“The Hunger Games” Trilogy

Dystopian (adjective) –

1. A society in a repressive and controlled state in which the conditions of life are extremely bad and people lead dehumanized, often fearful, lives.
2. The opposite of utopian.

If you can pull yourself back to days when you were a student and the required reading list included books such as “Fahrenheit 451,” “Nineteen Eighty-Four,” “Brave New World,” and “Lord of the Flies,” you will find that you are actually familiar with the concept of “dystopian.”

As an English major and English teacher in a previous life, I’ve read more than my share of these types of stories, so I wasn’t too enthused when I started to hear rumblings about a series of young adult novels referred to as “The Hunger Games” trilogy. It was early 2011 by the time I decided I needed to take a look, after I’d heard several people reference the books and had seen the covers of the three novels on coffee tables, bookshelves, and in the hands of people whose literary taste I trusted.

• “The Hunger Games” – 2008
• “Catching Fire” – 2009
• “The Mockingjay” – 2010  

I was shocked to immediately discover a well-imagined science fiction world of the not-too-distant future and a story that held all of the action and distinctiveness of “Harry Potter;” the tormented and overpowering budding teenage relationships of “Twilight;” plus a fiercely independent, strong, and determined female main character - all neatly wrapped in a easy-to-follow story that presents all of the serious scholarly themes on war and the corruption of power from the classic novels I listed above!

The series is anchored by the first-person narrator, Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old girl who has grown up in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian society in the poorest of the 12 districts of the country of Panem. Because of her father’s death in a mining accident, Katniss has long been providing for her family (her barely-able-to-cope mother and her sweet sister Primrose) by sneaking out of the fenced-in district to the forbidden forest to hunt for game with her slightly older male friend, Gale.

The impetus for the action (and the constant driving theme element in the series) is the Capitol’s yearly Hunger Games – where one teenage boy and one teenage girl from each of the 12 districts is chosen to fight to the death in a televised reality show that the entire nation is required to watch as a reminder of the power that the Capitol holds over the people of the districts. Of course our narrator ends up as District 12’s female representative for the 74th annual games (although she isn’t the girl who was chosen – an important plot point I won’t explain further). Her male counterpart is an intelligent, artistic, and gentle young man named Peeta Mellark – the son of the district’s baker.

Yes, there’s a love story and a triangle, although Katniss is too stubborn and independent to let that consume her (or her story) completely. There is violence – teenagers have been tasked to fight-to-the-death for the enjoyment of the viewing public. But there is so much more. There is rebellion, war, psychological torture, alcoholism born of horrors witnessed and experienced, and the battle between good vs. evil when the narrator (and the reader) isn’t actually sure which side is worse than the other. Such strong, universal themes and messages in three books that are all far too well-written to be disregarded as simply “young adult fiction.”

A movie adaptation of the first book is coming in March 2012 and the first full-length trailer for the film has recently been released. Although the movie is getting all of the typical hype of a future “big series” like the “Harry Potter” or “Twilight” films, I have high hopes for it. It’s very well cast and the initial glimpses into District 12 and the Capitol seem mind-blowingly true to the books and different than anything else we’ve seen.

Link to "The Hunger Games" movie trailer on YouTube

Trust me. Pick up the first book of the series, “The Hunger Games,” and see if you aren’t hooked after the first two chapters like I was. It’s not often that I find a book that keeps me up past my bedtime, but these three did that. I didn’t expect to be moved by them the way that I was – but I think you might be too.

Link to "The Hunger Games" trilogy on Amazon.com

Happy reading!

"Castle" - the best show you may not be watching

Let me start by saying that I've been a longtime fan of actor Nathan Fillion.

My fascination started with a silly little sitcom in the late 90s called "Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place."  The geek in me loved the Joss Whedon science fiction series "Firefly" for the single season that FOX gave it in 2002 and the movie spin-off from that series, "Serenity." (Browncoats anyone?)  Then there was an amazing independent film called "Waitress" starring him, Keri Russell, Jeremy Sisto (from another one of my favorites, "Six Feet Under"), and Andy Griffith. I've reference this movie in a previous blog. It's a good one.

So, when "Castle" debuted as a replacement series in the spring of 2009, there was no doubt I was going to give it a try. I'm sometimes hesitant about "cop shows," since so many of them seem to follow a similar pattern and I often get bored, but this one seemed to have a unique premise - a bestselling mystery novelist named Richard Castle has become so bored with his main character that he's killed him off and ended a very successful and long-running series of books.  Now he needs to find inspiration for a new character and a new series, but he's a little bit blocked.

When Castle gets involved in an NYPD murder investigation because the murder is a copycat of one of his novels, he meets Detective Kate Beckett and is inspired to create a character based upon her, who he names "Nikki Heat."  Castle also provides enough assistance with the copycat case that the precinct's Captain allows him to follow Beckett around during the investigation. Detective Beckett doesn't want to inspire a character, doesn't want to be anyone's muse, is embarrassed by the character's name, and doesn't want Castle to follow her around and "interfere" with her investigation style.  

Of course, Castle is friends with the Mayor and the Chief, so he manages to get permanent position to "study" Detective Beckett by continuing to follow her, even after the copycat murder case is solved. Thus, a television series is born.

I am here three seasons later to tell you that, if you aren't watching "Castle," you should start - maybe during reruns this summer. But why? Why is it worth your time? (Trust me. I'm critical. I don't watch TV just for noise. If I commit to a series, there's a reason!)

1. The series is incredibly well-written. It's witty. Dry. Funny at times. Often poignant. Always smart.
2. Nathan Fillion is incredibly charming and the same can be said for the character of Richard Castle.
3. Stana Katic, who plays Detective Kate Beckett, seems to have a surprisingly broad range as an actress. The character of Beckett is very deep and Katic plays all of that very well. The actress is far too beautiful to be an NYPD murder detective (seriously!), but that's part of where Nikki Heat came from after all and the character is successful and driven (mostly because of a horrible crime from her past that I won't spoil for you here if you're not a viewer).
4. The supporting cast is great. In the precinct - the two supporting detectives, named Esposito and Ryan and played by Jon Huertas and Seamus Deaver, are actually fleshed out characters, not just background flunkies. There aren't a million different characters to keep track of as representing the police force; the captain and medical examiner round out the primary precinct characters. At home - the Castle character is provided additional depth by the inclusion of his daughter Alexis and his mother, a Broadway actress named Martha Rodgers, who is played by the very familiar Susan Sullivan ("Falcon Crest," "Dharma & Greg").
5. The murders are creative, thematic, and unique. The shows aren't completely predictable. Often the guilty party is a surprise. There's usually an intriguing twist.
6. There is that whole will they/won't they tension between the leads that can be traced back farther even than some of my favorite early iterations like "Remington Steele" and "Moonlighting," but it's not contrived. There's a lot going on with each of these characters and they're both struggling with what's right and wrong for their situation. In other actors' hands, it might come across as hokey, but not here. They maintain that delicate balance that keeps it believable.
7. Someone behind the scenes at the show or ABC is a marketing genius, allowing the character of Richard Castle to become a "real" author. Two Nikki Heat books have been released thus far, "Heat Wave" and "Naked Heat" (both of which I've read and both of which were very good - they seem to have a great ghost writer involved), and a third book is coming out in September. Richard Castle (the author) even has his own website - http://www.richardcastle.net/.

So, if summer reruns get you down or you're just looking for a new Monday night diversion, I'd sincerely recommend one of the only shows that I (apparently the last person on earth who does not have a DVR) actually make a point to watch every single week - "Castle" on ABC.

"The King's Speech"

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that Colin Firth was a recurring theme in a previous post about romantic comedies. I assure you that this post has nothing to do with that, even though my husband does regularly refer to him as one of my “boyfriends” and I have been a fan of his since - well - let’s just admit it (even though it has to be quite a thorn in his side to still be linked to Mr. Darcy) the 1995 “Pride and Prejudice” miniseries.

“The King’s Speech” is honestly one of the best movies I’ve seen in years and I think that you should see it even if you think you wouldn't like “that kind of movie.”

The film is based upon the true story of King George VI (a man who was never intended for the throne, but had it thrust upon him with the abdication of his brother) and his struggle to overcome a speech impediment that had plagued him throughout his entire life. He became King just as England was about to face World War II, when his country needed a monarch who could speak to them and for them in the face of the German threat and, ironically, in the face of the threat of Hitler himself, whose strength was greatly magnified by his own ability to use oratory to inspire his followers.

But enough about that, because the film is actually instead simply about a wife (Elizabeth, the future Queen Mother) who loves her husband (Bertie, soon to become King George VI) so much that she is willing to go to a very seedy part of London to engage a very unorthodox Australian-born speech therapist (Lionel Logue) after all other formal attempts have failed. The story that follows is of the relationship and bond that develops between her husband and the therapist, in spite of all of the reasons they should not and could not become friends.

Not a stuffy British film at all (as you might expect), at its heart, it is actually no more than a buddy movie. Yes – I said "a buddy movie." While historically-based, biographical, and stylishly filmed as a period drama, with the brilliant acting of Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, and Colin Firth, the film transcends all of that by giving us incredibly relatable characters. The history lesson is also tempered with quite a bit of unexpected humor, mostly stemming from Lionel's banter with Bertie as he tries to get to the source of his stammer - the neglect, the taunting, and the emotional turmoil that he faced as a young man.

The director, Tom Hooper, who also directed another of my favorite historic biographical pieces, the HBO miniseries, “John Adams,” delivers through these amazing actors a compelling, moving, and yet entertaining portrait of a real man facing his demons in what may be the worst possible time for him to have to do so, quietly emerging as a hero.

As the credits roll, we learn that Bertie and Lionel remained friends for the rest of their lives - which is just as any good buddy movie worth its weight should end.

Romantic comedies...

I consider myself to be as cultured, educated, and refined as the next person. I have a degree in English, Speech, and Drama. I have read (and taught – but that’s a story for another day) a lot of great literature and have seen many great dramatic productions and deep, meaningful films. I have a great appreciation for classic romantic dramas like “Pride and Prejudice” (the BBC/A&E version of course) and “Sense and Sensibility.” However, I have a little confession to make.

SHHH... I love romantic comedies.

I find that, whenever I’m feeling a little bit down, the hubby is working late, or I happen to be home by myself, if I can pop in one of my favorite romantic comedy DVDs, life improves significantly. I also notice that my productivity can dip quickly and drastically if I happen to flip through the channels and find one of those films that I can’t resist. My butt ends up plastered on the couch, no matter how many times I’ve seen the movie in question or how poorly edited it is in its television adaptation.

I know I’m not alone in this. I don’t think it indicates anything lacking in my real life or any defect in my taste or background. There’s just something to be said for the FORMULA when it’s at its best.

1. The “meet cute”
2. The misunderstanding(s)/conflict
3. The unfortunate but inevitable break-up or parting
4. The supportive best friend
5. The epiphany (look that one up kids!)
6. The desperate lengths the characters go through to reunite
7. The happy ending

Here are some of my favorites:

My Gold Medal All-Time Classics That Never Get Old And Cannot Be Resisted:

Bridget Jones’s Diary
I loved the book and may be one of the few people who actually prefer the movie. Renee Zellweger usually drives me insane, but the plump Bridget Jones version does not! Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver. Mr. Safe and Mr. Dangerous. Bottom line – Colin Firth AND Hugh Grant. Enough said.

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
The whole Thai prison plot makes this one less appealing to me than the first movie, but Colin Firth and Hugh Grant fighting in a fountain more than makes up for it.

Mamma Mia
Sam, Bill, or Harry? I wonder which one is my father? I have to admit that I have always loved ABBA and this very silly romantic musical comedy just strikes me to the core. It looks like they were having so much fun filming it. Who wouldn't have fun filming on a Greek island for a few months? I know that Pierce Brosnan can't sing, but there are great happy endings all around! (Oh yeah - and Colin Firth again.)

When Harry Met Sally
Enemies become friends, then lovers, then enemies, then soul mates, all with a backdrop of music from a very young, mostly unknown-at-the-time guy named Harry Connick, Jr., setting Meg Ryan up as one of the queens of the genre.

Sleepless in Seattle
Who wouldn’t want to believe that fate is real and that two people who are destined to be together can be pulled in such an impossible way across an entire continent? Add in the whole top of the Empire State Building element from “An Affair to Remember” and you have one of the best “happy ending” scenes ever!

Kate & Leopold
You mean you’ve never seen this one? Hugh Jackman got a Golden Globe nomination for his very non-Wolverine role as the Duke of Albany, transported from the 1800s to current-day New York City. Time travel plus romance?! You’ve got me! I’ll admit that you do have to ignore Meg Ryan’s crazy hairstyle and the plastic surgery that she must have had right before filming, but with Hugh Jackman to look at instead, that’s not too hard to do.

Music and Lyrics
Here’s another one you may have missed. Even my husband likes this one. (Please don't tell him that I told you that!) Aging 80’s pop star (Hugh Grant) meets quirky poet (Drew Barrymore) and they make beautiful music together. One must ignore the fact that the pop star is old enough to be the quirky poet’s father and that Hugh Grant really isn’t aging well. (This actually has a great soundtrack too!)

Love Actually
There are so many great storylines intertwining in this movie, but I mostly just care about Colin Firth learning Portuguese and Hugh Grant dancing on the stairs. I’m shallow that way.

My Silver Medal Finalists That Will Suck Me In If I Stumble Upon Them:

Waitress
This is another one you may not have seen. It’s different - an independent film. Keri Russell (yes – Felicity) and Nathan Fillion (yes – Castle) in a story of a young girl in a terrible marriage who finds herself pregnant by her abusive/obnoxious husband and ends up having an affair with her OB/GYN (Fillion). This one is less formulaic and doesn’t have the typical happy ending, but it does have a very empowering one! (Surprising performance by, of all people, Andy Griffith, too.)

Notting Hill
I’m not really a big Julia Roberts fan (sacrilege?), but I love this fantasy of Everyman Bookstore Owner meeting Movie Star, falling in love, and it ending happily with them together (her very pregnant) on a park bench in London. Um. Hugh Grant. Yeah. There are a couple of patterns here, aren't there?

The Holiday
Jude Law as a romantic lead – well, duh. But Jack Black?! He’s adorable in this. Nice back story about old time Hollywood too.

While you were Sleeping
Of course Sandra Bullock’s character is supposed to be with Bill Pullman’s sweet, quiet, gentle furniture craftsman and not his arrogant brother! When he slips the ring into the token window at the train station with the whole family in tow, it gets me every time.

My Bronze Medal Movies That Will Always Do In A Pinch:

The Wedding Date
I can make myself believe that Debra Messing is a character other than Grace from “Will and Grace” if Dermot Mulroney is there as a gigolo with a heart of gold.

13 Going on 30
In a twisted time-traveling version of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” teenage Jennifer Garner gets to see how her life will turn out if she doesn’t recognize what she has in her chubby, sweet friend who will turn out to be darling Mark Ruffalo.

Never been Kissed
Budding journalist Drew Barrymore pretends to be a high schooler and goes back to school to write an exposé on education, surprisingly finding herself to be one of the “popular kids” during this go-round and falling in love with the English teacher, Michael Vartan. (Who wouldn’t?!)

Fever Pitch
Did you know that this cute movie where Drew Barrymore falls in love with school teacher and ultimate Boston Red Sox fan, Jimmy Fallon, in spite of his obsession with the team, is actually a remake of a British movie of the same title that starred – wait for it – Colin Firth as the school teacher and ultimate fan of the Arsenal soccer team? Yep. You’re right! I’ve just come full circle and ended right back at Colin Firth.

Since I know you’re out there thinking, “I can’t believe she didn’t include _________,” what are your favorite romantic comedies that didn’t make my list?