getting to the <3 of the matter
After much anticipation, it was delightful to see The Hunger Games movie succeed so brilliantly. Check back later this week for more thoughts and analysis of the film, but in the meantime you can start with the movie review. The short version: it’s a 9/10.
Read moreA young hero from a desolate and isolated region, torn from that life by the evil machinations of an oppressive regime, mentored by a wise-yet-weary warrior, forced into new alliances and a rebellion, a singular life-defining shot that hits its mark… I bet you thought I was talking about Star Wars.
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Last night I attended the midnight movie premiere of The Hunger Games at my favorite local theater. Here’s my preliminary, spoiler-free recap.
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Good stories always have great characters. The great stories always have something more. What sets them apart are themes that resonate deeply with the reader, viewer, or audience. Great stories don’t just entertain – they make us think, challenge our assumptions or beliefs, or inspire us to do great things ourselves.
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What sets The Hunger Games apart from the rest of the field, though, is its lead character, Katniss Everdeen, and the skill with which Collins executes a novel trilogy centered around a young female lead. Where so many others have failed, or not even bothered to try, Collins not only creates a Strong Female Heroine, but also makes the story her Heroine’s Journey from impoverished nobody to national symbol. There are far too few stories of this kind in the genre – or anywhere else for that matter – even amid the prolific storytelling boom of recent years. For authors, screenwriters, and others struggling to figure out how to write better female characters and better female-centered stories, The Hunger Games has to be at the very top of the list to read, analyze, and learn from.
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In The Hunger Games novel trilogy, Suzanne Collins created another fantastic example of an heroic story centered around one principal character, without losing touch with the role that teamwork and collaborative success play in human nature. In a very real sense, the trilogy is not the story of the rise and triumph of Katniss Everdeen, but rather the success of Team Katniss.
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As the countdown to The Hunger Games continues, Lionsgate and Scholastic have been rolling out a deliberate marketing strategy to build momentum ahead of the first movie.
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Today marks 49 days until the theatrical premiere of The Hunger Games on March 23, and as the date gets closer the excitement continues to build. To recap some of this week’s highlights:
Read moreToday we’re just under two weeks until National Novel Writing Month in November.
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Michael A. Stackpole’s body of fictional work in the Star Wars universe, particularly the X-wing Series, has made him a fan favorite in EU literature discussions. So it was a rare and exciting opportunity back in May when he agreed to do an interview.
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