The Hunger Games Trilogy as a Venn Diagram

Often, a book-a movie, or an album is greater than the sum of it's parts. However, in the case of the Hunger Games Trilogy (HGT), I'd argue that the book's greatest influences are comparable (in the case of Twilight) or far better (Spartacus and 1984).

Why the Twilight parallel? Well, both series feature a heroine in a love triangle. Now, on one side you have a clutzy, damsel in distress who has to choose between a werewolf and a vampire. HGT has a kick-grass archer (Katniss) who chooses between a dreamy (he's a day-dreamer) baker or a handsome hunter who helped Katniss learn how to provide for her family.

Okay, but Spartacus? Well, Spartacus was the most famous slave leader in a major slave uprising against the Roman Empire in 80 BC or so. In HGT, Katniss leads a revolution against a totalitarian empire* called "The Capitol" of 13 states* The citizens of the Capitol all have Roman names.

Last but not least, is George Orwell's 1984-the book that originated the phrase "Big Brother Government." In both books, the individual is the subordinate to the state and not the other way around.

Anyway, literature isn't an island, in most books, the influences are noticeable. The idea however is to take those influences and create a seamless work of his/her own. Unfortunately, the "Hunger Games Trilogy" comes off as pretty clunky and inferior to other books in it's genre(Sci-Fi) which it's trying to emulate. That being said, the trilogy is addicting, and gets people reading-which is great.

Compared to "Twilight," though, "The Hunger Games Trilogy," is the better series. But, that's kind of like saying that the University of Utah Football program is better than BYU's Football program this year. Although both are lucrative and have huge fan bases, you can't deny the mediocrity of both.

"The Hunger Games Trilogy," however, can be compared to the Harry Potter series, which is a compliment. Both series of books are gateways for young readers into other more mature books of their genre. The Twilight Series however, are a gateway into, well, Harlequin books maybe? Supernatural Jack Weyland?

*Yes, there's a US history parallel.

Indaroma: A Review

Last year, I read about a Bakery/restaurant that specialized in French pastries and Indian dishes in Alexandria. Intrigued, I wanted to try it. I finally had the chance to eat there this evening. Although I didn't have a pastry, the sandwiches were delightful. I had a spicy cauliflower curry wrapped up in a toasted flatbread....less than $5.00. Not bad for the DC Area. Not bad at all.

6548 - C Little River Turnpike
Alexandria, VA 22312-1443
(703) 354-1812

http://www.indaroma.com/#

While Reading "Faith Preceds the Miracle"

I've been reading "Faith precedes the Miracle" by Spencer W. Kimball during my daily nebulizer treatments. Although the book reads quickly, it's turning into a bit of an albatross around my neck. The book's references are more dated than "Miracle of Forgiveness," and then there's President Kimball's admonition towards women. Although, I understand that a good part of President Kimball's belief is cultural, I was still a little surprised to read,

" You see Mary, it was never intended by the Lord that married women should compete with men in employment."

Although President Kimball does say in an earlier chapter that women may work in "emergencies," I was still a little taken aback to read those lines. I'm still trudging book this book, and have found some great passages-or at least decent lines, but there's probably a reason this book is out of print, while "Miracle of Forgiveness" is still available at a LDS bookstore near you.

Review: Scott Pilgrim

I attended a screening of Scott Pilgrim vs the World last week and.....I liked it. Now, this film isn't for everyone, it's probably going to be pretty polarizing and I think people will either love or hate Scott Pilgrim and his quest (there's a cute Link reference at the first of the film) to defeat the Seven Evil Exes of his current girlfriend.

First, if you haven't figured it out, this is a comic book film with Michael Cera as the super hero. In fact, the new Captain America (Chris Evans) and the latest Superman (Brandon Routh) are in this film. While it's unlike most comic book movies, the above casting is more than a coincidence, I'm guessing it's probably partly a nod to the fact this film is a comic book film.

Second, the film has a TON of references to old school Nintendo and even Atari games. Even if you didn't own an original Nintendo (me) and consider yourself much of a gamer (me), you'll still get many of these references if you're between 25-40. I'm guessing before the week is out, some video game geek will post on their blog ALL of the video game references to this game.

That being said, this film would fall flat if it wasn't well done. This film is well done. The script is hilarious. You'll be laughing at this film at least every couple of minutes. Also, I mentioned above that Michael Cera is a comic Book "hero." That point alone is hilarious.

As far as the acting goes, overall, the movie is well-done. The seven evil exes are pretty great. A couple fall a little flat, but not enough that it's detrimental to the show. Brandon Routh's character is great as is Chris Evans. The supporting cast? Kieran Culkin is a highlight and many of the laughs revolve around him as Scott's gay roommate. Anna Kendrick as Scott's sister has some great laughs, as does a couple of the band members (Johnny Simmons and Kim Pine). Scott's love interest Knives Chau is a highlight of the film. She acts well and steals nearly every scene she's in. The only disappointment in the cast was Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona Flowers. She looks kick-grass, and I found myself wanting her hair, but her acting falls flat.

As far as Michael Cera goes? Last Summer I found myself really sick of Michael Cera. He plays the same character over and over and it was getting really old. However, even for this die hard Arrested Development fan, I found myself really surprised by Michael Cera's acting chops in this role. Granted, he's playing the same character yet again, but he does it really, really well. He breathes life in a character that could be so one dimensional, and yet somehow is hilarious. There's several moments that really stood out to me (One of the very first scenes with his band when he's talking about what he does with his girl friend), another scene where his girl-friend tells him about the exes and he's fixated on the fact he has a girlfriend who will make out on him and not the battle itself) and just the little things.

Anyway, go see this film if any of the above appeals to you. I did think the comic-book action subtitles got a little old, but overall, this film is great.

Even though this film failed at the box office, I tell ya-this is still going to be a cult classic, and a generation-defining film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgOLmjhxVVU

Review: Crazy Heart

Sometimes redemption doesn't turn out the way you want it, but it doesn't make it less sweet.

I finally watched "Crazy Heart" last week, and it's a movie that actually exceeded my fairly high expectations. The story is about an alcoholic country singer/songwriter who gets a second shot at life.

Although the supporting acting is all solid, Jeff Bridges astounds in this role. Reportedly, he was told to be the "6th Highwayman" and he evokes memories of both Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson. Playing a drunk suits "The Dude," and Bridges is completely available as an alcoholic who still has a way with women. The film ultimately is a character study, with the supporting actors acting as foils for Bridges.

A film about a singer-songwriter wouldn't be complete without music, and the music in "Crazy Heart" is stellar. From Colin Farrell as a believable country artist (Ferrell could have easily been a Nashville star) to Jeff Bridges singing exactly like you think he might. The movie would fall flat if the songs themselves were lousy, but most of them are solid and a couple are even memorable ("Fallin' Feels like Flyin'" and "The Weary Kind"). Ryan Bingham (the composer for many of the movie's songs) is one to watch.

Although the film is gritty, it's one I'd recommend.

Ryan Bingham performing "The Weary Kind"

Coraline

In the mood for a freaky, creepy little tale? Have I one for you. I'm almost thinking I have the tolerance of a 9 year old for these kind of movies, but Coraline was creepy. Don't let that stop you from watching it however-the tale of a little girl who discovers another family with buttons for eyes who wants her is enchanting, breathtaking at times, and even kind of funny. The animation is phenomenal and the voice acting is solid. After watching "Phoebe in Wonderland" recently, and now this-Dakota Fanning is fast becoming a favorite child star. She does a great job voicing Coraline. The ending is intense-you know how it ends, but there's still a few moments where you jump. Or at least I did.

Mad Me!

The second season of Mad Men arrived on DVD a few weeks ago, and we were lucky enough to get the first disc from netflix the day it released. If you've ever seen the show, it's awesome. A period ensemble drama set in the 1960's, it follows the antics of one ad executive, Don Draper and his wife, Betty, and the people they associate with from day to day. The show is dark but occasionally funny, riveting, shocking, and oh the clothes and the sets! Don Draper is a classic American anti-hero, kind of a Gatsby or Bernard Malamud's Roy Hobbs from the Natural(not the Roy Hobbs in the 1984 film,). Draper is an alcoholic womanizer who came from a shady past that was revealed to a certain degree in the first season. However, he's got qualities that make men jealous and women swoon. He's a brilliant ad-man, he's loyal and it doesn't hurt that he's easy on the eyes. The rest of the cast is spot on-(incredible acting) and the result is that every episode so far has been a gem.

The show has already influenced fashion. Last year's retro throwbacks that could be seen anywhere from Michael Kor's line to Target? Blame this show. However, if you don't have 200.00 dollars to spend on a dress, Mad Men has a new feature called Mad Men Yourself, where you can take 10 minutes and create a character version of yourself as a character of the show! Here's me with my appropo cig dangling from my lips (The amount of smoking in this show makes my allergic lungs nervous)

Create your own character here

30 Rock Season 3 Episode 2: Believe in your Dreams

Review and Commentary to follow (or add your own in the comments section)

Synopsis:
Liz meets Oprah, Jenna and Tracy switch places, Jack once again is fascinated with Kenneth (remember the poker episode)

Review: Either I'm high on medication (okay, asthma meds) or 30 Rock hasn't missed a beat from last season. While the Kenneth/Jack plot was a bit of a retread, it still was hilarious, even though it was a bit of a downer. We're all human though. The Oprah twist? Awesome. The flashbacks? Great. The is it harder being ____ in America debate? Two thumbs up.

Quotes:

"There's always a right thing to do, its not always the easy thing to do"--Kenneth

"I don't believe in hypothetical situations. That's lying to yourself."--Kenneth

"Oprah smells like rosewater and warm laundry."--Liz

Is Sponge-Bob supposed to be terrifying?"--Kenneth

Review: Kabluey

Last week I was reading about the down-fall of the Indy (Independent) movie. The author lamented that where Indy Comedies were fresh a few years ago, they are now stale, pretentious, and formulaic. After reading the article, I decided to go check out an Indy comedy, last year’s “Kabluey.” The film lacked the pretensive nature of a Juno-there were no wise-cracking, age weary protagonist. Just a confused, immature 32 year old man-ling who learned a few of life lessons while roasting in a blue costume.
The film’s plot is basic. The protagonist, Salman, goes to live with his sister in-law and their two homicidal toddlers while his brother is stationed over in Iraq. Salman tries baby-sitting, but is a disaster at it. Then his sister-in-law gets him a job as the mascot to a failing Internet start-up. Day after day, he stands at the side of the road trying to hand out flyers (he can’t grip things with the costume on). He grows up a little and helps out his sister-in-law before his brother gets home. Ok, its formulaic, but isn't tiresome. The acting, especially by the lead (played by the writer-director, Scott Prendergast) sparkles. The screenplay could be bogged down by blue suit jokes, but somehow it doesn’t. Chris Parnell, always a delight, plays a small lead.

Neflix Pix

2 years ago I finally caved into Netflix. Since then, Kelli (one of my four roommates) and I have shared an account that's under my name. However, since she's been in school, she doesn't get a chance to watch all of the movies I rent. However, since she wants to see a lot of the movies I do (and almost always says "I want to see that" when she sees what I've rented), I've told her the past six months that I'd make a list of the movies she should watch.

So here goes: The top ten with three honorable mentions.

The Battle of Algiers: I knew it was good. I had no idea it would affect me as much as it did. Shot in black and white using actors to reenact part of the war of independence of French Algeria, and shows atrocities committed by both sides in the struggle. This is a must see.

Becket: I'm a little in love with Peter O'Toole, and after this film I'm a lot in love with him. A show about the despotic scoundrel Henry II(O'Toole) and what happened when he appointed his best friend as the arch bishop of Canterbury. The leads shine, and I gained new admiration for Richard Burton after this.

Maria Full of Grace: Unsympathetic (to a point), unbiased (as much is it can be) this film simply tells the story of a Columbian drug mule. Touching and one that you ponder upon long after the credits roll.

The Third Man: With a script by the always fabulous Graham Greene and set in one of my favorite time periods (filmed in Europe directly after World War II), this film is one of the best noirs I've ever seen.

End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones: So, what do you get when your core band members are a heroin addict, a man diagnosed with OCD and a card carrying member of the NRA?

Network: "I'm mad as hell and can't take it anymore." You know how there's films or books that are almost prerequisites for being an informed member of society? This is one of them.

Grizzly Man: What sets this apart and is what haunts me to this day is the darker side of Timothy Treadwell. One of the greatest documentaries I have ever seen.

Patton: A character study masquerading as a war film. Patton is crazy, but that adjective doesn't begin to describe his intelligence, quirky idealism, and the attributes that make him a sort of tragic figure if you will. Another great film.

Lillies of the Field: I'm not as familiar with Sidney Poitier as I should be and this film about a disillusioned war vet being out maneuvered by a German nun in the desert of California took me by surprise. I knew it was good, I had no idea how great it was.

I Am Trying to Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco: This is the documentary that put Jeff on the mainstream radar. Great film, performances are great...and it doesn't hurt that Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is one of my all-time favorite albums.

The General (Silent) Buster Keaton is a champ. Surprisingly sophisticated and wry. Yeah, its silent but its also one of the best comedies of all time.

Honorable Mentions:

The U.S. vs. John Lennon: Even though Yoko is one of the producers, I think its a pretty good source for information about John Lennon's involvement with the peace movement. The footage is fascinating, the interviews intriguing, and the story is strong. Especially for those of us who weren't born when all of this was going on.

Why We Fight: I read an article where Christopher Guest proclaimed this as the best documentary he's ever seen. I'd disagree, I think there's a couple on this list alone that are stronger overall, but its good. It had me until the last fifteen or so minutes but still definitely worth seeing.

The Bridge over the River Kwai: Perhaps the best performance I've ever seen Bill Holden give. Gritty, melancholy and a nailbiter. Definitely one of the great WWII films.

The Lion and Lamb went nuts!

Oh, the last day of March. So, here's a recap of the month, or at least the highlights and lowpoints that I remember.

Movies I watched:

Diary of a Mad Black Woman*1/2
Love Madea, didn't dig the story line. Sometimes I felt like I was watching a ghetto-fied seminary video with a much better soundtrack.

June Bug***
I didn't realize how disturbing this one is, but the cast was solid, I dug it.

Rumor Has It *1/2
Lazy, Lazy film. Shame on you Rob Reiner.

Bob Dylan Documentary by Scorcese Part 1 ***1/2
Love Bob, Love the way this was filmed, the early part of his life, very very cool.

Highlights:

My alma mater making it to the final four

quitting linkup for a while

In touch with old friends

etc:

Things I could live without:

A certain individual trying to pick apart my blog because he has a grudge against me. Give it up dude! Your back biting and two-facedness is lame! Just take a little responsibility for your actions, and give it a rest. All I ever did to you was to stand up to you when you knew you were wrong. I'm definitely not perfect, just leave me alone.

My insurance charging me double for allergy medicine. Lame!!

Books I've Read

Gilead: I raved about this one already on here. Truly one of the best books I've read in at least 5 years. Truly beautiful

The Known World: Nearly made me cry twice. A story thats difficult, but a must-read.

How Soccer Explains the World: The Belgrade Red Star soccer club scares me. In a way that pretty much only the Balkan region can.

Albums of Note

Arcade Fire Funeral ***1/2

Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks *****
Okay, I've been listening to this one regularly for 3+ years, but its a standard and of note.

Page France Chariot ***

And I think that's about it for the Month of March. May April Showers bring May Flowers because baby, we're in a drought!!