When I think of product placement in films, I think of classic 80s films like the Back to the Future trilogy, or E.T., which were pioneers in utilizing the options that product placement brought them. It also was kind of comforting to see that in Marty McFly’s 2015, Nike was still around, as was Pepsi. Hunger Games though, that’s a bit more tricky than 1987′s Back to the Future Part 2 and setting a section of the film in the futuristic early 2000′s, why’s it more tricky that that? Well, we don’t even know when The Hunger Games takes place exactly, that’s why. What we do know though, is that the world as we know it is gone, and certain people are just as product obsessed as some of us are today. But, do the companies we know, loath, and also love sometimes, still exist? Does McDonald’s still exist like in Luc Besson’s 1997 film The Fifth Element? Does Bvlgari still exist like it does in Speilberg’s 2002 film Minority Report? According to those films, those future set films — these companies do still exist, and they’re thriving. I’m just curious to see if they survived Suzanne Collins’ and Gary Ross’ head-scape where it comes to placing the familiar in the entirely unfamiliar, i.e. The Capitol, and maybe even the Districts. I’m not saying District 11 has a bunch of KFC’s, but relics could still be spotted — an old logo from a bygone car company, the shells of the past could be littered throughout the districts — and not one of the fictional residents would be the wiser, or know why a Shell Gasoline sign is holding up half their porch. Could be fun, right?

What companies do you think would be good to see represented in The Capitol or The Districts? Starbucks? McDonald’s? Tiffany’s? Apple?

Them There Eyes

We’ve teamed up with Hot Topic because they’ve got tons of great Hunger Games merchandise ranging from t-shirts and jewelry to the orange backpack and the new Capitol Colours nail polish line by China Glaze.

The pre-order wait is over! All of these products start shipping TODAY (with the exception of the soundtrack), so if you buy it today, it ships right away!

If you’re looking to buy some awesome merch, we’ve got a code to save you money! You’ll get $5 off any purchase of $50 or more when you enter the code HTAFEB550 at checkout before March 15!

At least you’ll be prepared for your midnight showing, right? Don’t forget to pre-order tickets today!

Which gets us to thinking… How does District 12 advertise?

Certainly it’s not all flashy and animated. We assume that, much like us, they use some broken down old version of Paintbrush and can barely manage even that. Therefore, we’re taking the liberty of advertising some of the businesses we’d expect to see in District 12!

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Consider us sold!
The Girl With The Pearl

Victors Village
Kait: We’re interested to see where Taylor Kitsch goes as an actor. He’s gotten praise for X-Men Origins: Wolverine and the upcoming John Carter, but he’s also had his share of really unfortunate performances in movies like The Covenant and Snakes on a Plane (both were really kitschy– bad pun INTENDED.) He brings up the age old question: Is success or failure based on the actor or the role? Personally, we’re not willing to take that gamble with the beloved character of Finnick Odair. Taylor Kitsch is a handsome, well-built guy who probably has a solid acting career ahead of him, but we just can’t picture him in the role and can’t be assured that he’ll pull it off. We’d be very nervous if he were cast, though he still seems like a much better suggestion than some of the other pop-confection Finnick fancasts out there.

Taylor Kitsch

HG Movie Site
Erin: I admit I haven’t seen Taylor Kitsch in anything. I know that Friday Night Lights is a good show, but I also know I didn’t watch it, so I have no opinion. He’s extremely handsome, and from the way the other people in the fandom talk him up, I am sure that he can act. But he reminds me of someone I would see on the Vampire Diaries or something, and not saying they are bad actors, they aren’t… it’s just he’s not my Finnick. I am sitting here watching YouTube video’s of him I am thinking that he definitely has screen presence. I admit, I am torn down the middle. But overall, he’s not my Finnick. But put him on The Vampire Diaries, and I’ll be happy to watch him get staked by Damon.

HG Fireside Chat
Savanna: I have to admit, I’ve never seen Taylor Kitsch in anything. Up until this past week, I didn’t even know who he was. That being said, from what I’ve heard, he seems to be a capable actor. He’s also the right age and, at least in my opinion, looks the part — but really only when his hair is longer. I do think that Finnick needs to look remarkable, though, and I’m not sure if Kitsch’s “handsomeness” is universal or extraordinary enough. He sort of reminds me of a young Christian Slater, actually — who, while obviously attractive, isn’t exactly “Greek godlike.” Could Kitsch’s face capture the attention of an entire nation? All that being said, though, Kitsch wouldn’t be a horrible choice.
Adam adds: If The Hunger Games was on the CW, then Kitsch would be your perfect pretty-boy-who-does-nothing character. But Finnick is so much more than that, and so is The Hunger Games. Give me a character who’s blazingly good-looking, with depth and personality. We don’t need a District Four Tree Hill.

The Hob
Lee: I very much like Taylor Kitsch as a choice to portray Finnick. His screen presence is magnetic and his physical appearance is striking. Though older than Finnick at 30 years old, he can appear both young and old at the same time. This adds dimension to a character who would be champion of the Games at a young age, but who appears somewhat aged years later by his experiences in Panem. It would not seem out of place to see Taylor hold a trident with ease. His work has shown so much range, from Friday Night Lights where he showed his physical and emotional range, to X-Men Origins: Wolverine where he commanded the screen at Gambit. Emotionally, he has shown that inner monolog of choice and action necessary for Finnick. Overall, I think he’s a strong choice for the role.

HG Girl On Fire
Lindsay and Sheila: Anyone who knows Taylor Kitsch probably knows him as Tim Riggins in Friday Night Lights. But he’s set to blow up huge this year with a couple of major blockbusters coming down the pipeline (Battleship and John Carter). Can he carry his own film? We don’t know yet. But what we do know is that he is capable of playing the bad boy you can’t help but love (and I mean LOVE). If you’ve watched Friday Night Lights then you know Taylor’s character had many layers. When you first see him as Tim Riggins, he presents himself as cocky and confident with alot of swagger. But as his character develops, Taylor shows his character’s vulnerability and fragility, and isnt that what Finnick is all about? In our opinion, not only does Taylor have the right look to play Finnick, he also brings a great but quiet charisma to the screen. We’d give Taylor a double thumbs up for Finnick!

What do you think of Taylor Kitsch as Finnick? Let us know in the comments!

Be on the lookout for our final Finding Finnick Odair, were we will discuss Colton Haynes. Colton plays Jackson Whittemore in Teen Wolf.

Pins given away at SDCC 2011

First, it was usually for doing Hunger Games stuff. Now I just wear it whenever, like today while out shopping or even yesterday at work. Strangely enough, it goes well with my everyday clothes and somehow dresses me up a little. That’s a first for me regarding nerdy fan merchandise.

In the books, the pin goes through a really long journey, from Maysilee to Madge to Katniss. From jewelry to token to Capitol fashion trend to the symbol of the rebellion. The pin is different things to different people and its significance evolves throughout the series.

Need a reason to wear a Mockingjay pin? We’ve got you covered:

1. You’re feeling particularly fan-girly or fan-boyish – Feeling extra jumpy because you’re anxious to continue on your reread, but for whatever reason you’re out and about? So excited about the movie you’re about to burst? Well, we can’t say that it’ll take some of it away, but wearing your pin will at least help you express it a little.
2. You’re out to convert some people – Think about it. Someone sees your pin, thinks it’s interesting and starts a conversation, and bam! You’ve got someone who is now aware of The Hunger Games and might read it. For more tips on conversion, see this post.
   

   Katniss's token in the second trailer

3. It goes with your outfit – This actually happens! It happened today. I stuck it on because my plain old black hoodie just needed something. Not gaudy, but still just fancy enough.
4. You’re on Katniss’s side – Just like Bonnie says in Catching Fire, the Mockingjay means we’re on Katniss’s side and everything she as a character and by extension the entire series stands for. And it could help you identify others like you.

Whatever your reason, wear it proudly. Pin it on the lapel of a jacket, on a cardigan or hoodie, or even on a scarf, hat, or bag. Need a pin? You can pre-order one from Hot Topic (to the right, guys) or from Amazon and other stores.

It’s pincredible!
Twiffidy

1. Gale and Madge were romantically involved.

I don’t know what it is, but I totally think this theory is true. I’ve been a teenager, and I know what it’s like to have feelings for someone who’s just so wrong for me, but kept going back for more — because god knows why. This is what I think was happening with Madge and Gale: Boy from the wrong side of the tracks, so-to-speak, hooks up with the mayor’s pretty blonde daughter, but in public he treats her like shit, because he’s secretly ashamed that he gave up on his own principles and went for someone outside of his class and his background. I know a lot of people are all, “but Gale’s in love with Katniss!” Um, yeah — people do carnal things with each other all the time, and love’s the last thing on their minds, and Gale’s an 18 year-old guy who’s in love with his best friend, who’s also clueless! What’s a boy to do? Well, hook up with someone who’s willing, who likes him, and who knows his best friend, i.e. Madge. Poor Madge though, not only has she been left out of the movie (I’m fine with that by the way), but in canon she’s ignored in public by the first guy she probably let see her naked. What solidifies this theory for me though is the morphling in Catching Fire. People don’t secret heavy narcotics to just anyone, there has to be underlying feelings with that delivery, plus she didn’t stick around to see that the drugs were administered. For me, that delivery and fast retreat was her saying good-bye to the idea of him stepping up and admitting that they may have had something.

2. Mr. Mellark is really Prim’s father.

This one also seems entirely logical to me, usually theories that diverge from canon make me roll my eyes — but the known background of all involved in this possibility, for me it points to positive. Mr. Mellark and Mrs. Everdeen, who I really wish had 1st names, but they don’t — were allegedly romantically involved before they married their spouses. One thing I think we all have to continuously remind ourselves about where it comes to the characters in The Hunger Games, is that they’re very flawed — and Mr. Mellark and Mrs. Everdeen are no exceptions. That in mind, even so-called happy couples have problems — who’s to say that Mrs. Everdeen didn’t step out and cheat on Mr. Everdeen. Prim favors her mother in looks, and as far as we know Peeta may have gotten his coloring from his father. Two fair haired people are certainly more likely to make more fair haired people. There’s also the sugar cookies, and the promise from Mr. Mellark that he’d look out for Prim after the Reaping in The Hunger Games. Then there’s the way in which Mrs. Mellark treats her own family, she could very well be acting out the frustration of a horrible marriage on everyone around her, and who’s the easiest target, and probably the best way to hurt her husband instead of directly hurting him — hurting his children. Deeply unhappy and angry people usually aren’t that way for no reason at all.

3. Cinna’s not dead!

I just can’t allow him to be dead in my mind, in my mind he was in the same torturing center as Peeta, Annie and Johanna, but the rescue team couldn’t find him — or left him behind because he wasn’t on the list, and Gale being the wonderful human being that he is, didn’t tell Katniss that they had a chance to rescue him, and opted not to.

There you have it, some of my favorite Crack Pot Theories! What are some of yours?

Them There Eyes

As you know, Bluewater Comics has teamed up with our friend Sara Gundell, also known as The Hunger Games Examiner, to create a new comic in their biographical FAME series.

Lucky for us, we were given the opportunity to review FAME: Suzanne Collins before its release! So gather ’round and enjoy our analysis!

FAME: Suzanne Collins tells the story of the author we all love, but don’t know very well. Though The Hunger Games is obviously mentioned, the focus is NOT solely on the series. This comic is all about Suzanne, including her youth, education and early career. Suzanne is notoriously private and not into the whole social networking movement (hell, her website is still heralding the upcoming release of Mockingjay), but Sara has dug up the facts and inspiration behind her career that has information that even we didn’t know!

Because this is a comic book, the writing in concise, but it’s also a lot of fun. We especially enjoyed the quotes from Suzanne Collins throughout. They serve as a firsthand perspective that breaks up the narration nicely.

What about the illustration, you ask? It’s pretty spectacular! Our one critique is that, other than the cover, the renditions of Suzanne and popular celebrities do not match their actual likenesses (though we assume this was done for copyright purposes.) The art really does help tell the story and add a new, fresh element to it all.

If you’re a collector of Hunger Games books and memorabilia, this is one we suggest you add to your list! In case you missed the giant graphic on on sidebar, you can pre-order here!

And if our word isn’t enough to convince you, here’s an EXCLUSIVE panel from the comic! It’s not giving away, but it’s still a beauty!

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It’s WAY Better Than Any of the Comics We Collected as Kids!
The Girl With The Pearl

I’ve got a confession to make: I’ve had a crush on Wes Bentley ever since I saw American Beauty in theaters. Back when it was rumored that he was cast, though we didn’t know who he was going to play at the time, I was a bit psyched that he was a) doing movies again and b) going to be in The Hunger Games! And then, as I was in line for the bathroom of a Starbucks in New York checking Hunger Games news on my phone (I have a very distinct memory of this), I found out that he was going to be playing Seneca Crane.

It took me a minute to remember who that character even was, but it hit me and I realized the brilliance of it and what it implied about the movie that was at that time still a complete mystery to us all.

Your argument is invalid

Seneca Crane is not mentioned by name until Catching Fire. He has no description and in the first book is only mentioned as part of a collective whenever Katniss refers to “the Gamemakers”. We only really know of his death and the circumstances surrounding it. So to have included him in the movie (the most recent trailer, the one aired during Survivor last night, featured him quite heavily for a 30-second trailer) says a lot about what we’re going to be seeing. Even without the interview today, the trailer gave us a glimpse into his producer-like quality.

Because of the sheer inclusion of his character in the movie, we had already assumed that we would be getting behind-the-scenes looks of the Games. That can only result in a more striking sense of just how cruel and messed up the Hunger Games are. Picture it for a minute. This flashy-looking producer guy trying to figure out how best to get the drama out of the deaths of children. Triggering events like the fireballs/wall of fire and releasing the mutts to go after Cato, Katniss and Peeta. He may even fill the role of a villain to some degree.

And that beard. There cannot be a discussion of Seneca Crane without mentioning that beard. Never has facial hair been so infamous, with its very own Facebook page and everything. And even for non-fans seeing the trailers, that beard will get some butts in seats just for the intrigue factor of it.

Of all the “changes” being made from book-to-movie, the inclusion of Seneca Crane has been a favorite, and we’re excited to see Wes and that beard in all of its glory!

I just want to touch it
Twiffidy

Have I mentioned how much I love the Internet lately? Okay, well — I bloody love the Internet! Why? Because within the last couple of hours it was reported that The Hunger Games aka our favorite film we haven’t seen yet, has a brand new running time. 142 minutes! That’s two hours and twenty minutes of pure unadulterated butt numbing film watching goodness right there! At first I was all, “wasn’t that what was reported last week, better yet, isn’t that what our own Twiffidy wrote about not so long ago?” Well, yes — but now we allegedly have an extra 25 minutes!

To get a little perspective, let’s run down some films that roughly run the same length the new running time is reported to have, the classic 1971 film A Clock Work Orange runs for 136 minutes, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One runs for 146 minutes. Perspective achieved yet? I think so! This, if reports turn out to be true, is a good length film, and in my humble and overly opinionated opinion — it’s so much better than 117 minutes. Think about it, The Hunger Games page length wise, depending upon which copy you own, is pretty sizable — granted it’s not Les Miserables sizable — but it’s a solid few 300 or so pages. Personally, when the 117 minutes running time was released, I was a little disappointed, and just figured they’d really made things tight and concise. 142 minutes will allow for a bit more time to marinate on things, perhaps more breadth has been given to the end of the story — allowing for our beloved characters to break our hearts just a little bit more? No idea!

All in all, I am so happy with this new number, I just hope it’s true, because my butt will be grateful for the numbness.

Them There Eyes

We fully planned to write a review for Safe and Sound that said something along the lines of “What’s the big deal guys?” Taylor Swift is cute, she’s singing a song we’ve listened to roughly a thousand times… no big deal, right? UH, WRONG!

Just watch: Taylor Swift ft. The Civil Wars – Safe and Sound

We’re Little Miss Cynical at the beginning of this video. Taylor Swift in a vintage dress, being all adorable once again. She’s walking through a deadened forest looking solemn. Quelle surprise!

A fireplace blazes and The Civil Wars sit in front of it being all serene…

Then Taylor looks up at the trees and… OH. RUE. We almost forgot what the song seems to be about. Then the background is so foggy it looks like smoke. It’s like the signal fires Rue sets to lure the careers away from Katniss.

THEN OMG, THE BERRIES! There’s a shot of berries and everything is officially sentimental and therefore our sensibilities are shot to hell.

Suddenly, there are tears welling up in our eyes. No fair! There’s no crying in blogging! We’re definitely not the criers of the fandom over here!

Taylor sits on a gravestone while singing the chorus and you have no choice but to think about death. She walks up to an old abandoned house, into the burned remains of a little girl’s room where she finds a Mockingjay pin! This foreshadowing is way beyond the first book and it’s more than we can staaaaaand!

Guise. Srsly guise. Why is T.Swift trying to break our Hunger Games loving hearts?!

BRB, Putting on a Nightgown and Walking Through a Graveyard
The Girl With The Pearl