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Picture from CatchingFireTributes.

Rest in peace! Philip Seymour Hoffman

July 23, 1967 to February 2, 2014,

There will only be one "Head Gamemaker" and that is you!

New York Times article.

Girl on Fire

Thank you, Subway for saving this gigantic Girl on Fire just for us!  The car ride home was a little weird but I volunteered to give this cardboard cutout a home.  I would have preferred having the Finnick cutout myself.....

Catching Fire candy bars

Have you seen these yet?  They are Catching Fire inspired candy bars by Vosges Haut-Chocolat & Wild Ophelia.  This is an exclusive line created to represent each district in Panem.

So far, we have only tried crunchy peanuts and peanut butter bar from the Transportation District, District 6.  The chocolate was very smooth, almost velvety, and the peanut butter was excellent.  Chocolate and peanut butter is my favorite anyway!  We may try the District 12 bar next which is mined salt and milk chocolate or maybe we will go with District 4, the fishing district, sea salt and coconut.  That sounds like an interesting combination.  They also have a new Catching Fire truffle collection and all kinds of other goodies that would make great gifts.
Here is a link to their main page.
You can find the Hunger Games inspired creations here.

Fire is spreading!

I am not sure where to even start.  My head is still spinning.  I guess I could sum it up like this;  Francis Lawrence nailed it!  This movie adaptation of the Catching Fire Novel was dead on.  I am currently reading Mockingjay (part 3) but so far, book 2, Catching Fire is my favorite and seeing it brought to life on the big screen was (high pitched sound) awesome!!! Our favorite characters from Hunger Games have matured a little since the first version,  and it suits them all so well.  There were also a few newbies added to the mix, and again (singing voice) nailed it!

Newcomers include:

Sam Claflin  I have to admit, I was not sold on Sam when they cast him.  The character in the book was described in a way that I did not see how anyone could fit the description of being this perfect specimen of a human but Sam Claflin pulled it off effortlessly.  Thank you, Sam for that!

Jeffrey Wright  Another perfect casting.  He is so talented, so suave, so sophisticated. Sigh................

Philip Seymour Hoffman  I also had my doubts about Philip Seymour Hoffman.  I have seen him in other movies, and he is without a doubt a fantastic actor.  I just could not see him as Plutarch Heavensbee, head gamemaker, but he brought his game and played it well.





                                       

Jena Malone  This girl came in on fire!  She gave Katniss a run for her money as Johanna Mason.  I definitely want her on my side.








                                             

Lynn Cohen  Oh my goodness!  This is the cutest little lady I have ever seen!!!!  She played Mags and was awesome!!!!!





Of course, my favorites still remain Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) and Haymitch (Woody Harrelson).  All of the characters were cast flawlessly.

Great character casting+great storyline=A winning combination.

Recommendations before you go.  Do not drink a lot prior to going in or bring a catheter, you will not want to miss a minute of this!!!  Wear loose, comfortable clothes and pig out on candy and popcorn.  Bring tissue just in case-I do not want to spoil anything so I will just leave it at that.  Try not to sit beside a nonreader because they will just not get it and ask a lot of questions.  My only negative about the movie is it is very long but it moves at a really fast pace so it does not seem as long as it is.  Oh, Johanna Mason does drop the F-bomb but they bleep it out even though that really did not make a difference because it was obvious anyway. This is the best movie we have seen this year! I would recommend it to anyone 10 and older and has seen the first one or read the books.
 
More info:
Main characters:  Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Lenny Kravitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jena Malone

Lionsgate

Watch the official trailer here.

On our way!

It is about 3:15 p.m., and we are about to leave for our 8 p.m. early showing of Catching Fire.  When we picked up tickets, they said if you want a good seat be here by 6 p.m.  Ughhh!!!  Out of the 250 seats available, 250 seats are filled.  I am thinking we need to be the first group of about 30 that goes in to get a decent seat.

I am glad we are going a day before the official release and that it is not the midnight showing which I was almost talked into but still, I think of being stuck in a dark theater with 247 other people breathing, coughing, and whatever else-B.O. for 2-1/2 hours, I kinda cringe a little.  Oh well, it must be done!

It starts at 8 which means it really starts around 8:20 because of trailers and commercials, etc so that puts us coming out at about 11ish.  We are usually still awake at 11 but I prefer to be home at that time and not driving.  I hope this movie does not disappoint!

Catching Fire Sneak peek tickets!

Feast your eyes!  C14 was so happy when we picked up our tickets to the advanced showing of Catching Fire, she almost fell down in the parking lot, literally.  I am pretty sure she is not going to get a lot of sleep tonight and tomorrow night, she will be bouncing off the walls!  May the odds be ever in my favor!

CATCHING FIRE!

Watch a live stream of the LA premiere of Catching Fire here at Yahoo Movies!

Catching Fire

Catching Fire

Advanced tickets go on sale October 1st!

Watch the movie trailer at Fandango.