Hungry Heart

The Hunger Games. Some of you may have read this series, but if not, YOU TOTALLY SHOULD! I know my recommendations are worth nothing to any of you, but honestly, this was hands down the best YA book series I have read since Harry Potter. And it was close to being AS GOOD as HP. And you should know that that is high praise coming from me.

ANYWHO, they are making a movie of the Hunger Games series (three books in the series: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay), and it is likely going to be huge. Hopefully huger than the Twilight saga.

They have made some major casting announcements this past month. My feelings are as follows:

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen: I can't be terribly disappointed in this choice. I've never seen her in a single thing, but she's seemed pretty appropriately bad-ass in clips I've seen of Winter's Bone. Because Katniss needs to be all bad-ass, righteous, archery-tastic.

Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark: If I was rooting for anything in this casting race, it was this. I've loved Josh Hutcherson ever since he was a little child in Bridge to Terabithia, and especially in his recent performance in The Kids Are All Right. He is perfect to play The Boy With The Bread (this will make sense if you read the books), and I think he just might be able to change me over to Team Peeta.

Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne: Thiiiiiis one I'm just not pleased with. I was totally Team Gale, and he needs to be so much more rough around the edges, and bad-ass, and greasy and dirty and awesome than pretty boy "I dated Hannah Montana" Liam. Also, he's Australian, I think. That just doesn't jive for me.

Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket: I'm sure EB will do a fine job, but I had heard rumors that Kristin Chenoweth was in talks to play the part of prim, proper, sweet-as-pie Effie, and she would have been so perfect. Plus, I will support Cheno in anything and everything.

Rue and Thresh have been cast as well, with pretty fair and appropriate likenesses, so, good on them.

Certain key roles have yet to be cast. Haymitch Abernathy, the drunk good-for-nothing sponser? I would love to see RDJ in that role, (one for which he's spent a good time preparing). I'd take Hugh Laurie too. Only problem is, RDJ seems too young, and Hugh too old. Hmm, we'll see. Cinna, stylist to the stars: If you have ever seen America's Next Top Model, you will not be able to picture anyone but Mr. J as Cinna. I wish Mr. J was an actor, because I do not want to see anyone else play him.

IN CONCLUSION: Read The Hunger Games, because you're going to want to see the movie(s). Once you do, report back to me.