It’s official. Hunger Games fever has hit Casa Petersik.
I actually got it first. I thought I’d take a stab at reading the book before potentially seeing the movie. I had heard it was a quick read, and boy was that right – I knocked it out in 24 hours. Sherry resisted following in my footsteps, thinking she had too much on her plate to squeeze it in. But I convinced her to try one chapter and before she knew it she was closing that book and cracking open Catching Fire (which she finished a few days later, and I’m currently in the middle of). We’re supposed to get our copy of Mockingjay next week. No spoilers!
The reason for devouring Hunger Games? We had planned a movie date night as a belated birthday celebration for Sherry (after our first attempt at a date night was ruined by not getting into our favorite restaurant since it was all reservationed out). So we booked babysitters (my parents) and made our first visit ever to CinéBistro, one of those swanky eat-dinner-while-you-watch-a-movie places. Here’s Sherry making her swankiest face.
We’ve only been to three movies since Clara was born almost two years ago (I wish I was kidding) so we were excited to make an event of this one. Unlike a normal movie theater, this one’s 21 and up only, has seating assignments, and has full in-theater food service (i.e. servers take your order and bring you food right in your big, comfy seats. Here’s me trying to figure out what I’ll order before we get seated.
We decided to get an appetizer – the “Popcorn” calamari. Yes, it’s actually calamari mixed with popcorn. Yum.
We wanted to save room for dessert, but after ordering gut-busters like my chicken & biscuits and Sherry’s meatloaf with mashed potatoes and collard greens (the theme was sort of upscale comfort food) – we were stuffed before the previews were even over. By the way, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter looks pretty good. Maybe for our next movie night? Guess I should read the book first…
Oh, and as for the movie (I refrained from being the weirdo who took pictures of the movie) – we liked it! Was it the best book-to-movie adaptation ever? No. But we enjoyed it. Heck, we were just happy to be out of the house!
Anyone else Hunger Games-ing it up? Either books and/or movie-wise? Thoughts? Can you turn your last name into a Hunger Games reference like I did with this pun-tastic title or are we just extra lucky?
PS: In the comments, Kim recommended this site called Hunger Names that give you a name and method of death. Sherry was Oregano Amberpoe and had the honor of being a District 8 tribute in the 22nd Hunger Games. She was killed by asphyxiation. I was Huggle Santolina (awesome?) and was a District 7 tribute in the 20th Hunger Games. I was killed by trusting a 12-year-old boy. Never again!
I read (or rather, devoured) the three books over a weekend! Loved them all. I haven’t seen the movie yet though.
And I really like the movie theater/restaurant concept! Such an interesting idea.
We LOVE The Hunger Games in our house too. I read all three in about a week over the Christmas holiday. I tried to talk my husband into reading them, but he wouldn’t do it. But once I took him to see the movie he decided to give the books a try. He finished The Hunger Games in a day and then wanted to go see the movie again. :-) He finished Catching Fire and MockingJay last week. They’re SO good! Glad you guys were able to get out and have a date night!
I just saw The Hunger Games last night and really enjoyed it. I missed hearing all of Katniss’ thoughts and I think they should have focussed on the food more…being the hunger games and all. I loved Effie!
I read – no, devoured – all three books in one weekend. Once I finished one, I needed to know what happened next!
I thought the movie was fun, despite not being a perfect adaptation.
CineBistro looks like fun. Really gives a new meaning to the idea of “dinner and a movie”. I wish there was something like that up here in DC!
Emily – you should go to the Arlington Drafthouse! (http://arlingtondrafthouse.com/) – though there seems to currently be a problem with their website. Movies for $5.50 or less :)
I don’t know why, but I found your post title particularly funny today. I guess it’s the cheesy gal in me! :)
I love the Hunger Games series! I recently re-read all three and flew through them just as fast as the first time. I thought the movie was ok, I wish they had elaborated some of the relationships and events more. But, it was a lot to cram into 2.5 hours!
A+ adaption of character to last name! We, too, just caught on to the Hunger Games fire. We wanted to read it first, before watching the movie, but we opted to listen to the audiobook together so we could still work on projects in the evening. Turns out, we never want to quick working because we are so into the book. HA! It is working out on all accounts and we are now halfway into the second book.
Haha, I love that!
xo,
s
Loved the book and the movie! I loved it because it was a book that I could enjoy and my 12-year old daughter enjoyed. It allows for us to bond and then we go see the movie together for some mother/daughter time especially since the Twilight series is almost over!
Being a huge fan of the books, (and movie, of course), I am so disappointed I missed the Peeta pun! Darn. lol Glad ya’ll are fans too!
The husband and I have just been sucked in within the last week. I’ve finish Hunger Games and he just started section 3 so he should be done by the end of the day. Now we will anxiously await the next two books that we will borrow from friends and we are already planning the date night to see the movie. Good times!
My husband and I are both hooked too! I’ve only read the first one because I’m taking a professional exam on Friday (been studying like crazy since January) but my plan for Saturday is book two to celebrate my freedom from text books! He’s through book two and I’m so envious! Can’t wait to see the movie, the place you guys went sounds fantastic. We don’t have one that serves good food in dc.
I’m going with some girlfriends this Friday and can’t wait! I was sad when I finished the last book, although the third book was my least favorite (the ending felt too rushed). That theater sounds awesome – I wonder if there are any like that up here in NoVA….
I thought it was a good movie and also agree with you that it wasn’t the best book-to-movie adaptation ever — out of curiosity, do you have a favorite book-to-movie adaptation?
Hmm, I think we’re more used to them being terrible- like the first Twilight movie. Haha. I think it’s a huuuge challenge to make a beloved book into a movie- you’re almost setting yourself up for failure since books have so much depth and development and a movie just gets 2 hours. Haha. Do you have any favorites? I did love Great Expectations the movie – although it’s so different than the book.
xo,
s
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the best book-to-movie adaptations. The books are still better (of course) but the movies are great!
I thought “The Help” was a great adaptation of the book! They did a wonderful job capturing the characters and moments from the book.
After reading the HP series about a gazillion times and watching the movies just as me many times, I have to say they are my faves. The characters, setting, pace of the story, and overall feel of the movies are perfect. Love me some Harry Potter!
I love the Harry Potter movies. The books are so much better but the movies have so much magic to them :0)
p.s. Everytime I hear someone mention this movie I see Sophia Vergara shouting “Hunger Games!” while wearing that pink wig from last Saturday’s SNL :-P
Hahaha.
xo,
s
We hit our local Fork & Screen Sunday to watch Hunger Games on matinee — $6 movie? sweet! I read all 3 books in a week, after getting past thinking ‘Hunger Games’ meant more sparkly vampire teen lit, and really loved them.
Got my husband to read the 1st one because I didn’t want him to see the movie w/out reading it first. He whipped through them all over our spring break trip. Any rate, I agree, good but not great movie. I think it’s especially hard to adapt a movie when the book is almost entirely narrated 1st person. And so many of Katniss’s motivations really add to the complexity/richness of the story, but can’t really be captured by just ‘seeing’ the event (like the kisses, for example).
Great discussion about the books on Jules Pancakes & French Fries blog BTW http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2012/03/undecided
Oh yes, I love Jules’ blog!
xo,
s
Mmmm….that looks like a briilliant idea for a movie theatre. I haven’t gotten into the Hunger Games yet but I did take The Happiness Project with me on vacation to Florida last week and loved it. How did you like it Sherry? It immediately made me want to organize my closets and start crafting.
I’m halfway done and still have to pick it back up after John made me interrupt it with Hunger Games since we were going to the movie! I totally am on an organizing kick though! Love it!
xo,
s
1) Hurrah for Hunger Games. I resisted for a long time, but then my book club chose book 1 for one of our monthly reads and wow. I fell hard!
2) I am seriously jealous of your dinner-and-a-movie restaurant! That looks awesome!!
My husband is a chef and a movie lover so a restaurant where you watch movies would be right up his alley! We’ve gone over to the Hunger Games side also. I had no desire to watch the movie or read the book. My husband wanted to read the book so I downloaded it to my Nook one night after he went to bed. I was so hooked after the first chapter that I stayed up to finish reading it.
So glad to see you guys are into the Hunger Games! I’ve read all 3 books twice now. I wish my city had one of those cute dinner and a movie places- it would be nice to be able to see the movie for once, instead of looking over top of someone’s head!
Oh, and ya, Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, looked awesome!
OMG YES. I started reading the series last Thursday and was finished by Monday. I absolutely loved it. SO excited for your opinion on Mockingjay, I think it was my favourite book of the series.
And I simply hate not being able to go to the cinema right now. I took in a dog from a Romanian shelter about a fortnight ago and it’s impossible to leave him at home alone for more than half an hour, an hour tops. sigh sigh. I guess I’ll have to wait for the DVD :(
Your name is Cashmere Coddlesworth
Congratulations! You had the honor of being a District 4 tribute in the 25th Hunger Games!
You were killed by being devoured by wolf creatures.
Yay District 4 like *won’t say* I’m not going to spoil you ;)
BTW I totally didn’t notice “Peeta-siks”, you guys are awesome :D
I love the Hunger Games!!! I was in Europe when the movie came out, visiting my sister…and we totally saw it while in Paris haha. I had just read the whole series in about 5 days too. I totally agree about the movie…not the best adaptation but not terrible. I feel like they did the best they could…you can only squeeze so much into 2 1/2 hours.
May the odds be ever in your favor.. LOVE Hunger games! Makes me think… ” what vampire series?…”
We have one of those cinema grills in Raleigh too (aptly named, Raleighwood) but it only plays second-run films and serves frozen chicken tenders and the like. Yours looks awesome… Color me jealous!
Sincerly, Melissa (Haymitch)ell :)
Hahahahahaha nice last name adaptation! I’m doing the three fingers to the lips salute from District 12.
xo,
s
I loved the series. I thought the first book was the best, but the other two were good and quick reads. In fact, I had to go get the third immediately after finishing the second. I could NOT wait. I thought the movie was good as well.
My hubby and I did the same thing. We wanted to go on a date to see the movie so first I decided to read the book and ended up reading all three. Because the books were on my kindle, my hubby had to wait till I was done with the third book before he started the first one. (I wasn’t handing my kindle over before I was finished!) We agreed that the book was better than the movie, but we both enjoyed the movie.
YES! I’m glad you guys enjoyed the books. I’m totally obsessed myself. Have you tried Doctor Who? He’s currently my other great love.
Haven’t yet, but we hear great things!
xo,
s
I am OBSESSED with Doctor Who!!! A must watch! And Downton Abbey. British television is fantastic.
Doctor Who and I go way back to my far away youth and PBS. Favorite Doctor who is Number 4 Tom Baker 1974-1981.
That is awesome! We saw the movie for my 25th birthday celebration last month. We even went to the fancy alcoholic beverages and fancy food in-theatre service section of the cinema! (We split a pizza – it was delicious) It was totally worth going, it’s such a great movie.
I’m itching to get my hands on the books, but I feel like I should finish the last two Game of Thrones books first. I probably won’t though!
I am OBSESSED. I read the first book about a year ago and I’ve been waiting for the movie ever since. It came out just over two weeks ago and I’ve seen it three times already. I’m not proud of that. But I just can’t stop. I think as an adaptation, it exceeded my expectations by a mile.
I knocked out all three books in 36 hours. I was sick and couldn’t get comfy so I just read. I think I’ve reread the series about three times already. Loved them! I can’t say the adaptation was my favorite everrrrr, buuut it was pretty good as a movie alone. My fiance (who’s never read the books) couldn’t figure out some of the parts that I had to explain to him, but overall it was pretty good. I cried a couple of times through it :P
So glad you jumped on the Hunger Games bandwagon! What a terrific series, and the movie definitely did not disappoint! We have a similar theater/dinner place nearby but yours looks much swankier, especially the food! The one we go to caters more to families, so the food definitely reflects that, ie chicken fingers, pizza, etc. I gotta say though, that popcorn calamari looks TO DIE FOR.
I pretty much inhaled the three books. So great! I was actually quite satisfied with the ending (don’t worry, I’m not going to spoil it), which doesn’t happen too often with a series.
Loved the movie also. For me it’s definitely among the best book-to-movie movies I’ve seen so far. And that means something as I’m usually the dissatisfied book nerd sitting in there thinking “but that’s not how it was in the book!”.
I was a little confused by the very fast camera action during the first minutes but once I had adjusted, I absolutely loved it.
Went to the midnight showing. Yes, I’m 26 with a full time job. Yes, the day after was ROUGH.
But totally worth it.
I so wish we had a theater like that! Holy moly amazing!
If it makes you feel any better, we don’t have a kid and have probably only gone to the movies a time or two more than you guys in the past two years.
Haha, that does make us feel better!
xo,
s
I also got sucked into the Hunger Games bandwagon right before the movie came out and finished the series the weekend before it premiered. I LOVED the series and was excited to see it come to life…I may be a harsh critic, but I was completely disappointed with the movie. It was the worst book-to-movie adaption ever…I liked the movie, don’t get me wrong, but it would have been better had I not read the book first! Maybe I had higher expectations…? Here’s to hoping the final 3 movies will be better! (similar to that of Twilight making a U-turn and the last 3 movies rocked compared to the first!)
Seriously?? The WORST??? lol what do you think they could have done better??
I agree with Anngela! I LOVED the book series, but was quite disappointed with the movie when I ran out to see it mere days after finishing the first book (I was a late joiner to the crazyfest–so everything was still fresh in my imagination) and it was like a gut punch every time they reworked some key storyline or didn’t follow the author’s original vision…I guess I’m a purist.
What bothered me most were: some of the casting choices(the person playing Peeta was ALL WRONG for the part and I stewed on it the whole 2+ hours. And Katniss? She spent the ENTIRE film starring blankly at her surroundings slack-jawed and bewildered. Not to mention the rest of the tributes–a majority looking like undersized 12 year-olds compared to a towering, robustly healthy Katniss–wasn’t SHE supposed to be the underdog in both height and weight among the districts?); and some CGI/wardrobe/visual let downs (Flame suits? LAME. Jewel encrusted Interview dress? DISAPPOINTMENT.) With so much room for something truly spectacular, what they DID give us felt like such a cop out…including the capitol city citizens toned down eccentricities! I want my skin pigmentation dye-jobs! Where are the facial implants!? The grotesqueness of indulgence and abundance?! The copious banquets of FOOD!?! SOOO many missed opportunities for amazing visual choices. UGH.
I’m gettin’ riled. *deep breath*
That’s just my opinion, but I feel pretty passionate about it (obviously). Sorry for getting all worked up. I must have been holding that in for a while ;]
I just finished all three in the last two weeks…I wish I wanted to devour all my books like I went through those! Enjoy the rest of the series!
I actually think Hunger Games was one of the best book-to-movie adaptations I’ve ever seen (I wrote a whole blog post about that!). I think that the stuff they left out was minor, but they captured the bleakness and Katniss’s kick-butt-ness (if that’s a word?) quite well. And I quite liked how the movie showed all perspectives, instead of being exclusively from Katniss’s point of view, because I liked seeing what was going on back at the Capitol.
I’ve always wanted to try one of those dinner-movie places! Maybe for our anniversary this summer.
Hahaha! Love the title! My hubs and I LOVED the Hunger Games, books and movie! We haven’t been to CineBistro yet, but it’s definitely on our list!
Definitely read Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter! It’s a great book.
Looks like you two had a great evening. I want a theatre like that in our area.
I finished all 3 books a couple weeks before the movie came out and then went to see the movie with the hubs. I was very pleased with the movie, but of course the books are much better. That movie bistro looks awesome, and I think we may have one here in Tulsa (probably not as upscale). As for a my Hunger Games name reference…Jen-Cinna.
Hahah- I love it.
xo,
s
Peeta-siks! I love it! :) I can’t make anything pun-tastic out of my last name but I do think Lorel Mellark has a nice ring to it! Hehe! Think my husband would care?
Haha, it does! Nah, I don’t think your hubby will mind.
xo,
s
I love this! I am a Hunger Games fan as well. I tried to resist it for awhile…I mean, (in my humble, but totally accurate opinion ;)) no YA series can begin to touch Harry Potter in it’s greatness and this has caused me to be a great skeptic (and obviously a huge nerd at that!). However, I was totally hooked on this series, could not put them down until they were all finished. I thought they did a good job with the movie. I think it’s hard to do a movie adaptation, but overall, I enjoyed it.
I agree 1000% with you! No YA book will even come close to the greatness that is Harry Potter. I’ve gotten into many a heated debate over HP and Twilight. I go into every new series with pre-determined disappointment in the series, but was gladly proven wrong with the Hunger Games. I still would pick the HP series over everything I’ve ever or will ever read haha.
ah but no series can touch the greatness of the lord of the rings. The first and only great book and movie trilogy. Can’t wait for the hobbit!
We have a place just like CineBistro in our area (Boston) called Chunky’s. Loved the books, but haven’t seen the movie yet. You’ve inspired me to make a date night with the hubby!
I started reading the series knowing we were headed off to see the movie. It was crazy how quickly I was sucked into the books :) I think my favorite book is Catching Fire.
We ended up seeing the movie at a local movie chain called Alamo Drafthouse – it’s definitely not as swanky as the one you two went to, though.
-Bev’RUE’ley :)
I loved the books. I read all three books in four days! I read one finished went out and bought the next and so on. haha I was very excited about the movie but a little disappointed. I thought Katniss was great and Rue was exactly what I imagined her to be. There were a few things I thought could be better done but it wasn’t bad. I completely agree with you about twilight. That first movie was so bad I didn’t even see any of the others. The next book I’m going to read is the Abraham Lincoln one. My future brother in law read it and loved it.
It’s great that you two were able to squeeze in a date night! You guys deserve a night off.
For your amusement, here’s a site that generates fun Hunger Games names and methods of death: http://hungernames.com/
I’m Chaff Huggledeen and I had the honor of being a District 5 tribute in the 55th Hunger Games. I was killed by a spider bite. Who are you?
Oh man, I was Oregano Amberpoe. I had the honor of being a District 8 tribute in the 22nd Hunger Games! I was killed by asphyxiation. I want to be a victor!
xo,
s
I’m Scooby Brambleton and had the honor of being a District 6 tribute in the 25th Hunger Games!
I was killed by drowning in someone else’s vomit – GROSS!!!!
Couldn’t make that shiz up!
Ewwwwww. I hope that method of death doesn’t make it into any of the movie sequels. Neither of us can stand seeing or hearing people vomit.
-John
I love mine, I was “Gloss Trapperkeeper”, and died by trying to freeze a moment right now and live in it forever. :)
Awww, my tribute name was Table Crabapple.
I’m from District 12 (oh yeah!) and was killed by… wait for it… a broken heart. Ah, how poetic. No violent death for me! lol
Awww.
xo,
s
My name is Twill Fickletoot. I had the honor of being a District 6 tribute in the 56th Hunger Games! I was killed by losing an argument with a Monkey mutt. Whatever that means.
I was Yarrow Nibbledeen
And I had the honor of being a District 6 tribute in the 41st Hunger Games… killed by decapitation.
That feels so vanilla compared to “drowns in another person’s vomit”
A movie theatre that serves dinner?! That’s genius! By the time we get home from work on a Friday night and pick up the babysitter we don’t have time for dinner and after the movie is too late. We don’t have anything like that in Canada (that I’ve heard of, anyway.)
We are going to see Hunger Games this Friday – can’t wait! I really loved the books.
Courtney .. no there’s nothing like that in Canada YET. Yet being the key word, give it a few years, and I bet we’ll see a similar concept happen! :)
The Hunger Games has brought out my first comment! I’ve stayed up entirely too late/early once I had my hands on these books. I’m currently hiding Mockingjay under my desk at work so I can continue reading, just can’t seem to put it down!
I just need to get the husband on the bandwagon so he’ll take me to see the movie!
I just saw the Hunger Games this weekend with my daughters (13 & 15). They already saw it with their friends, so it was ok to see it with us. They even sat with us!
I’m guessing Clara hasn’t been to a movie yet. When children are little they like to sit right next to you, when they are teens you’re lucky if they’ll sit in the same theater!
Oh yeah, no movies for Clara yet. She can barely sit still for a 20 minutes video at home so I can’t imagine what a 90 minute film would be like.
-John
We took my 3 year old nephew to see toy story 3. Once the previews were over he looked at us and said “movie over?” Aww honey there is a long time before the movie is over. I thought it was the cutest thing.
I have no read the hunger games but i am more interested in this exciting date night you two had! I have NEVER seen a movie theater that you get to eat dinner while watching the movie! Thats fantastic! I tend to get sleepy eyed during movies so this would for sure keep my eyes open devouring food!!!! Nummm looked delisshhhh!
I picked up (intercepted?) my boyfriend on his way home from a bar in Arlington Friday night. When he got in my car he told me how he had just “hunger games-d” over a backyard fence when he realized he wasn’t on the street where he told me to get him. He just kept telling me, “baby, my jumps were so strong!” But, given that he almost lost a shoe in the process and ended up with grass stains on his jeans “for the first time since 4th grade”, I’m not quite sure how well he would’ve fared.
LOL, love the verb.
-John
Wow, three movies in two years sounds pretty good to me. We’ve been to zero in the last 15 months, and our son wasn’t even breast-fed past 6 months! It helps that we have a 60″ TV and a Blu-Ray player, though. I can sit on the couch in my PJs and get an almost theatre quality experience. :)