I can get behind Donald Sutherland in the Richard Dawson role. But who’s playing Dynamo?

I like the Logan’s Run vibe. And for the uninformed, the ridiculous fashion choices of the rich Capitol characters is a story detail and not just bad costume design. They’re supposed to look that way. It looks like I imagined it when I read the books.

The trailer looks like a pretty faithful adaptation of the book. The challenge will be how to translate Katniss’ thoughts to the screen. Once the Games start, she spends a fair amount of time thinking about whose side people are on, what her strategy should be, and how she feels about Peeta. These are essential elements to the story and may prove a challenge in making the film. The trailer gives us no hint as to how it will deal with this.
One little note– I would have preferred seeing Katniss fire an arrow at the judges, versus shooting one right through the heart of the target 😉
 
-Jason E

I don’t know anything about the books, but this REALLY feels like a watered-down reworking of Battle Roayle for the Twilight crowd: I don’t mean that as an insult, more as matter-of-fact.  I’m slightly interested, as a mainstream variation of Battle Royale is intriguing.  But this trailer does nothing for me, and I’ll need to hear/see more to get interested enough to pay for a movie ticket.

I still really don’t know what to think of this. I’ve heard about how good the books are for years from people whose taste I respect, but I can’t say that since the first time I heard the concept I didn’t think exactly what perc2100 very eloquently hit on the nose with, “but this REALLY feels like a watered-down reworking of Battle Roayle for the Twilight crowd” – well said mate. I mean, realistically that is what this is, whether the books are or not, and whether the movies turn out to be good or not. But that’s what the studio is banking on, right – new fodder for the bella-ites? Still, I will see it and I’m hoping it’s good (gonna read the books first though).

The series has a much broader scope than Battle Royale. The story’s more personal than BR, and while there is the whole angsty teen romance thing, it isn’t remotely as insipid as the Twilight (which I haven’t read) shit.  It’s handled well and is important beyond being there just to have a romance plot for lonely teen girl wish-fulfillment. Basically, the comparisons to Battle Royale are inevitable and understandable, but The Hunger Games really is its own beast.  It’s a much different take on the same premise.  I think it definitely earns the right to be judged on its own merits.

This series deserves to be judged on it’s own merits. It is not “Battle Royale.” And it is definitely not “Twilight.” It’s inevitable, I guess, that there will be a segment of hipster douchebags that can’t see past a property’s popularity, but this is a terrific series: well-written, rounded characters, and compelling themes. The romance aspect, while juvenile (it is, after all, a “youth fiction” series) is handled with delicacy and authenticity, and evades the soapy, mopey, pseudo-goth vibe of Meyer’s books. 

I’m not gonna sit here and say that these are the best books ever written, or that the movie will undoubtedly be good (it will be interesting to see how they translate such an internal character into a successful movie character), but those who pre-judge this are no better than those who pre-judge comic books as the medium of pimpled, virginal geeks with suppressed daddy issues. 

It’s an interesting concept (which encompasses a LOT more than just the survival games), and its populated with interesting characters. Give it a chance to be good.

Haven’t read the books, but it looks promising enough – the lead actress can actually act (unlike the Twilight gal), and I like Josh Hutcherson(?). Didn’t really come across all that soapy in the trailer. I hope that it’s getting an R-rating, though.

Quicktime=Apple=Bad for your PC.