District 12, Panem

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I really hope most of you got the reference from the title of this post, rather than the image seen above. Really. If not, get out from under that rock you're living beneath, and go buy the Hunger Games series. I'll give you a hint, you won't stop with the first book. So, go ahead, buy them all together. It will probably save you some moolah in the long run.

But this post isn't about the series in general, or a book review. Though, when I reread them here soon (or listen to them in the car, which seems to be my M.O. these days) I will probably do just that. Not that there aren't a bazillion other such reviews on the internet, but I digress. This post is, perhaps, best described as being about the Hunger Games Phenomenon and my apprehensions about the upcoming movie.

I'm not worried that they'll ruin it, not even a little. It'll be a hard story to ruin. And, I understand, like with most books-made-movies out there, no one will be 100% satisfied with the movie because their favorite or a scene that they thought was so SO important got left out from production. I could take a year and list all such issues with the Harry Potter franchise (oh god, don't get me started. little things! LITTLE THINGS, Harry Potter Franchise! Would it have been so hard to have Harry repair his wand with the Elder wand at the end of DH.2?!) and still not be done with the list. I'm not worried about the crazy merchandizing or the cast members thrust into a fame they may or may not handle with the same dignity that the HP cast did.

No, I'm most worried about is that first moment when the opening credits are over and Katniss becomes the Katniss of Jennifer Lawrence and not the Katniss who exists within my mind. Or Peeta, the boy with the bread, when he becomes something other than the boy in my mind. Or Gale, the handsome and loyal best friend. These characters, at this moment, are mine alone. Because, I'd bet, that my Gale looks nothing like your Gale, and they both probably don't look all that much like the Gale who will be gracing the movie theaters later this year. It's the greatest downfall of the books-turned-movies in my opinion. Harry Potter is proof enough of this to me, as Harry will forever be Daniel Radcliffe in my mind - not the scrawny, disheveled Harry who was there before him. Same thing with Hermione, Ron, Draco, the Hogwarts grounds, etc.

Really, it's not a bad thing, per-say. But I like letting my imagination take the words of the printed page and create the worlds and characters in my mind. I like that my Katniss was my Katniss. You know?

What's your opinion on books-made-movies? Have you read the Hunger Games? Are you as excited as I am for the release of the movies? Are you (like me!) dressing up in Capitol Couture for the midnight showing of the movie? (Yes, I am still 26, and not 12).

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