You might have an African Grey Parrot when....

You are all watching Supernatural in the living room and two rooms away you hear the whistle from Hunger Games and a nonexistent phone ringing...

We will be watching The Hunger Games tonight in honor of .........

the 5 year anniversary of the original release.  Popcorn and candy:  Check, check!

Ornament for 2015....

Nothing says Christmas like a Mockingjay ornament!

The Mockingjay, part 2............

The final installment of the games didn't disappoint!

We headed out for the Thursday night premiere a little sad that this would be the last part of the Hunger Games Trilogy.

I was having a little bit of car issues and had a lot of work (work at home momma) to do before we headed out to be two hours early to wait in line for two hours so I figured drive thru for dinner would have to be good enough.  Turns out, that was a great idea since a nice man in a truck in front of us actually paid for all the food!  What?  I know, we were thinking we were being put on Youtube but I guess he was just being kind.  Nice to see kind men these days!

We got to the theater and meet up with friends.  They were all so excited!  They hover-boarded out front while I secured their spot in line.  The line had started forming around 5 and before the movie started, there were no seats left.

So how was the movie?

For me, the beginning was just a tad slow but overall a really good way to bring the games to an end.

I read the book, which made me cry like a baby and even though the movie did stick close to the
book, it was not as sad as the book in parts.  There were a few tears shed during the film by movie-goers, just not mine.

Mockingjay part 2 picks up exactly where part 1 ended, literally!  Peeta had just pulverized Katniss
after he was rescued from the Capitol.

Snow knows how to push Katniss' buttons by knowing what is important to her.  At this point, Katniss must learn to wrap her brain around being a propaganda gadget and get this rebellion going full speed, which she does and in a way that the Capitol cannot ignore.

Without giving too many details, the final battle unfolds, a few of our favorites meet their final fate, and Katniss realizes that even after everything she went through, none of it really mattered which is a little disappointing but that is how life works some times.  The movie closes with what seems to be a peaceful life for Katniss with a lot to look forward too. (I do not want to spoil it for anyone who might not have read the book).

This movie did not get the best reviews but it was a good movie, and definitely worth seeing.  Also an interesting bit of info, there may be a prequel to the Hunger Games to clue you in on events that transpired before we were introduced to Katniss and the gang.  This is a really good idea to me.  You can read more about that here.

Watch a trailer here at Variety.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 Special premiere tonight with friends. Cannot wait!!!!!

Fire will be catching at the early premiere tomorrow night..............

MTV Movie Awards tonight at 8, red carpet at 7:30.

Two of our favorites are up for movie of the year.

Great question......................

Who is ready?

~

~

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.

The Puzzle Box Cat

We have been working on the Hunger Games 1,000 piece puzzle since before Christmas.  This puzzle has its own separate table so that we can just work on it when the mood strikes.  

This table sit in front of two windows and a lot of sunlight comes through.  This is where you will find Smokey John Jones pretty much every day and all day.  He has claimed this puzzle box as his new daytime slumbering spot.  He will sit there and soak up the sun and just fall asleep, dead asleep sitting up.  

We find puzzle pieces all around the house too because when he has been sitting there asleep for hours, the puzzle pieces stick to him and when he gets down from the table, they fall off as he walks.  

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!

Our carved Halloween pumpkin for 2012 revealed

We did not have a hard time deciding on what we would carve on this year's pumpkin.  It was either some kind of bird or something from The Hunger Games.  This resulted in the carving of a mockingjay which is a bird in The Hunger Games.  It was not exactly an easy thing to carve but I think it turned out pretty good.