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!
Jennifer says
I love me some Hunger Games. I read the books first too and thought the movie was a decent adaptation. I was sorry to hear that the director won’t be making the second movie.
I also made some Hunger Games cookies for my blog :) http://notyourmommascookie.com/2012/02/may-the-odds-be-ever-in-your-favor-hunger-games-cookies/. Can’t wait for the next movie!
Young House Life says
Wow, those are quite the cookies! So impressed.
-John
Skooks says
I devoured all 3 books in 3 days. Pretty sure I was a terrible mom for those 3 days . . . how else could I have done it? Anyway, I loved them. I was glad I read the books before seeing the movie. I kept thinking that if I hadn’t I probably would not have appreciated the nuances of what was really going on in Katniss’ head and in her relationship with the other characters and might have been a bit more lost with everything that was going on. I’m currently re-reading them . . . something I haven’t done with a book series immediately after finishing it since I was probably in jr high. LOL. I guess I’m thinking I read them all so fast I probably missed out on some stuff that I’ll catch better the 2nd time around. ;)
Also – this is not a spoiler, no worries – I did think that the ark of the 3 books was a better payoff than any one of them taken on their own. So for the people that only read the first one or whatever, the total storyline of the 3 together made it much better to me. Though I did get through the 1st one crazy fast (so clearly I enjoyed it) I couldn’t get over the similarity it had to so many other stories I read (The Most Dangerous Game, The Lottery, The Truman Show – ok, that one’s a movie) . . . after completing all 3 I was much more satisfied that it was a totally different thing altogether.
OK . . . now that I’VE written a novel, I will stop.
Alexi says
Ahh! Hunger Games fever recently hit our house too! My Hubby & I also finished the first book in 24 hours. We just finished Catching Fire this week. Can’t wait to start Mockingjay!
Kristi says
So glad you loved them! I had ankle surgery(again this year) and have been laid up for 6 weeks. Borrowed all 3 books from my sister and had read them in about 12.5 hours. It’s a curse to read that fast, I can spend thousands in books and make endless library trips! Yet I can’t speed read and retain anything science or history wise :(
PS: I’m Meeka Wackadoodle, I was honored to be the Tribute from District 8(yep, one of Rue’s people!) and I was killed like a javelin! Unfortunately didn’t match my dream last night where I had magic shoes and won the Hunger Games :(
Emily @ Our Waldo Bungie says
Not sure if you’ve seen this yet, but it pretty much made my day after reading The Hunger Games – enjoy!
http://www.butyourelikereallypretty.com/post/19732495389/hunger-games-peeniss
Young House Life says
Ha! We saw that on a T-shirt somewhere. The things people think of…
-John
linda says
OK…. EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW you just absolutetly ruined your popcorn! EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
i love love love the hunger games books…. agree that it wasn’t the best movie adaptation… but it was still a good movie! make sure to check back in with us after you’ve red mockingjay!
heather says
bahahahaha. I am often killed by fashion. I just never thought it would be my demise.
Nibble Franklewood
Congratulations! You had the honor of being a District 8 tribute in the 66th Hunger Games!
You were killed by fashion.
Young House Life says
LOL!
-John
Sarah W. says
You didn’t get the Sherry steak for dinner?? It so delish! Sorry, not into Hunger Games, Twilight, HP, Star Wars, etc… :)
heather says
Oh and P.S. – you’re not lame. We’ve only ever been to the movie theater once together in the eight plus years we’ve been together…and it was to see Marley and Me. :) Though we definitely watch them on Friday night date-nights at home sometimes!
Megan K says
I’m pregnant & due in 4 weeks and am REALLY hoping that we’ll be able to see the Avengers before Baby Girl decides to make her appearance….if not, I’m counting on being able to hit up the drive in theater that we have in the next town over. They play double features and we figure we’ll be up anyways! Would Clara sleep in the car if there is a drive-in by you?
Young House Life says
So funny, our last movie before Clara was born was Iron Man 2 (we had decided to see one movie a week for the last month-ish since we knew it would be a rare occurrence after she was born). And sadly I don’t know of any drive-ins… and even if we had them, Clara isn’t a great car sleeper. :(
-John
Bobbi says
This post makes me love you guys even more. Yes, John those are awesome names!
kim says
Got the books for xmas in 2011, have read them a couple of times. If you want the newest series that will be made into a trilogy then pick up book 1 Divergent by Veronica Roth. Book 2 is coming out on May 1st 2012.
JenWoodhouse.com says
Ah yes, the Hunger Games phenomenon! I read the books awhile back and just recently saw the movie (I think they did a good job and Katniss was perfectly cast IMHO!). Glad to see you finally got to experience Cinebistro! So fun, right?!
Adrianne says
My name is Finnick Rathbone. A district 10 Tribute in the 49th Hunger Games. I was killed by jumping over a land mine and landing in a pit of spikes. Yikes!
Hunger Games is awesome. My old housemate gave the books to me one weekend and I laughed when she said I’d finish them within a few days. She was right! They’re so good. I need to re-read them! And I’m working on getting the boyfriend on the bandwagon.
We have a fun place called the Brew & View here in Asheville. It’s a brewery/pizza joint/movie theater! Same idea where you get to eat in those big comfy chairs, but you also get to drink excellent local beer and eat tasty pizza. And it’s only $3 for the movie!
Glad you two got out for a date!
Young House Life says
Oh wow, the Brew & View sounds awesome – and much cheaper than the CineBistro tickets (I think they were $13.50 after the service charge on Fandango).
-John
Cari says
Since you loved the Hunger Games, there is another series that is a trilogy that is similar but only the first book has come out. It’s called Divergent by Veronica Roth. The second book is due out in May. The first one is fantastic! And I highly recommend it!
Pamela says
Finished Hunger Games after just a few days of reading, which is fast for me. I’m a busy, 48 yr old lawyer, wife, and mom who was ruined by so much reading in law school. It takes A LOT to make me stick with a book…I do not waste time on anything that doesn’t immediately grab me (which is why I have not gotten far into “The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo!”) I loved Hunger Games and am now exactly 100 pages into Catching Fire. I decided to read the Hunger Games the day the movie came out because my 13 yr old daughter was so moved by the series and so excited about the movie, I had to know what my child was experiencing and I wanted to be able to talk about it with her. Hubby took her to see the movie (without reading the book) and they both say I must see it, but I don’t know if I can take the visuals of children/young people dying!
Young House Life says
Yeah, I had trouble getting into The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo also. The first 100 or so pages weren’t that interesting to me – probably why they cut out most of it from the movie!
-John
Cynthia LaPan says
Hello, I have the best name Ever: Juniper DUNDERMIFFLIN. Hell yeah!
The books: The first hooked me (with the story, not the writing, but oh well). Good premise, good theme, and I want to see how it plays out (I’m reading Mockingjay now.). Favorite part of the first book: Rue. She’s So Intelligent and her character lit up the book.
Spoiler Alert: Having said that, the movie was both highly entertaining, and pretty disappointing. *Hunger* was SO Not represented in the movie. Or class. Or the amazing things about Rue. I did really like the cinematographic choice of going to ‘hand-held’ when it was shown from Katniss’s perspective, though. And STANLEY TUCCI was So Fabulous! His performance was actually what made the Capitol work for me. But it had me gripping my friend’s hands and I cried at the beginning and jumped at the end, so I guess it did the job!
Congrats on getting a date!
tanyab says
I love my hunger name and history!
My name is Foxface Cropperdoodle.
I had the honor of being a District 7 tribute in the 52nd Hunger Games.
I was killed by being so awesome that all the other tributes killed me right away!
No joke!
Young House Life says
That’s a good one!
-John
Manda says
Oh man I love Cinebistro. I feel so fancy going there! (Even though it’s usually only afforded through Fandango deals we find on the internet hehe). Admittedly though it has turned me into a bit of a movie snob when it comes to young adult book adaptations. Whenever the Harry Potter’s or Twilight’s were coming out, I wanted to be in an adult movie theater. I didn’t want to be surrounded by young teenage squealing girls. Somehow, it feels more dignified to be holding a cocktail was lusting over a shirtless Jacob Black….not that I would know anything about that…but I digress. Hunger Games was pretty great though, I had to do a double take on Elizabeth Banks, who knew she could pull off Effie so well?!
Tina Bland says
Happy Hunger Games!! I am known to be obsessed with teen lit series, like this and Twilight and HP lol!! I too read HG in one day, actually the whole series in under a week about a year ago – was so excited when they announced the movie. I wasnt super crazy about it, but I think its hard to translate Katniss’ inner monologue on screen? I saw it a second time and liked it a wee bit more that time around;) Glad u guys are enjoying it!! I lurve finding new books to obsess over!
Maria @ All Things Luxurious says
How fun! My hubby and I have a theater like that close to our house and it is always a treat when we get to go see movies there! :-) I JUST FINISHED “Catching Fire” today — very excited to finish out this series. The movie, we liked! Especially my husband — he wants to read the books now, which I think is great.
Ashley C. says
That’s kind of funny – my hubby and I just did pretty much the same thing. We realized the movie was coming out, went “Oh, yeah, we’ve been meaning to read those,” and ended up finishing them in a couple days. I tend to have issues with books I like being adapted for the screen (since I’m a stickler for details, and they’re just not feasible most of the time), but we both thought this was one of the more faithful adaptations we’d seen.
No spoilers, but my hubby and I were both a little dissatisfied with the ending. Anybody else feel that way?
Julia Bernal says
I loved the series. I’m currently going to start a new book named “Matched” it’s one that was recommended if you liked The Hunger Games but I wanted to buy it along with the first book but I didn’t have the money to buy both at the same time. hahaha. Here’s my name from that site, thanks for sharing it by the way: Beetee Littleton
Congratulations! You had the honor of being a District 4 tribute in the 36th Hunger Games!
You were killed by drinking from a poisoned goblet with your beloved.
Grete says
I LOVE the title of this post – it totally cracked me up!
I don’t know how you could have a full meal during that movie! My hubby and I took a similar date night to see it, and we didn’t touch any of the snacks we brought. I mean, I knew it’d be intense after having read the books, but I don’t think “Eat food.” even had a chance to cross my mind during the movie. :)
Janke says
Oh I love the Hunger Games trilogy!! My parents gave me a Kindle for Christmas and I’m so thankful for this cute little thingy! I was able to read all three books in one weekend without waiting for delivery. Love it.
It seems that the Hunger Games are a lot more popular in the US than they are over here in Germany. No one I know has the read the books (although I try to talk everybody into it), the movie theatre was not even close to being full when the husband and I went to see the movie. Maybe it’s because the German version is not available in paperback yet and it’s still too expensive for some? I don’t know.
Oh by the way: Apparently my name is “Blight Bartlewood” in Panem, I had the honor of being a tribute for District 8 in the 61st Hunger Games and was killed by a bomb. Not quiet as cool as some of the other ways people got killed. (I especially liked “Killed by slipping on a banana peel and falling on a bear.” :)
Annie Swift says
I cannot imagine the concept of dining whilst at the movies. I predominantly find dinner out a very social activity, and the cinema a fairly antisocial activity….That and I think anything that crunches or rustles should be banned from the cinema, let alone a three course with some waiter pestering me throughout the film….
We don’t have this in England, thankfully!
Young House Life says
Oh, it’s actually not like that. They do all of the service before the movie starts (you’re asked to arrive 30 minutes early if you want to eat) so all of the servers were out by the time the previews started. And since your food came before previews, most everyone was done eating by the time the real movie started. So for the most part it ended up being just like a regular movie… except that I had calamari to munch on instead of popcorn!
-John
Rebecca says
My mom and I both read the Hunger Games and then my husband (who NEVER reads) quietly asked one day if he could borrow the books. He finished just in time to see the movie with us over the weekend. As a person who LOVES reading so much that I usually can’t stand the movie version, I must say the movie was good. It had the storyline straight enough that the tweaks made it a good stand alone movie.
Emily S says
Wow this dinner and movie concept is awesome! Good for parents to (sadly but valuably?) make thier dinner & movie date shorter. I was much the same with The Hunger Games my husband wanted to go see the movie and some friends had already recommended the books to I turned the first one out the week before we went and was hoooked to read the next ones wanting to know what happens! I’m part way through The Mockingjay now. My husband is also looking forward to Abe Lincoln V.H., must be a guy thing… :)
Natalie says
Okay so my Hunger Name is Bristel Nibbledeen and I had the honor of being a District 2 tribute in the 5th Hunger Games. However, I was killed by drowning in my own vomit. That’s such a pathetic way to go…
Young House Life says
Better than some other folks who have commented – they drowned on someone else’s vomit!
-John
Natalie says
Haha! Okay, I take that back then. This is a much more dignified death than I thought at first.
Rebekah Miller says
I think 3 movies in 2 years may still be more than me, and I don’t have kids…. I just hate people…
I love those types of movie theaters though! I went to one in San Diego (way more expensive though, like $20 for tickets, then food was insane), the seats were so comfortable that I had to remind myself I was there to see a movie not take a nap. I was surprised that little ol’ Richmond has one of those, especially on the south side!
Carly says
We saw Hunger Games and really enjoyed it as well. I had read the books, but my fiance hadn’t. As soon as we had seen the movie he came home and started reading the rest of the books because he had to know what happened. He’s in the middle of Mockingjay now. Love the Hunger Names website. I’m Sage Abalone from District 3 and was in the 34th Hunger Games. I died from an uncontrollable laughing fit. Not a bad way to go. Enjoy the rest of the series!
Jenna says
You must read Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. It was our last book club book, and it was amazing. Sadly, the preview makes me think the movie is going to be nothing like the book.
Nancy says
I love the idea of a dinner/movie place for adults! When we lived in Richmond they had the Movie Cafe that was for families. Our kids thought it was so much fun and it was really inexpensive. The place you went looks much more upscale (and cleaner!!). The Movie Cafe kind of smelled like an old bowling alley, but we still loved it. Wish we had a place like that where we live now.
Jessica says
I feel your pain! We made the mistake of taking the Hunger Games series with us on our honeymoon in St Lucia this week. We’ve been sucked in ever since. It’s a sickness!! :) I’m sure we’ll be hitting the theaters the second our plane lands back in the states!
Young House Life says
Aw, happy honeymoon!
xo,
s
amy says
John was from District 7. Duh? Of course. (or he conveniently twisted the specifications to make sure he was a District 7 tribute…hmmmm.)
Keep at the date night thing going! Ours are now 11 & 8 and its still hard to get out sometimes, just in a different way. Always worth it though. :)
Young House Life says
Haha, didn’t even notice that! Lucky guy!
xo,
s
Amanda D says
My boyfriend & I are currently in the middle of “Game of Thrones” mania.
I just finished the first book and we’re in the middle of the first season of the TV show on Blu-Ray. He’s in the middle of the second book, which I’ll read when he’s finished before we catapult into the second season of the show.
Amanda D says
Oh! And it turns out my HG name is Thyme Brambleton (nice!) and I was a District 12 tribute in the 22nd Hunger Games who was killed by food poisoning. Yep- sounds like me! Lol!
HollandPhotoArts says
Yea – love that you finally made it to Cinebistro, you two! Did you love it? Oh, those chairs and we so enjoy that it’s over 21. Should have warned you about the portion sizes, though. Whenever Bill and I go, I always get one of the appetizers as my meal. (The fig flatbread is yummy!) If I got a entree, I’d love to take the rest home, but I don’t want it sitting there the whole rest of the movie. Ick.
Hopefully it was worth all my hype? We haven’t read the books, but we’re looking forward to seeing Hunger Games very soon – at Cinebistro, of course. :)
….anne
Young House Life says
Yes, it’s awesome! Totally should have gotten an appetizer as a meal. So filling! Loved every minute of it.
xo,
s
Krysta says
Love the Hunger Games books; have read through them all more than once. And the movie… suprisingly good!
According to Hunger Names I would have been a career from 2 named Meeka that died petting a snake (slightly ironic ’cause I got bit by a snake a couple of years ago!!)
Katherine says
Love the Hunger Games, and actually really enjoyed the movie. Cine Bistro is such a fun place to see a movie, too – eating good food and sitting in a comfy chair for a big screen movie is decadent. Probably a good thing I didn’t run into you there, I may have embarrassed myself by treating you two like celebrities! (or just made you feel really cool…)
Stacy says
My husband and I are going to see The Hunger Games tonight hopefully. Everyone I’ve talked to says you have to have read the books to get a lot out of the movie. I’m glad I’ve read them. Just wish we were going to a swanky 21+ theater to enjoy it at instead of our local AMC – hoping no little punks try to ruin our evening.
Erin C. says
Isn’t that preview for the vampire hunting Abraham Lincoln hilarious? I laughed out loud with my sister when we saw the title to that in the theater. The Hunger Games series is excellent and the movie was great as well. Although, Gale is way better looking than Peeta in the movie. I expected it to be the other way around.
Brigid says
My name is Krumpet Rabbledeen and had the honor of being a district 8 tribute in the 62nd Hunger Games. I was killed by a poison kiss – I guess if there’s any way to go, might as well get a little action on the way :)
Going to see the movie this weekend when my mom comes to visit! Already re-read the books in preparation.
[email protected] says
I loved all 3 books and I even got the hubs to read them (he would rather read science or math books…..boring!). I read The Help just after and loved that book too! The movie was good too! Can’t wait to see the hunger games movie!
Jessica C. says
I’m not completely sure i can turn my last name into a Hunger Games’esk name, however do i get credit for being of same last name as the author? J. Collins at your service :) We have since the book came out been asked numerous times if we are related, or know her.. You know since It’s such an odd last name to have? (insert sarcasm tone here)
Young House Life says
Haha- that’s like when I say I’m from Jersey people name other people they know from Jersey and ask if I know them! Like I know everyone in the state! Haha. So funny.
xo,
s
Arlene says
Sherry! You have scary terminator eyes coming out of your sunglasses!!!
Cheryl says
Really? Child violence and plotting to survive is entertainment? What a sad commentary.
Katie says
I LOVED the books, even though they were a tad disturbing. Somewhere I ran across lyrics to a Hunger Games’ version of LMFAO’s I’m Sexy and I Know It. Now everytime I hear that song, this is starts running through my head for the rest of the day:
“I walk out the door, this is what I see, Katniss Everdeen looking at me. I’ve got a loaf of bread and I’m not afraid to throw it (throw it, throw it)….I’m Peeta and I know it.”
It’s driving me nuts.
Young House Life says
Tried Googling for this and ended up with more search results that I expected. Who know these parodies were so popular!
-John
Mel says
Your name is
Caraway Brambleton
Congratulations! You had the honor of being a District 6 tribute in the 49th Hunger Games!
You were killed by drowning in someone else’s vomit.
I don’t even want to imagine the context this would happen in…
Young House Life says
Seriously. We’ll leave that to Suzanne Collins to figure out.
-John
sarah says
The movie was actually one of the best book adaptations that I’ve ever seen. I thought the cornucopia would look different and I wish they would have left Madge in the storyline! The movie was filmed here in North Carolina near Asheville! I have movie posters hanging all over my room and I feel like a pusher, encouraging my students to read the series! ;)
Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says
I just read all three Hunger Games books this weekend and loved them all! I’ve even got the hubs reading them (he stayed awake on a redeye to Toronto just to finish the first one)!
Oh, and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is awesome! I read it while I was convalescing from my shoulder surgery last summer. I’m not even into vampires and I thought it was great!