Josh Hutcherson Reveals His 'Hunger Games' Gay Crush

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><!-- 3 --><br /><ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-4973891917352186" data-ad-slot="2995338919" style="display: inline-block; height: 250px; width: 300px;"></ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><div><h1 class="title-news" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 32px; line-height: 36px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">Josh Hutcherson Reveals His 'Hunger Games' Gay Crush</h1></div><div><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/">http://www.huffingtonpost.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="josh hutcherson gay crush" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1477539/thumbs/n-JOSH-HUTCHERSON-large570.jpg?6" /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="read_more with_verticals clearfix" data-beacon="{"p":{"mnid":"follow_tags"}}" id="follow_tags" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="float_left follow_tags_headline normal_weight" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-weight: normal !important; list-style: none; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="float_left arial_11 bold uppercase" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold !important; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">FOLLOW:</div></div><div class="follow_tags_cont_regular" itemprop="keywords" style="border: 0px; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/josh-hutcherson/" style="border: 0px; color: #ed4a4b; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; 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color: #ed4a4b; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Hunger Games Gay Crush</a>, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/josh-hutcherson-date-men/" style="border: 0px; color: #ed4a4b; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Josh Hutcherson Date Men</a>, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/josh-hutcherson-dating/" style="border: 0px; color: #ed4a4b; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Josh Hutcherson Dating</a>, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/josh-hutcherson-dating-men/" style="border: 0px; color: #ed4a4b; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Josh Hutcherson Dating Men</a>, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/josh-hutcherson-gay-crush/" style="border: 0px; color: #ed4a4b; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Josh Hutcherson Gay Crush</a>, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/josh-hutcherson-hunger-games/" style="border: 0px; color: #ed4a4b; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Josh Hutcherson Hunger Games</a>, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/josh-hutcherson-men/" style="border: 0px; color: #ed4a4b; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Josh Hutcherson Men</a>, </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gay-voices/" style="border: 0px; color: #ed4a4b; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Gay Voices News</a></div></div><div class="clear" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; height: 1px !important; line-height: 1px !important; list-style: none; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px;"></div><div class="entry_body_text" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="float_left" style="border: 0px; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></div><div class="articleBody" itemprop="articleBody" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">If "Hunger Games: Catching Fire" leading man Josh Hutcherson had to choose between co-stars Lenny Kravitz and Liam Hemsworth, he knows who he'd pick.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">During a recent sit-down with BET, <a href="http://www.bet.com/video/celebrity/2013/josh-hutcherson-on-his-hunger-games-gay-crush.html" style="border: 0px; color: #ed4a4b; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Hutcherson was asked about his hypothetical gay crush</a> while promoting the newest big-screen installment of the "Hunger Games" trilogy. So would he pick the brooding Gale Hawthorne (Hemsworth) or the mysterious and vibrant Cinna (Kravitz)?</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">"They're so different," he said. "I'd probably say Lenny. Only because, like, the cool, like, artist kind of thing. And he's just rock and roll through and through. That is just ... he's got it goin' on."</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">"It's hard not to choose Lenny," the BET host said.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">"I know, right? Exactly," Hutcherson responded.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">The question came following an <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/09/josh-hutcherson-gay_n_4070644.html" style="border: 0px; color: #ed4a4b; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">interview about gay attraction he gave to Out magazine</a> for the November 2013 issue.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">“I would probably list myself as mostly straight," he said. “Maybe I could say right now I’m 100 [precent] straight. But who knows? In a f--king year, I could meet a guy and be like, <em style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Whoa, I’m attracted to this person.</em> ... I really love women. But I think defining yourself as 100 [percent] anything is kind of near-sighted and close-minded.”</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">While 21-year-old might be straight himself, he has been a staunch ally to the gay community. He's used his celebrity to promote equal rights and fight against bullying through the <a href="http://www.straightbutnotnarrow.org/" style="border: 0px; color: #ed4a4b; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Straight But Not Narrow</a> campaign.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">"A lot of my focus is on equality for gay, lesbian, transsexual, bisexual communities, because I think everyone is a human being and deserves the right to be treated equally," <a href="http://www.dailystar.co.uk/movies/351140/Q-A-Catching-Fire-star-Josh-Hutcherson-talks-Hunger-Games-fame-fitness-and-gay-rights-" style="border: 0px; color: #ed4a4b; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Hutcherson told the U.K.'s Daily Star</a> last week. "The fight for equal rights for gay or straight people is the same as the fight for women’s rights to vote and the fight against racism."</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/280784/slide_280784_2109288_free.jpg?1360861752069" /></div></div></div></div></div>

Josh Hutcherson Reveals His 'Hunger Games' Gay Crush Josh Hutcherson Reveals His 'Hunger Games' Gay Crush

Josh Hutcherson Reveals His 'Hunger Games' Gay Crush http://www.huffingtonpost.com FOLLOW: Josh Hutcherson ,  Josh Hutcherson Gay , ...

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Josh Hutcherson: I love Emma Watson. Dying to meet her

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofF0t41q6CBLeymhKqROg4Jdjjql_9DpvqgG7klfqqYgfnq7jiqTOxeZIHZd5HEQzaQ9MOxeYAuD2rnaLktst-t5UUTDM1xj2PwazIPsK4mAA6yLo5HSsQ6S37nL23WqRdbhyphenhyphenglTH/s1600/Josh+Hutcherson+I+love+Emma+Watson.+Dying+to+meet+her.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofF0t41q6CBLeymhKqROg4Jdjjql_9DpvqgG7klfqqYgfnq7jiqTOxeZIHZd5HEQzaQ9MOxeYAuD2rnaLktst-t5UUTDM1xj2PwazIPsK4mAA6yLo5HSsQ6S37nL23WqRdbhyphenhyphenglTH/s1600/Josh+Hutcherson+I+love+Emma+Watson.+Dying+to+meet+her.jpg" /></a></div><br />Currently, <b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/search?q=Josh+Hutcherson" target="_blank">Josh Hutcherson</a></b> is at the peak of fame: due to the work on the project "The Hunger Games", he received worldwide recognition. Actor travels around the world to present a new picture, attends photo shoots and gives a lot of interviews. So, at a recent show, he admitted that he feels affection for the star of the Harry Potter - <b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/search?q=Emma+Watson" target="_blank">Emma Watson</a></b>. <br /> <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"> I love Emma Watson. Dying to meet her. </blockquote><br /> Furthermore, Hutcherson added that tries to get in touch with his colleague: <br /> <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"> I tried to get my manager to call Emma agent so that they can arrange a meeting. So far, that has not happened. But once that happens, I'm keeping my fingers crossed! </blockquote><br /> According to Josh, no embarrassment and problems while dating with Watson not arise: <br /> <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"> We're both actors, we understand each other's way of life, so that this knowledge could pass naturally. </blockquote><br /><br /> Well, maybe, Emma, ​​and she does not mind to have a new acquaintance. Who knows?<br /><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><!-- biner3 --><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:468px;height:60px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8441125172513237" data-ad-slot="7346003106"></ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQUPcOmHFx1eV9__Nj1Qfcu3_7yBAoW7lA78lHpTolJlqspbUd_U1ybtJp2R_qFt_CGCYNMZwWbSDJDpgJOmF_7J9fHMpkHgMHS_g-WnzVyGkFbx4UhBNJ93dhW7yMZn1mcS-t2Mx/s1600/Emma+Watson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQUPcOmHFx1eV9__Nj1Qfcu3_7yBAoW7lA78lHpTolJlqspbUd_U1ybtJp2R_qFt_CGCYNMZwWbSDJDpgJOmF_7J9fHMpkHgMHS_g-WnzVyGkFbx4UhBNJ93dhW7yMZn1mcS-t2Mx/s1600/Emma+Watson.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Emma Watson</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKH6TlvMG8XbKWcirnVARWPBlHCcdxchygBwKn7QerPRx0sV7_s00IJGUy3XQMtvxwVtgbAzepYLvjFmAlvkmmTiM9YNr8FYu1k3E8AVrzh9QLsMsJvE7yJVi-PQUgXVGxDK2FpxRU/s1600/Josh+Hutcherson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKH6TlvMG8XbKWcirnVARWPBlHCcdxchygBwKn7QerPRx0sV7_s00IJGUy3XQMtvxwVtgbAzepYLvjFmAlvkmmTiM9YNr8FYu1k3E8AVrzh9QLsMsJvE7yJVi-PQUgXVGxDK2FpxRU/s1600/Josh+Hutcherson.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Josh Hutcherson</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><center><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-8441125172513237"; /* video */ google_ad_slot = "9278264705"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; //--></script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script>        <script async src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><!-- style-4y_sidebar4_AdSense1_250x250_as --><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:250px;height:250px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8441125172513237" data-ad-slot="2423706304"></ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></center> <br />

Emma Watson Josh Hutcherson love Josh Hutcherson: I love Emma Watson. Dying to meet her

Currently, Josh Hutcherson is at the peak of fame: due to the work on the project "The Hunger Games", he received worldwide reco...

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'Catching Fire': Burning brighter than 'Hunger Games'?

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>Seldom has a film sequel's title sounded so prescient.</p><br /><p><i>Catching Fire</i> is just the second installment of <i>The Hunger Games</i> franchise and doesn't open wide until this weekend, yet Katniss Everdeen and her cohorts from Suzanne Collins' sci-fi novels already are being enshrined on the movie industry's version of Mount Rushmore.</p><br /><p>'James Bond, <i>The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Twilight Saga</i> - you can add <i>The Hunger Games</i> to the crown-jewel franchises and brands of the movie world,' says Paul Dergarabedian, senior analyst for the box office tracking firm Rentrak.</p><br /><p>He and other analysts believe <i>Fire</i> has the potential to eclipse 2012's <i>The Hunger Games</i>, which took in nearly $700 million worldwide. 'The appetite is even stronger,' says Dergarabedian.</p><br />REVIEW: 'Catching Fire' gets spark from LawrenceSTORY: A look at the new blood in 'Fire'MORE: President Snow is the new Voldemort<br /><p>Among the reasons why <i>Fire</i> could burn even brighter than its predecessor:</p><br /><p>* A bigger bandwagon: Collins' best-selling novels, where citizens are forced to battle in annual, televised gladiator games, came with a rabid built-in audience. And the critical and financial success of the 2012 film only added to the still-expanding audience.</p><br /><p>'When things catch on, people want to join in and take a look,' says <i>Catching Fire</i> director Francis Lawrence.</p><br /><p>The first film received an 84% positive critical rating on RottenTomatoes.com, and <i>Fire</i> is hovering at 94% so far.</p><br /><p>'This has become its own phenomenon,' says the director.</p><br /><p>* The Jennifer Lawrence effect. Any doubt that the actress was the right choice to play Katniss (there was significant fan outcry after her casting) has dissipated. She has proven to be a franchise rock with immense likability, box-office muscle and acting chops.</p><br /><p>Lawrence accepted the best-actress Oscar for <i>Silver Linings Playbook</i> in February before joining cast members on the <i>Catching Fire</i> set. 'Two days later she was back in the mud of Hawaii shooting,' says director Francis Lawrence.</p><br /><p>* A prime opening period. The November release date is a far more advantageous box office window than the original's March opening, especially with box office rival <i>Thor: The Dark World</i> now weakened after two weekends in theaters.</p><br /><p>Further, <i>Catching Fire</i> will hit the Thanksgiving holiday for its second release weekend.</p><br /><p>'That second weekend will keep the momentum going, with people off and catching up on movies,' says Dergarabedian. 'It has become this enormous event movie for the holiday season. That ups the ante considerably.'</p><br /><img src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/2b399076c9a184f54165f818fb8fe80e4d477c86/r=x307&c=540x304/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/11/20//1384980748000-AP-FILM-REVIEW-THE-HUNGER-GAMES-CATCHING-FIRE-59959844.JPG" width="600"/><br /><p>* Bigger special effects. While sets in Hawaii and Atlanta frame much of the movie, promotional trailers show that <i>Catching Fire</i> boasts an even more impressive visual world than in the Gary Ross-directed original.</p><br /><p>It was a big reason why Lawrence ( <i>I Am Legend</i>) was brought in to direct the final three films in the series ( <i>Mockingjay - Part 1</i> is due next year and <i>Part 2</i> in 2015). 'Visual effects are part of my background and strong points,' says Lawrence.</p><br /><p>* Hotter romance. The sparks of a love triangle that started in the original ignite into a fully fledged conflicted love between Katniss, her fellow tribute Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and her hunting buddy Gale (Liam Hemsworth). 'Things are heating up,' says Hutcherson. 'And it's getting really complicated.'</p><br /><p>In fact, there's even crowd-pleasing wedding planning for Peeta and Katniss, with a wedding dress that would make <i>Us</i> magazine editors salivate.</p><br /><p>The question lingers, however: Will moviegoers salivate? Even if <i>Fire</i> falls short of <i>The Hunger Games'</i> gaudy opening weekend numbers of $152.5 million, it has the legs for a long haul.</p><br /><p>'Expect big numbers, but whether it's a sprinter or a marathoner remains to be seen,' says Dergarabedian. 'With the perfect storm of branding, a hot star and a great release date, there are not enough adjectives to describe how well this movie can do.'</p><br /></div>

ENTERTAINMENT 'Catching Fire': Burning brighter than 'Hunger Games'?

Seldom has a film sequel's title sounded so prescient. Catching Fire is just the second installment of The Hunger Games franchise and ...

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Epic: Wishful thinking

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><i>Epic</i> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>(2013) • <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/fox/epic/" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">View trailer</a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Three stars. Rating: PG, and needlessly, for "scary images" and mildly rude language</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>By <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12885694730612878577" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">Derrick Bang</a></b></span></b></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a gorgeously produced animated fantasy, with opulent visuals and a color palette that cleverly reflects the story beats; I’d expect no less from director Chris Wedge and his Blue Sky Studios, the folks who brought us the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ice Age</i> series.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSdzjAk9xwzHLfc-2FY-SMot7M5busUJ_qvisgSGxloG51lDnGfN0z2k_TDuPODMriXmt1bjZzDhiezP0JkB8y6TnkfqyyA3KuJ5u1QdcRdnBantglOpvr5nEWYfE1gHhSuvI5nvt0tk/s1600/Epic+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSdzjAk9xwzHLfc-2FY-SMot7M5busUJ_qvisgSGxloG51lDnGfN0z2k_TDuPODMriXmt1bjZzDhiezP0JkB8y6TnkfqyyA3KuJ5u1QdcRdnBantglOpvr5nEWYfE1gHhSuvI5nvt0tk/s400/Epic+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">M.K. (voiced by Amanda Seyfried), suddenly responsible for the safety of a pod that<br />will help preserve the surrounding forest, fends off hilariously unlikely romantic<br />overtures from Mub (Aziz Ansari), a slug who fancies himself quite the chick magnet.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The impressive voice talent is well cast, with our primary characters granted personality and depth by Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson, Amanda Seyfried, Chris O’Dowd, Beyoncé and particularly Christoph Waltz, who makes a grand villain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The dialogue is droll and snarky, with quite a few laughs coming from O’Dowd.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And yet...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Narratively, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Epic</i> is curiously flat and uninvolving: far less than the sum of parts that should have worked better than they do. The premise is contrived and scattershot, with bits begged, borrowed or stolen from other, superior fantasy sagas. Waltz’s scenery-chewing malevolence notwithstanding, there’s never a sense of genuine peril: no feeling that our heroes are in any real danger, or that they’ll fail to save the day in the manner foretold in the first act.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The storyline is based loosely on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs</i>, one of imaginative author/illustrator William Joyce’s many delectable children’s books. Actually, “loosely” still overstates the case; 20th Century Fox has gone out of its way to distance this film from Joyce’s book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frankly, all concerned might have done better to follow Joyce’s template more closely, since this script — credited to Tom J. Astle, Matt Ember, James V. Hart and Daniel Shere — is a derivative, disorganized mess. Characters too frequently seem to have been granted screen time — and dialogue — based on the popularity of the star providing the voice, as opposed to reasons relating to plot continuity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s a bass-ackwards approach to filmmaking, and the awkward results are plain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><a name='more'></a><br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seventeen-year-old Mary Katherine, who prefers to be called M.K. (voiced by Seyfried), returns to her childhood home after the death of her mother, hoping to re-connect with her estranged father, Bomba (Jason Sukeikis), who has buried himself in rather bizarre research. Bomba (weird name, that) has spent years seeking indisputable proof that a tiny civilization lives in the nearby forest, an obsession that has cost both his family and his professional career.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although delighted to see his daughter again, Bomba hasn’t the faintest idea how to relate to her; he also can’t tear himself away from his work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The irony, of course, is that Bomba is absolutely correct: The nearby woods <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> shelter an advanced race known as Leafmen, the forces of light who constantly battle dark creatures of decay known as Boggans, ruled by the rot-inducing Mandrake (Waltz). One touch of Mandrake’s magical staff, and healthy vegetation withers and dies. Aside from the Leafmen patrols that prevent incursions by random Boggans, Mandrake’s desire to decompose the entire realm is checked by the Eden-like powers of Queen Tara (Beyoncé).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the time has come for Queen Tara to select an heir: a ritual that takes place only once every 100 years, during the convergence of a full moon and the summer solstice. A pod carefully selected from a special pond must bloom at that precise moment, in order to produce a new queen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mandrake, in turn, wishes to snatch the pod and force it to bloom in darkness, whereupon it will produce an evil prince who will plunge the realm into mold and putrefaction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The brave and stalwart Leafmen, who ride tamed hummingbirds, are captained by the chisel-faced, battle-hardened Ronin (Farrell). In addition to his tactical concerns, Ronin is constantly frustrated by the undisciplined behavior of Nod (Hutcherson), a rebellious free spirit who behaves like a typically arrogant and self-centered teen. This pains Ronin deeply, because he long ago promised to look after Nod, after the boy’s father perished during a battle with Boggans.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Ronin/Nod dynamic is totally clichéd and under-developed, with dialogue that could have been lifted from a TV soap opera.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through a series of events that’ll raise eyebrows even under these circumstances, M.K. gets miniaturized — very <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alice in Wonderland</i>-ish — and charged with the all-important pod’s safekeeping. Cue flirtatious glances between her and Nod, who suddenly finds a reason to think beyond his own interests.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, though, this blossoming burst of young love develops along wholly predictable lines, with uninspired dialogue that does nothing to solidify their growing relationship. Indeed, M.K. has much more fun sparring verbally with Mub (Aziz Ansari), a slug who fancies himself quite the ladies’ man, his ick-inducing gelatinousness notwithstanding.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although Mub and constant companion Grub (O’Dowd) — a snail — are responsible for nurturing the pod with their moist slime, they’re actually this story’s tag-team comic relief. They’re quite good at this function: good enough, in fact, that the film grinds to a halt whenever they’re not around. O’Dowd and Ansari deserve considerable credit for their comic timing, but this slippery duo also benefits from numerous sight gags, many related to their hilariously dexterous eyestalks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plenty of giggles also result from the disconnect between their feisty attitudes and their spineless anatomical limitations; as far as Mub and Grub are concerned, they’re the strongest, most resourceful warriors in Queen Tara’s land. Grub sees no reason why he can’t wear the armor of a Leafman warrior, and his plaintive wails — each time he’s left behind — get funnier as the story progresses.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mandrake, meanwhile, delivers Shakespearean pronouncements of doom over in his realm of Wrathwood. Waltz chews up the scenery with style, conveying a sense that Mandrake positively delights in his own wickedness. On the other hand, we barely get a glimmer of Mandrake’s relationship with his equally nasty son, Dagda (Blake Anderson), a character you’d think would be significant, but who checks out so quickly — and unsatisfyingly — that I can’t help wondering if the screenwriters simply didn’t know what to do with him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contrast this with the buckets of screen time granted Nim Galuu, a woodsian elder statesman given to fortune-cookie bursts of wisdom ... that is, when he isn’t partying down. Credit that aspect of Nim’s personality to his voice being supplied by Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, which also explains why this satin jacket-garbed caterpillar bursts into this film’s only song: a jarring narrative disconnect that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">also</i> brings the film to a grinding halt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As seems the case with Beyoncé’s Queen Tara, Nim Galuu’s frequent appearances exist solely to further justify Tyler’s presence; his character simply doesn’t make sense in this story’s grander scheme ... but, then, it too often feels like this film’s scripters operated without a grander scheme of any kind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Epic</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> frequently resorts to a make-it-up-as-we-go approach to plotting, arbitrarily allowing characters — good and bad — to be as weak, or as strong, as is required for any given scene. That’s a deeply unsatisfying approach to fantasy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Young viewers will enjoy this film for its colorful landscape and dynamic action scenes, and for the comic-relief chatter between Mub and Grub. Cinematographer Renato Falcão makes excellent use of the 3-D camerawork, which grants the Leafman/Boggan skirmishes a heady rush. Danny Elfman’s score is lively, although not his best work; I’m hard-pressed to remember any specific main or character themes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of the day, though, <i>Epic</i> simply doesn’t resonate. (Just in passing, that’s also a truly terrible title.) It doesn’t invite repeat viewing, and I doubt it’ll have much of a home-video afterlife. Wedge should have known better; you can’t make a good film from an inferior script.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><!--EndFragment-->

2013 Amanda Seyfried Animated films Aziz Ansari Beyonce Chris O'Dowd Christoph Waltz Colin Farrell Family films fantasy Josh Hutcherson Steven Tyler Epic: Wishful thinking

Epic   (2013) •  View trailer   Three stars. Rating: PG, and needlessly, for "scary images" and mildly rude language By  Derrick B...

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Hunger Games: Catching Fire Is the Dark Knight of Young Adult Films

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><!-- 3 --><br /><ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-4973891917352186" data-ad-slot="2995338919" style="display: inline-block; height: 250px; width: 300px;"></ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><div><br /></div><div><h1 style="background-color: white; font-family: periodico-text-1, periodico-text-2, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hunger Games: Catching Fire</em> Is the <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Dark Knight</em> of Young Adult Films</h1></div><div><ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 0px;"><li class="author" style="display: inline; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">BY <a href="http://www.wired.com/underwire/author/awatercutter/" style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">ANGELA WATERCUTTER</a></li><li class="entryDate" style="display: inline; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">11.21.13</li><li class="entryTime" style="display: inline; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">6:30 AM</li></ul><div><a href="http://www.wired.com/">http://www.wired.com</a></div><div><img src="http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/underwire/2013/11/HungerGamesCatchingFire.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;">There are so many ways <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Hunger Games: Catching Fire</em> could’ve failed. For one, it’s a sequel to wildly popular first installment. It’s also based on the second novel in an equally beloved book trilogy, has a different director than its previous chapter and functions as the stepping stone from the film franchise’s humble beginnings to its epic conclusion. It is, essentially, going through an awkward adolescence with a new step-dad – it should show signs of growing pains.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;">And yet, it blows the previous film — and most movies this year — out of the water.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;">Upping the first film’s grandiosity with a much more well-rounded universe, a harder-hitting message, and an even more impressive cast that includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, director Francis Lawrence’s<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Catching Fire</em> elevates itself above what we’ve come to expect from young adult film adaptations. The movie is 146 minutes and not one of them feels wasted.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;">When we last left <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Hunger Games</em>, our heroine Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) had won the eponymous children’s murder pageant in the future-dystopia known as Panem by outsmarting the leaders in the Capitol through a threatened double-suicide with her fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Catching Fire</em> picks up from that pyrrhic victory and goes even darker. Katniss, now back in District 12, is living the blessed life of a Hunger Games victor, putting on a for-the-cameras romance with Peeta and struggling with her own PTSD.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;">But her actions in the Games have sparked an uprising, which escalates into a full-blown revolution as she and Peeta embark on their Victory Tour throughout the Districts. Hoping to quell the rising tide of dissent, Panem’s President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and his new Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee (a delightfully creepy Hoffman) devise a plan to send Katniss back into the Hunger Games with a parade of other former victors, where they bet she will either face death or dishonor from killing fellow tributes (or both).</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;"><span id="more-292251" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span>Fans of the book will be happy to know Lawrence’s film follows the novel almost to the letter with few omissions, fleshed out from the novel’s first-person narrative of Katniss to a story of broader scope by <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Slumdog Millionaire</em> adapter Simon Beaufoy and <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Toy Story 3</em> writer Michael Arndt. They haven’t taken anything away from Collins’ story, but instead punched it up with a deeper look at the machinations of Snow and Heavensbee.</div></div><ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 0px;"><li class="entryTime" style="display: inline; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 0px;"><li class="entryTime" style="display: inline; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></li></ul></div></div>

Hunger Games: Catching Fire Is the Dark Knight of Young Adult Films Hunger Games: Catching Fire Is the Dark Knight of Young Adult Films

Hunger Games: Catching Fire  Is the  Dark Knight  of Young Adult Films BY  ANGELA WATERCUTTER 11.21.13 6:30 AM http://www.wired.com There ar...

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‘Hunger Games’ Cast Gets Drunk On Set

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="entry" style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://widk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Premiere_HutchersonLawrenceHemsworth.jpg" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><img alt="Premiere Of Lionsgate's "The Hunger Games" - Red Carpet" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-58064" height="540" src="http://widk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Premiere_HutchersonLawrenceHemsworth.jpg" style="border: 0px none; height: auto; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="406" /></a></div>According to an article posted on <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/478340/jennifer-lawrence-talks-getting-drunk-on-catching-fire-set-that-was-fun">E! Online</a>, the cast of The Hunger Games talked about their favorite memory on set during a Global Google+ Hangout fan Q&A, which was getting drunk together.<br /></div><div class="entry" style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Josh Hutcherson reminisced: “That was one of my first times on set with Woody [Harrelson] and we were just running around acting like total idiots while you guys were trying to film. It was so much fun.”<br />His co-star Jennifer Lawrence added: “We were drunk. That was fun. That was the first time I’ve ever drank at work.”<br /></div><div class="entry" style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">The cast was unwinding with some drinks on set after a long day of shooting at the Convention Center in Georgia, and couldn’t stop themselves from laughing at Harrelson’s antics.<br /><br />Co-star Liam Hemsworth explained: “You can’t look at [Woody] seriously, though. Especially when he’s off-camera…He looks at me like this and try not to laugh.”<br /></div></div>

‘Hunger Games’ Cast Gets Drunk On Set

According to an article posted on E! Online , the cast of The Hunger Games talked about their favorite memory on set during a Global Google+...

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I Am So Sad. Winter Olympics, Please Come Quickly!

<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Main Blurb </b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Blahblah Closing Ceremony blahblah basketball game blahblah DID YOU SEE THAT VOLLEYBALL GOLD MEDAL MATCH? I really hope you didn’t just tune in for the basketball game and then delete the rest of the recording. Because that was a brilliant gold medal volleyball match played by the Russians. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">To get you up to speed, the Russian men’s team was playing Brazil in the match. Brazil, whose women’s team had already won gold the day before, quickly went up two sets to none. As a matter of fact, Brazil had Gold Medal Match Point <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">twice</i>! But the Russians wouldn’t quit. Their coach changed up all of their positions, and the Brazilians weren’t prepared for that. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Russia made it a late set, but won the third set. Now they were down two sets to one. Brazil just had to win the fourth set and they’d be champions. Did they do it? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No!</i> They lost the fourth set! Giant player Dmitriy Muserskiy – who could be the younger brother of Noah Emmerich – was crushing the ball, and the one-named Brazilians (one of which – Murilo – is a cross between Alan Tudyk and Josh Hutcherson) couldn’t handle it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The fifth set is a shorter set – they only play to 15. And even then, the Brazilians were crushed. They couldn’t do anything. The Russians – who had already come back from match point in round-robin play against the Americans to win – knew how to play the match, and they conquered. I was really in awe of that match – it was probably the best volleyball I saw all Olympics!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mini Blurbs</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">I did watch the entire US-Spain basketball game, and at the end I really didn’t know who was going to win it! I fully believe that the US may not win the gold medal next time around. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I also watched the entire marathon. I was disappointed that Mebrahtom Keflezighi<span style="color: black;">, who had</span> been a silver medalist in 2004 for the US, placed in a distant fourth place. The other two Americans dropped out. Don’t they condition themselves to run in those conditions? They’re marathoners, aren’t they? I could have ran the marathon and dropped out after a few miles! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I got to see some team rhythmic gymnastics, and there were some high flying equipment going around! One of the teams laid out the three ribbons, put them through a hoop, and the gymnast kicked the hoop into the air, causing the three ribbons to fly up…into the hands of the three gymnasts who knew <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">exactly</i> where the ends were going to land! Unbelievable! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Instead of Where’s Kobe? The past couple of days it’s been Where’s Becks? On Friday David Beckham was spotted watching BMX, and on Saturday he was at the Olympic Stadium for the men’s 5000m and at the Aquatics Centre for diving. And in other celebrity news, Arnold Schwarzenegger was at the gold medal baskeball game today. Why? Beats me! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Small side note: I purchased the Opening Ceremony music on iTunes, and the entire second disc is the music that was played when the athletes marched into the stadium that night. It’s 1 hour and 20 minutes of awesome remixed music. I could see myself walking into the Olympic Stadium with that kind of music. Usually I am turned off to that kind of music (“club” music), but I like this mix. I think you should check it out! If I ever need to pull an all-nighter (kind of what I’m doing right now trying to finish this blog!), I will put on that disc to keep me awake. And it will make me think of the Olympics, which is always great.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I did enjoy the Closing Ceremonies this evening. There was lots of variety, and I liked all the British music they chose. The Brazilian contingency was a little odd, but it always is a little jarring to have a bright culture like that thrust upon you after two weeks of Brit culture. I remember feeling that way during the Closing Ceremony in Beijing. When the Brits did their little thing, it was a culture-180 in a very short amount of time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Did you know Prince Harry’s formal title is HRH Prince <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Henry</i> of Wales? Because I sure didn’t! It was cool to see him as the leading royal figure in the Closing Ceremony. But I’ve always been a Prince Harry kind of gal, so...</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And how about Boris Johnson? The London mayor was caught by the camera really boogieing to The Spice Girls during the Closing Ceremony. He’s quite a character, that one. (To be fair, who wasn't boogieing to The Spice Girls? The girl group of my grade school years!)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So the Olympic Anthem was sung once again, and the Olympic flag was taken down. That always chokes me up. But then they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">had</i> to play “The John Dunbar Theme” from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dances with Wolves</i> as the flame was extinguished. And I was a royal mess, because that single trumpet melody gets to me <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anyway</i>, and in these special circumstances I was a goner. Ugh, it’s always so sad to see that flame go out. Britain chose to use a phoenix and ballerinas and precede the actual dousing of the torch with large fanfare. Personally, my favorite extinguishing of the flame was in 2010, when all they did was have Neil Young sing “Long May You Run” with his guitar and his harmonica and the flame just went out. Very simple, and very effective. Though this was effective, too. I was crying, so whatever they did worked.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Of course, then NBC had to ruin my tear-fest and barely had Bob Costas wrap things up before launching into one of their terrible new shows, “Animal Practice.” I wasn’t expecting that, so I never got to see The Who perform (one of my favorite bands) and see the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">actual </i>ending of the Olympics. And way long ago I remember NBC doing some really great closing montages to the song “Titans Spirit” from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Remember the Titans</i>. But nothing here! They blew it AGAIN – I remember complaining in 2010 when they did the same thing. Don’t they ever learn?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I really hope that NBC can brush up its coverage and show a more worldly coverage next time around. They are so American-driven most of the time that we miss out on so much. If you can, watch BBC or Canadian television for your Olympics. I wish that I could.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Summer Blurb: The End</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And just like that, two weeks have ended. The hype is done – now we celebrate the athletes that actually came out and won their events. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you believe we just spent two whole weeks talking completely about sports? I pretty much ignored every other news story going on and maintained my blissful ignorance. Sports is really the glue that keeps us all together. It brings in nations from every corner of the world, and for a brief moment we can set aside our political and cultural differences and just play sports together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Sports! Occasionally revered way too much, but sometimes just the right thing to set us all back in our place. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">As a matter of fact, the Olympics have really soured me on a few things here in the States. Take football, for example. Every year the football hype train comes earlier and earlier. I can’t find any magazines that talk about the Olympics, but I can find fifteen fantasy football magazines. Not just football magazines – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">FANTASY </i>football magazines! Preseason games that get ratings equal to that of normal games. Media covering football camp like it’s the Super Bowl. (I’m talking about you, ESPN.) Every busted thumb gets fifteen minutes in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sportscenter</i>. Can’t we wait for the real season to start before we all start freaking out? It’s probably the Olympics-buzz in me, but I am really sick of it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So as I turn from gleeful Olympics lover to pessimist American sports hater, I guess that means I need to step back and take a break for a little bit. I need to get my bearings again, so I can return to normal American sports and not feel so lethargic about them. But I can strive to keep the good Olympics buzz going, because <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Winter Olympics are only 18 months away!!</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Winter Blurb: Countdown to Sochi 2014</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you believe it? In a year-and-a-half, we can return to this Blurb page and get our daily fix of the Olympics again! NBC already was talking about it today, and for once I was excited that they were! Think about it: figure skating, hockey, skiing, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">curling</i>, and twelve – yes, twelve! – new events! Snowboarding and extreme skiing are adding new events, which can only be a good thing! Plus, SCOTT HAMILTON!!! Because let’s face it: Rowdy Gaines and Tim Daggett are just Scott Hamilton wannabes. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Put it on your calendar, folks: The Blurb will reconvene on Friday, February 7, 2014 to celebrate the opening of the Winter Olympics! Only 542 days, 19 hours, 41 minutes, and 44 seconds!!!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Thank you so much for reading the past couple of weeks. I have gotten so much traffic from my Olympics posts, and hopefully I can keep posting weekly so you can come back for a different perspective on sports... and other stuff!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

I Am So Sad. Winter Olympics, Please Come Quickly!

The Main Blurb Blahblah Closing Ceremony blahblah basketball game blahblah DID YOU SEE THAT VOLLEYBALL GOLD MEDAL MATCH? I really hope you d...

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