I realize Lionsgate’s THE HUNGER GAMES is on a lot of people’s radar already, and there seems to be great interest in it, yet I just can’t get terribly excited yet. There’s the obvious similarities to BATTLE ROYALE, and novel-to-film franchise similarities to TWILIGHT, and of course the question as to who exactly the audience is for this. Young adults? Really? We want them seeing movies about teenagers having to kill one another in a game? Hmmm… I’m willing to give it a shot, especially since Jennifer Lawrence is in the lead – I find he very engaging and likable as an actress. Gray Ross directs the action, based on Suzanne Collins’ books, and the film co-stars Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson, Wes Bentley, and Elizabeth Banks. Take a look at the first full trailer below and tell us your thoughts in the comments.
Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains. Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. THE HUNGER GAMES is directed by Gary Ross, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel, the first in a trilogy published by Scholastic that has over 16 million copies in print in the United States alone, has developed a massive global following.
<THE HUNGER GAMES opens March 23, 2012
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
