly recommend getting one if only for the Catching Fire DVD. There's hours of content to watch, not to mention the Blu-Ray holds a secret from the rebels...

Catching Fire BEHIND THE SCENES PHOTOS

NEWS NEWS NEWS!! We are beyond STOKED that the release of the Catching Fire DVD/Blu-Ray on March 7th is imminent!! Check out these new behind the scenes photos of Francis Lawrence on set. Expect some major coverage from us upon the release of the Catching Fire Blu-Ray/DVD!

Waiting for Mockingjay: The Calm Before The Storm

Click for high res

      So guys, I feel like I need to get real here. I've often talked about how The Hunger Games has changed my life and of course all the epic opportunities I've had that comes with running this site. So why did I feel the need to desperately connect with all you lovely folks online in the first place? Reading The Hunger Games trilogy CHANGED ME. But really, it was Mockingjay. Mockingjay is the reason I love this series as much as I do, and if it were up to me I wouldn't change a single word.

     It's possible you've noticed this site's devotion to the third book, as seen in our Mockingjay Mockup. After reading Mockingjay in the double digits, it became clear that Mockingjay was most deserving of splitting into two. The way Suzanne writes is constantly on the move, and so much happens in such a small amount of pages. This is why we wrote the Mockingjay Mockup so we could convince others not only should this happen, but if it did why it was a GOOD thing.

     So here we are at long last waiting patiently for Mockingjay details to come to light. Here's what has come out this past week:

As you guys may know, they have been filming Mockingjay Part 1 & 2 in Atlanta. (If you leave nearby and wanna be an extra, check out CL Casting "Untitled Trilogy" ) So excited to see that Crazy Cat made the cut!

Today, a GREAT article from Variety was released about the upcoming Mockingjay films. Here are some cool tidbits from the article:

Some opportunities when new Mockingjay material might get released:

There will be reveals of the campaign in May at the Cannes film festival and in July at Comic-Con. Until then, Lionsgate is trying to keep specifics under wraps, though director Lawrence allows that the next two films take place in a Panem so devolved as to be barely recognizable.

The fact that Erik Feig is comparing The Hunger Games to Star Wars is a huge sign to me that Lionsgate execs have the right idea about this franchise.

“Not since Luke Skywalker shot into the Death Star has one person had that kind of impact in a franchise film,” asserts Lionsgate production president Erik Feig. “What I really love about how (the 23-year-old Lawrence) plays that character is that Katniss is larger than life and yet she wears her emotions in a very relatable way. She’s not a superhero by any stretch — she’s all too human in the face of extreme conditions — and she faces them with the presence of mind that we all wish we had.” 

Producer Nina Jacobson adds that thematically, the film strikes a nerve with auds. “I was reading a New York Times article on the set about economic inequality, and it made me feel as if we’re becoming more like Panem each year,” she asserts. “The similarities are striking.”

EPIC DETAILS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL FILMING LOCATIONS!!

Lionsgate has even booked Berlin’s massive Templehof Airport — built in 1927, reconstructed by the Nazis as a symbol of supremacy, and closed six years ago — and huge apartment complexes outside Paris for shooting battle scenes. Feig allows that part of the inspiration came from Stanley Kubrick’s “Full Metal Jacket,” his cinematic recounting of the 1968 Tet Offensive in Vietnam. 

“Kubrick shot the siege in London,” Feig notes. “In a weird way, we love the idea of urban sprawl. So we (looked for) big buildings that have been around forever. We kept coming back to classic war movies, and we started thinking we should look into Europe.” 

Producer Jon Kilik says the “Mockingjay” films mean Lionsgate is moving to the next level. “We are trying to create the reality of a future that’s rooted in the past,” he notes, adding that shooting in Hawaii for “Catching Fire” added to the film’s spectacle. “Those locations are extra-special, and it’s a real reach financially for them,” Kilik says.

That last piece of information is a doozy. Add this to the fact that Mockingjay is Francis Lawrence's favorite, and what an amazing job he did with Catching Fire in a short time frame, all signs point to a great marketing campaign and great films that will respect the book. I can't believe how lucky we are to have these fine people working on this precious trilogy and honoring it how I had always hoped for.

Check out the full Variety article HERE

Who is ANTONIUS?!

The Hunger Games fandom was surprised and confused this morning when Lionsgate broke the news that Prison Break's Robert Knepper has been cast as.......Antonius?

You may be wondering..... Who the HELL is Antonius?

The most likely answer would probably be that it is a new character. Since they are splitting the film (and rightly so) this is allowing for extra scenes to round out storylines. We saw what amazing things Francis did with extra scenes in Catching Fire, so I would not doubt the same would be true for Mockingjay. If this makes you nervous, I really wouldn't worry about it as Francis has said about Mockingjay (the same for Catching Fire) he wants to make the book.

In our series Mockingjay Mockup, we've always mentioned how they are going to definitely add scenes for whats going on in The Capitol. Peeta and Johanna are there, therefore I'm sure we will be getting far more scenes with what's going on on their end.

The most likely? He's a new character. But where does he fit in? He could be on Snow's team, something to do with Peeta's storyline (yikes!), a member of Coin's team (that's my guess), or part of the military party that is the Star Squad.

My very first theory was that Antonius was Dr. Aurelius. For those who don't remember, Dr. Aurelius is the doctor who is a key witness in Katniss' trial that helps her go free. He's a very important character, and Katniss' trial is something I am really looking forward to in the movies. But alas, there are issues with this thought. Aside from the fact that it would make his name sort of silly (Antonius Aurelius? Julia Gulia?), I'm sure if this were the case they would have included his last name so that the public can identify the character is playing. Since they did not, I think it's unlikely that he is Dr. Aurelius. Sad face.

I think Francis Lawrence has more than proved his worth and I completely trust him with any big decisions such as a new character. I hope we don't have to wait a whole year to find out who he is, but I guess only time will tell.

*Update* According to The Wrap, he is on Snow's team. They refer to him as "Snow's minister".

What's is your Antonius theory?

Welcome to District 12 Catching Fire Review

Since we first saw the film at the L.A. Catching Fire premiere, we've been pretty over the moon about this film as are many Hunger Games fans. Now that we've all got the chance to see it more than once,  check out our reactions to this epic movie!

Expectations

Courtney - "Just like last time, my expectations were unattainably high. Why do I keep doing this to myself?! I guess I can't help it, folks. We run a fan site, we're exposed to everything Catching Fire, and all this work we do because we love and are dedicated to this franchise. It seemed almost impossible to meet my expectation and yet- Francis Lawrence not only succeeded, he blew it out of the water. I was delightfully shocked by the added scenes and it was adapted just about perfectly. Now, I'm sure some will disagree, but this is THE EXACT film I wanted to see out of this franchise. I am more than pleased, I am ECSTATIC. This movie can do no wrong in my eyes, and I believe Francis Lawrence has saved us all."

Tiffany- "I tried my hardest not to have high expectations for this movie so that I would not be disappointed when I saw it. That didn’t exactly work out, but it turns out I didn’t really need to worry much. Catching Fire is my favorite of the three books, so I was hoping that viewers of this movie would connect to this part of the story as much as I did."

Janine- "I usually set my expectations for book-to-movie adaptations low as there had been much disappointment in the past. My excitement, however, has made it hard to manage my expectations. Catching Fire is probably my favorite book in the trilogy and after some imdb research into Francis Lawrence’s other work, the casting choices, the trailers and the tv spots, I went into the theatre thinking, ‘this is gonna be AWESOME!’ as well as, ‘if it isn’t as great as you think it is, you only have yourself to blame.” Turns out, I didn’t have to stress about my high expectations so much because the movie not only met my expectations, but exceeded them as well."

Denise- "Going into this movie, I simultaneously had high expectations and extremely low expectation. From some casting choices, I was concerned, but the trailers gave me a much bigger sense of excitement than even the first movie. It captured the look that I pictured while reading in the book just from the slight glimpse we saw of Snow's party."

Book to Movie

Courtney- "Why is it so hard for the industry to release book adaptation films that are to the fans liking? Even the most notable, Harry Potter, isn't really recognized as good adaptations among the fans. The only one I can really say has hit the nail on the head is Peter Jackson and the Lord of the Ring franchise. I guess it takes a SUPER FAN of the books to honor it completely while still maintaining the director's vision. Francis Lawrence said he wanted to make the book, and that he did. SO many scenes are straight out of the book, small details still made it in, he built more scenes into the film, plus he referenced things to come. I can't wait to see the Mockingjay films, because Francis knows how to adapt this amazing story in a way that makes everyone happy."

Tiffany- "So many scenes were as they are in the book, several lines being word-for-word, and even those deviations from the book really do work for the movie and series as a whole. I’ve said for a while now that Bonnie and Twill are a device in the books to make Katniss aware of uprisings in the districts so it makes sense that they were not needed for the movie, especially after seeing the movie and knowing now how they accomplished that. The crowd reactions during the Victory Tour make that portion of the story a lot meatier as far as significant content for the plot. The other worry that many fans had with changes was since Madge was omitted from the movies Katniss was not going to see the uprisings on the mayor’s television. The quick solve was for Katniss to see it from an open door to the Peacekeepers’ control room on the train, which ramps up the tension for the Victory Tour even further."

Janine- "I was incredibly impressed with how closely the movie has kept with the book. Hearing the characters speak word-for-word the exact lines in the book just drove the emotional stake into my heart. Visually, everything in the movie looked exactly as I’d imagined when reading the book."

Denise- "The number of times I screamed in my head "THAT IS EXACTLY LIKE I PICTURED IT" are honestly too many to be counted, to the point where I was lamenting over the fact that more movies (I'm looking at you, Harry Potter) didn't more closely follow the book.
       You can immediately tell that Francis Lawrence and the writing team paid very close attention to the book with how accurate the adaption is. Even little things (that though not important to the plot, but important as a symbol of the filmmakers trying to be faithful) like Buttercup's more accurate appearance made you feel much more comfortable with the change in direction."

Additional/Changed Scenes

Courtney- "I had a heart attack when blood came out of President Snow's mouth and into his drink. I gasped so loud in the theatre!! Mockingjay is my favorite book, and the fact that this got referenced made me so so happy. Plutarch and Snow additions really worked with the source material, and I think gave a fuller sense of the story and what is happening on both sides."

Tiffany- "The scenes between President Snow and Plutarch Heavensbee were genius. In the books, Plutarch is almost comical, but Philip Seymour Hoffman and the writing in these scenes gave Plutarch a very necessary edge and really hits home his duplicitous side once he’s revealed to be part of the rebellion."

Janine- "I feel like the the additional scenes/characters (between Plutarch Heavensbee and Snow, and even between Snow and his granddaughter) worked better visually to get the point across and move the story along that having the omitted characters/scenes from the book. Which I guess is the point. Basically, I think it’s great how the movie has tackled the third person vs first person POV and kept the integrity of the story by not only keeping elements from the book in the movie, but also by the additional scenes and conversations that we do not get to read about in the book."

Denise- "Peeta's tribute to Rue and Katniss' 'tribute' to Seneca Crane shows their personalities so perfectly and I was so happy that both of these moments were shown and Peeta's painting wasn't covered up."

Katniss

Courtney- "PTSD is a big theme in the books, especially when you consider what The Hunger Games reference in Suzanne Collins' life. They constantly deal with it throughout the movie with Marvel, her having pushed Peeta away, night terrors, etc. Combine all that with Jennifer Lawrence's super acting powers, and WABAM we have a portrayal of Katniss that exceeded our expectations. Just amazing."

Tiffany- "The portrayal of Katniss’s PTSD is much more than what I was expecting. Her seeing Marvel as she is hunting serves as a reminder to the audience that Katniss’s actions in The Hunger Games are not forgotten. And Peeta running into Katniss’s room as she wakes from a nightmare is definitely one of those scenes fans were wanting to see that I was unsure would make it into the final movie. It was very important to get the “Always” line in there.
      Katniss’s desperation to keep the people she loves safe is carried through the entire movie. As a fan of the books, I appreciated that Katniss reminds viewers throughout that having been in the Games and then going back is not okay, that it is a terrifying and horrible experience. In the books, we know through first person narrative that Katniss feels guilt for her actions, and in the movie, that feeling is portrayed through careful writing, with Katniss’s outburst on the train being about killing people instead of simply yelling “No one cares!” at Effie like in the books. Once again, I’m grateful that an amazing actress like Jennifer is our Katniss."

Janine- "An expectation that I was not worried about setting incredibly high was Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. As soon as she starts panicking after she flashes back to shooting Marvel, the tone is set for the rest of the movie. We can see that Katniss carries the weight of what happened in the last Hunger Games not only when it is made obvious but throughout the whole movie, but in the slight nuances of Katniss’ facial expressions and actions. I am absolutely in awe of how Jennifer plays Katniss as scared and strong and determined and yes, even a little sassy, all at the same time."

Denise- "As soon as Katniss has her first PTSD related freakout in Catching Fire, I knew we were in for a much more adult film than the first one. Jennifer's brilliance in showing how traumatized Katniss had become after the 74th Hunger Games put me in her shoes and I felt her panic as I watched her struggling to breathe. This film immediately puts you in her mindset and sets you up for the reality and fear that Katniss experiences throughout the movie. You get to see that Peeta means a great deal to Katniss throughout this film, but her heartbreaking reaction to this and Peeta's almost death in the arena are incredible. We are so blessed to have someone as talented as Jennifer playing our Mockingjay."

Peeta

Courtney- "I want to give Josh Hutcherson a big hug on behalf of the entire fandom, because I think with the combination of great script writing and his acting, Peeta truly came alive in this film. He by no means overacted, and made Peeta's character appealing for the reasons we all love him without being cheesy or overdramatic."

Tiffany- "I’ve really got to hand it to Josh. Catching Fire is an important part for Peeta in that this is where Katniss gets to know him and will serve as a contrast for who he becomes in Mockingjay. Essentially, this is the start of her feelings for Peeta and what Katniss will think of when she thinks of the “real” Peeta. And Josh acted it well, keeping Peeta open but not overly lovesick. The look on his face when he takes a seat next to a sleeping Gale said it all, both heartbroken and resigned. The beach scene between Peeta and Katniss was one of those that fans talk about a lot from the books that couldn’t possibly be live up to expectations, but I was incredibly happy with it and I think the movie did that important scene justice."

Gale

Courtney- "Dude, high five! Maybe it's because we got to see more scenes, but I saw in Catching Fire why Liam was chosen for this role. My favorite scene of his is when he tells Katniss why they can't run away. You really see the fire in his heart and desire to fight back after all The Capitol has taken from him. His character really came alive."

Tiffany- "I was very happy to see the changes for Gale. Being whipped for assaulting Romulus Thread and not for poaching and his focus on rebellion when Katniss suggests running is excellent set up for Gale’s role in Mockingjay and makes him more sympathetic and three-dimensional as a character."

Janine- "Seeing Gale being whipped for helping someone as opposed to poaching was a good change. I think it helps develop his character - from wanting to run away, to wanting to fight - all leading up to the Gale we will see in the Mockingjay movies. I’m not sure if it was just that Gale did not really get a lot of screentime in the first movie, but I feel like Liam Hemsworth’s acting has improved vastly. I did not think I would root for Katniss/Gale ever, but I did a little bit."

Denise- "I have to applaud Liam Hemsworth in this movie. His acting is vastly improved and you actually want to root for him to get the girl. The acting in this film is superb."

Effie

Courtney- "Elizabeth Banks wanted nothing more than to play Effie Trinket. She has taken this role, made it her own, and really humanized her. When she is so emotional when she says her goodbyes to Katniss and Peeta, I struggle keeping it together. She was not my first casting choice a long time ago, but I am so thankful I was wrong."

Tiffany- "I was grateful to Elizabeth Banks and the writing of this adaptation for the way Effie was portrayed in this movie. Though Effie is largely comic relief, it was very important that they show that underneath the makeup, crazy clothing, and wigs, there is still a human being in there."

Janine- "I am really happy with the way Effie’s character was written for this movie, and the way Elizabeth Banks has portrayed her. The scenes where we see that Effie is clearly distraught moved me the most - Effie is from the capitol and comes across as shallow and is mostly there for comic relief. So seeing her close to tears when her victors have to go back to the arena really tugged at my heartstrings."

Denise- "Effie's reactions during the reaping scene are so genuine and Elizabeth Banks shows you exactly what Effie is feeling without toeing the line and causing her any problems with her job and with the Capitol. Appearances are everything with Effie and it is captured beautifully."

Finnick/Johanna

Courtney- "Wowie. Did these guys steal the show or what?! Jena Malone and Sam Claflin made jaw dropping performances of their characters. They became exactly what I wanted to see and then some. They truly evoked the comic relief they provide yet a real sorrowful truth under all the layers that both those characters possess. Five stars!"

Tiffany- "Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair was fantastic. I’ve liked him as an actor for a while, but hadn’t seen him act in this kind of role before. He goes from smarmy to dangerous to vulnerable in a way that is so Finnick from the books that I was thankful we had Sam for the role. Having known about his intense preparations for the role and determination to be the Finnick fans wanted, it was a pleasure to watch the results of that hard work. Sam’s biggest moments for me were when he watches Mags walk into the fog and after the hour with jabberjays are up. Both are very vulnerable moments for him, and both are hints of what’s to come for Finnick in Mockingjay. It was most important to me to be sold on him as Finnick for those moments more than anything, even the sugar cube scene, and I really think he nailed them.
     Jena Malone as Johanna was an incredible thing to watch. She embodied the character’s spirit but not in an overtly obvious way. The elevator scene added some needed levity to the film before the heavy stuff, and her Caesar Flickerman interview was a stroke of genius. The line though that really got me was “Love is weird.” It made me anxious to see Johanna in Mockingjay, even though that won’t be for a while."

Janine- "A week or so before the movie, I watched an interview where Francis Lawrence talked about Jena Malone’s audition. He said something to the effect of after having seen her audition as Johanna, he could not see anyone else in the role. This made me happy as I am a fan of her work, but after seeing her first scene in the movie (in the elevator, though to be honest it might have been the TV spot where she says, “Make him pay for it!”), I totally understood what he meant. Her Caesar Flickerman interview was amazing. She was flawless and I am excited to see more of her in the Mockingjay movies.
        Sam Claflin was not my first choice to play Finnick. Having only seen him in the Pirates of the Carribean movie maybe two years before people were discussing possible Finnick choices, I have to admit that I completely forgot about him. I was happy and excited when he got cast, though, honestly, because he was great from what I remembered from the Pirates movie (and from what Tiffany said) and also honestly, I thought he was really cute (I’m sure I’m not the only one who thought that). From what I saw from watching some interviews, meeting him at the Fan Camp signing and seeing him in the red carpet, I have learned that he is incredibly incredibly charming (incredibly!) which then lead me to think, yeah he’s got ‘Capitol-Finnick’ down but how will he do when Finnick is vulnerable? Or angry? The answer to that question is GREAT. One of my favorite scenes in the movie was Finnick and Katniss with the jabberjays. Sam Claflin was incredible as Finnick Odair."

Denise- "Seeing Peeta and Katniss snuggling up in the train caused my inner fangirl to squeal, but nothing prepared me for how perfect Sam Claflin and Jenna Malone as Finnick and Johanna would be. The sugar cube scene played out the relationship between Finnick and Katniss so well and the elevator scene had me rolling! Johanna was always my favorite character in the books, and I'm pretty certain she's going to remain my favorite character in the movies. I think it's the foul mouth and appreciation for nudity."

Arena

Courtney- "Seeing these scenes in IMAX was incredible. The visual effects were phenomenal, and I am so pleased that amidst all the fancy shmancy effects, the grittiness and terrors of the arena were emotionally compelling just as it was reading the book."

Tiffany- "Everything that happens in the arena is by and large how I wanted to see it on film. From meeting Finnick at the Cornucopia, to the CPR scene, to the fog, the monkeys, the spinning Cornucopia, jabberjays, lightning tree, everything. The fog was terrifying, and hearing the jabberjays as opposed to reading about made it such a real experience. When Peeta hits the forcefield and Katniss is crying hysterically and shaking and hugging him when he is revived, Finnick’s expression as he watches them did not go unnoticed. Again it is great setup for Mockingjay."

Janine- "I don’t know how many times I’ve said this already, but here it is again: visually, it’s exactly how I imagined it while reading the book! It really is. Every hour-long threat that we get to see, the beach, the cornucopia, when it spins - it feels like I dreamed it into the movie. When Effie says, ‘The Capitol has spared no expense,’ she was right. Every threat is terrifying and shows how far the Capitol is willing to go to make sure the power stays where it is. Then we see the walls of the arena crumble and a hovercraft take Katniss away where she wakes up to Haymitch and Plutarch Heavensbee and they talk about the rebellion - the stage has been set for Mockingjay."

Denise- "When we finally get to just before the games when Katniss is getting ready, I was gripping my arm rests so tight I thought I might break something. Cinna's beating is a quick and horrible scene and it was exactly like I pictured it in the books.
     When we get to the arena, the quick paced action gives you a real feel for how it must be like in the games. Everything from the Cornucopia to the monkeys happens so fast that you're slightly disoriented with how quickly people die, but it's brilliant because it's so real and true to life. Also, props to Weta for the AMAZING monkeys (such a huge step up from the mutts in the first film)!!!
     My favorite part of the movie is when Katniss and Finnick get tricked by the Jabberjays and are psychologically tortured, because you see the scope of what the Capitol can and will do. Not only will they break your bodies, they will break your mind, as we will see in Mockingjay."

The Ending

Courtney- "I guess it's because we didn't get a hovercraft scene last time, or maybe because when it comes to endings of book adaptation films they don't tend to be like the book, but the ending was a surprise to me. It was exactly like the book, even down to the syringe. It was everything I wanted as a fan, and even added in the epicness, "This is the revolution and you are The Mockingjay". I mean, what's not to love?!"

Tiffany- "When Katniss wakes up in the hovercraft, grabs the syringe, and bursts into the room with Haymitch, Finnick, and Plutarch, it is all I could’ve dreamed of for that scene. From Finnick’s demeanor and worry in his face (for book readers, we see that as him knowing the Capitol has Annie), to Haymitch’s line about Katniss and a syringe against the Capitol which is ripped from the books, to Plutarch declaring Katniss as the Mockingjay and their mission, it was an incredibly compelling scene. Her reaction to finding out they didn’t get Peeta out was spot on to what I wanted from that scene. And the final scene with Gale’s cliffhanger-dropping line and Katniss’s last look of determination propels the audience into Mockingjay in an understated yet intense way."

Janine- "Everything from when Katniss is lifted out of the arena up to the moment the screen turns black was just so intense. The strong acting, combined with lines taken straight from the book - what a way to go out with a bang! (or maybe, to start off with a bang - did it not make you more excited for the next movie?!) The last minute or so in the movie (right after ‘There is no District 12’ - also taken straight out of the book) with just the close up of Katniss’ face - I am getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it."

Denise- "The action in the arena is displayed much more realistically and it is much more adult than the first movie, and it sets up what the action will be like in the final two installments. When we finally get to the climax of the movie and you see Katniss figuring out Beetee's plan, I was holding my breath even though I knew what was coming.
      Though Katniss being lifted out of the arena was giving me Return of the King flashbacks, I love that if you aren't a book reader, you're not entirely sure who is actually getting her until you hear Haymitch. Katniss' horrified reaction to what actually happened and her screaming "You're a liar!" at Haymitch seemed to make up for the lack of hovercraft reaction after the first games."

Great Moments

Denise- "I cry very easily in movies, but I'm pretty sure I cried a pool's worth of tears at the entire District 11 scene. From Katniss' speech to Rue's family, to the man who gets killed and to Katniss' horrified reaction, I was sobbing my head off. It was even more emotional on screen than in the books. Then seeing the reactions on the citizens of Panem's faces to the little girl who informs Katniss that she wants to volunteer for the games because of her, the movie sets up everything for Mockingjay perfectly."

Final Thoughts

Courtney- "I've seen this movie 5 times now so believe me I've had time to dissect. I may be one of the few, but I feel this movie is the best Catching Fire film that could have ever come out. It honors the book in a very rare way. I haven't seen an adaptation this good since Lord of the Rings, and THAT is saying something. Francis Lawrence loves this story as much as we do, and I bet we can expect two more great ones."

Tiffany-"Overall, I am extremely pleased with this movie. The look of it, the feel of it, was what I have been hoping for the series for so long. It has made me incredibly excited for the Mockingjay films. From watching the movie, I could feel the reverence for the source material, and I’m grateful for that."

Janine- "I give this movie an A! As I’ve said earlier, the movie has kept the integrity of the story we get in the book, and it’s almost tangible how it does that - from the visuals, to the tone and the acting of the cast. Francis Lawrence has done an incredible job and I am so, so excited for the Mockingjay movies!"

Denise-"This is the best adaptation I've ever seen and if this is a glimpse of what is yet to come, I just might start camping out for the next one today."

Logo Reveal

Courtney- "At the premiere, I may or may not have thrown my hands up in the air and triumphantly yelled obscenities in my excitement over the logo reveal. They didn't have to attach the logo reveal to the end of the film, but they did. After all the epicness and emotion Catching Fire provides, THIS PART was the best."

Tiffany- “It was very strategic to have the logo reveal after the way Katniss’s expression changes in the final seconds of the movie. This gave the Mockingjay logo meaning and significance, foreshadowing what’s to come and making me as an audience member that much more excited for the next installment.”

Janine- "Talk about unexpected! I was ready for the credits to roll but then seeing/hearing the Hunger Games logo gave me goosebumps! And then seeing it turn into the Catching Fire logo made me gasp and think ‘WAIT A SECOND’ and then the Mockingjay logo! I definitely exclaimed something bleep-worthy. Remember, this happened in a few seconds so you can imagine my reaction irl. Also, I WANT THAT PIN!"

Denise- "Is it bad that my favorite part is the logo change at the end? The Mockingjay rising perfectly goes with the determination in Katniss' eyes at the end. THAT PART IS SO AWESOME."

E-Talk Catching Fire Special

CTV's E-Talk aired a Catching Fire TV special with interviews with Jennifer, Josh and Francis! Check out the interview in 5 parts:











Thanks MyHungerGames!