Hunger Games Aussie Review

Found this Australian gal's spoiler-free review.
First thing she says is that the movie is 'amazing'...
She saw 'Hunger Games' last night, 24hr ahead of U.S. release.

Watch her self-video as she walks home @ 2am:

She says its just 'amazing'
'faithful adaptation w/o being beholden to the book'
'Jennifer Lawrence was sublime'
'Thought Josh brought the spirit of Peeta'
'Its got pace and tightness'
'good even for people who've already read the book'

So, according to her 'The Hunger Games' will be a hit.

But the most unique thing about her experience to me was the small theatre she was in. The theater provided champagne on little numbered tables? And those table dots with numbers (D1, D2) indicate that they had assigned seating in this cozy little cinema.

Personally, I wouldn't care what film I was seeing if I got to see it in large comfy seats with a glass of champagne in my hand...




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Hobbling Along

Saw this vid and thought 'Hobbit already?.. Fun!'


Its good, but turns out its a fan-made 'trailer'.


As for the real movie?...

The good news for Hobbit fans:

Filming starts this winter, since MGM & Warner Bros. finally gave the go ahead for work on 'The Hobbit' to resume.

To recap, the movie has been officially greenlit, and Peter Jackson is definitely signed on to direct. Plus many of the sets have already been constructed, and the scripts are said to be near completion, with over $30 million spent so far on this epic.

The bad news:

The studios don't have all the ca$h they need.
(And union disputes may add more delay$)

They've only cast half the roles so far.

It will be in two parts

The really bad news:

The current projected release...

'The Hobbit 1' arrives in theaters Dec 2012
'The Hobbit 2' comes a year later, Dec 2013.

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So, in the meanwhile, here's another fan-made promo:



*Or wait it out by making Minas Tirith outta t'picks.

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Dances With 3D

Saw Avatar. My verdict:

It is 'Dances With Wolves' on an alien planet.
With brain transfers thrown in for fun.

Yup, the 3D and special effects were cool. But go to the late show so there will be fewer kids. Its PG-13, yet because of the toy tie-ins, and the colorful ads parents think its okay for tots... that is until the military action begins.

One poor kid (~4 yrs old) literally -ran- out of the theatre we were in. So, if you wouldn't bring your kid to 'Dances With Wolves', don't bring him/her to this. *If you need any further persuasion... the 6 previews made the entire show nearly 3 hours long.

Fun Fact: many sfx came via Weta of New Zealand

Sales R Up

via a dollop of moral outrage Down Under.

Yes, the tiny T's are a tad tacky. But the NZ concerned parents public outrage brought more attention to the shirts - just like an ad - so now they'll see even more of these...

"Mummy likes it on top"
"Wipe my butt sucker"
"So hot right now"
"I like big b00bs I cannot lie"
"I'm bringing sexy back"
"Practice safe sucks".
"The condom broke"
"Pardon my nipple breath"
"Living proof my mum is easy"

(Oops. Not quite what they intended...)


FYI: news.com.au is doing a poll about the shirts.

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Another bit of outrage-eousness:


Scary sculpture or amazing art? The locals in Delray Beach have their own concerns about an art piece depicting an 'anatomically correct' family. Its been installed at a mall in full view of passersby:

"I think the male figure might be offensive to some..."

Linda A. said she purposely takes another route when walking with her 6-yr-old. "He's gonna have questions," and "I don't think he's ready for that."

18-yr-old Taylor E. was taken aback when she saw the frontal view. "From the other side, it's not so bad. But now that we see it from the front, maybe they could take this one out," she said referring to the father.

* click pic for the article, but of course there's no explicit photos, even in the video - nerdy newsies neutered the nudes, naturally. Nuts.

The Eyes Have It

...and its kinda creepy.



But 15 - to - zero?... means it did its job.