• Hunger Games Items Just in Time for Giving: MisGuided Merchandising or Brilliant Branding?

    ByElizabeth
    19 Comments

    The Movie Marketing Gamemakers have clearly decided that The Hunger Games is bound to be their meal ticket (pun most certainly intended) next year, a fact evidenced by big promotions starting this week with the 100 days countdown to film release March 23. The stunning new poster, with its catchphrase “The World will be watching” is both a reference to the ever-present cameras in Panem, and a bandwagon appeal from moviemakers for viewers to go see the “big” movie “everybody” will be going to see. It should not, then, be astonishing the number of items that have now been rolled out in the hopes that readers will snatch them up for themselves, or that that friends and family will purchase mass quantities of this stuff for all the Hunger Games readers on their lists. Follow me after the jump for some thoughts on the humor and horror of everything from nail polish to water bottles sporting the flaming Mockingjay pin. Read More “Hunger Games Items Just in Time for Giving: MisGuided Merchandising or Brilliant Branding?”

  • Wizarding World coming to the West Coast

    ByElizabeth
    3 Comments

    After the phenomenal success of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Studios Theme Park in Orlando, Florida, it should come as no surprise that Universal is planning to open a companion section at the park in California. There are also plans underway to expand the Orlando park. Since these plans will not come to fruition for some years, it seems safe to say that, as we’ve predicted here for some time, we’ll be seeing Harry’s world as a permanent part of our culture, much like the elements of Disney World that come from films made long ago (my daughter was fascinated to learn that Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella, not to mention the venerable Snow White, are older than Mommy). Unlike the many come-and-go-attractions at Universal, the ones that change with trends and popularity, it seems safe to say that Harry is here to stay. (Hat Tip to James!)

    Read more here and here.

  • Come One, Come All (Maybe) to Erin Morgenstern’s Debut novel, The Night Circus

    ByElizabeth
    2 Comments

    Several months ago, we posted a story about the debut of novelist Erin Morgenstern and her book, The Night Circus, which has been released, and which I have now gotten around to reading. When I wrote the initial article back in the summer, I was concerned about the way the publishing mavens (whom we call Gamemakers for their Capitol-esque approach) were manufacturing Morgenstern into their next cash cow. I was also amazed at all the hoopla surrounding the release of a book by a previously unpublished author, since such shenanigans are usually the norm for highly anticipated later installments of series like those of Rowling, Meyer, Riordan, and Collins. Yet, for her first novel (and it’s a stand-alone, not a series), Morgenstern got the whole bookstore-themes, entertainment, and costumed fans package we’ve come to expect from books 2, 4, or 7, rather than 1. Is the novel a magical must-read or the emperor’s new clothes? Follow me under the striped big top, and we’ll see.

    Read More “Come One, Come All (Maybe) to Erin Morgenstern’s Debut novel, The Night Circus”

  • Pubcast Tonight on Middle Earth Radio

    ByElizabeth
    0 Comments

    Come over to Middle Earth Radio this evening at 10 as Travis Prinzi, Jenna St. Hillaire, and Rev. George dish about the lesser (and perhaps not so lesser) villians of the Hogwarts novels. I’ll be chiming in with my thoughts and some insights on the Breaking Dawn film, and the intrepid Dave Kale of Middle Earth Network will join us as well. Enjoy!

  • Breaking Down Breaking Dawn: Part 1

    ByElizabeth
    10 Comments

    These two-part last-book movie finales are becoming something of a regular occurrence, what with a two-part Deathly Hallows and a looming two-part Mockingjay. Though film audiences will have to wait another year for the completion of the film versions of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga, part 1 of the last installment has just hit theaters. Here are my thoughts on the film, particularly in connection with its ties to the text and deeper meaning (read: there is much analysis of alchemy, hardly any of actors’ degrees of attractiveness, though I did love Billy Burke’s declaration, in his wedding tux, that he knew he was hot. Gotta love that Charlie). Those of you who have also seen the film I hope will help fill in any gaps I may have left ( I’ll do better after several careful DVD run-throughs). Those who are not much fussed over films or Forks, we’ll have some other posts for you soon. Now, grab that popcorn and that wedding invite (here’s mine), and let’s break down Breaking Dawn: Part 1.
    Read More “Breaking Down Breaking Dawn: Part 1”