Since I am a Gregorian, at least with respect to calendars, this time of year usually pulls me away from my duties here, so these are very overdue thoughts on the new Hunger Games soundtrack news. The first release from the soundtrack is Taylor Swift, along with the group The Civil Wars, performing “Safe and Sound.” Not only is this quite a bit early for soundtrack music to appear for a March film, but the song, and its musicians, also provide fuel for our on-going conversation about The Hunger Games as self-referential popular culture artifact. Join me after the jump for my thoughts along those lines. [Read more…]
Hunger Games Soundtrack News: First single ideal or ironic?
December 31, 2011 by 3 Comments
Hunger Games Movie Soundtrack: Rue’s Song?
December 23, 2011 by 7 Comments
‘Safe and Sound’ — Rue’s Song? Your thoughts? Hat tip to James!
Hunger Games Items Just in Time for Giving: MisGuided Merchandising or Brilliant Branding?
December 18, 2011 by 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 Film Official trailer–Just Like Cinna Would Do It
November 15, 2011 by 15 Comments
So, of course, we have some thoughts here about the just-released full-length official trailer for The Hunger Games. Even though the film isn’t out until March, the Gamemakers are amping up the hype. This trailer will be premiering in theaters with the first half of Breaking Dawn on Friday. This is not an unusual pattern, as Eclipse featured the preview for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows last year. Yesterday, the trailer debuted on Good Morning America with all the razzle-dazzle Plutarch Heavensbee could want. I had the honor of actually watching it for the first time with my ENG 111 students who have read the novel this semester. Join me after the jump for thoughts on the trailer’s best moments, what it bodes for the film, and why this is the trailer Cinna would have made.
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Hunger Games Movie News: A Two-Part Mockingjay, Thoughts from a Make-up Artist, and some Painfully Ironic New Photos
November 6, 2011 by 7 Comments
It’s been a busy news week on the Hunger Games film front, so between spurts of getting ready for my presentation at the upcoming James Madison University Replacing Wands with Quills Conference, I’ve collected three interesting reports for our conversation here. Join me after the jump to cover film breaks, make-up, and those Vanity Fair photos.
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