Having never read any of the books, I went into watching this movie with ZERO expectations.
Knowing that the movie is one of 3 (maybe more)... I knew that it was going to be a tease. I guess that's where reading the books would have been beneficial.
However, for what it's worth the movie was really entertaining.
Entertainment weekly had a good cover story about the movie that kept me abreast with the phenomenon.
This futuristic world of Panem definitely had its fine lines as far as the class system goes.
The poor were POOR and the rich were eccentrically LAVISH.
If Superman is from the planet Krypton, then Lady Gaga is from Panem.
Panem was once a glorious nation that went to crap and built itself back up again (sound familiar?).
To commemorate their 'new world order', Panem holds an annual national event called Hunger Games.
In these games, "children and teens" (let's just pretend the actors are teens - a la Dawson's Creek) from every district of Panem are "offered" as tributes - or sacrifices - in which they FIGHT TO THE DEATH in a lottery style drawing.
Totally reminds me of Battle Royale.
What's Battle Royale you ask?
Remember the Asian girl in Kill Bill that fought Uma Thurman?
Chiaki Kuriyama
Well.. she was in a movie that came out a year prior to Kill Bill called BATTLE ROYALE
Totally the same.. minus the love stor--
Meet Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), a young teen girl who is skilled in archery and is one of the best from her 'district' (1 of 12 in Panem).
She and all the other children from the districts go to this remodeled-Auschwitz type facility where names are drawn for the tributes-to-be.
Katniss' younger sister is called from their district and like any good older sibling, Katniss volunteers to go into the Hunger Games in her sister's stead.
If I could design a movie theater, I would have seat belt light that would flash at that moment because that's where the movie takes off.
I'll exclude the love story(s?) and just say that Katniss could represent someone who has a lot of pressure on the line for his/her actions and she can't let love get in the way.... but it does.
The other characters are great as well.
Effie (Elizabeth Banks), a spinster escort of the tributes provided great comic relief.
Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) is an alcoholic mentor that leads the kids in the right direction.
Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) is a stylist that makes the kids look FABULOUS! *snaps*
If you like action then watch the news.
Hunger Games keeps it as clean as possible when you're dealing with adolescents killing each other.
You'll laugh... you'll cry...
You'll want to see the sequel!
I'll give this movie 3.5 stars for excitability and capability of capturing a wide demographic. Something hard to do this day and (A.D.D.) age.
In my insatiable quest for the best plate in town, my wanderings led me to INDOCHINE. Located in the heart of downtown Jacksonville on Adams street, this cozy 2nd floor restaurant boasts traditional and modern Thai artwork with a HEAVY emphasis on wood throughout the restaurant. There's a real feeling that you're in a tropical bungalow elsewhere in the world.
The menu ranges from pad Thai to fried rice with your choice of meat (or veggies) and desired heat. Indochine definitely keeps an oriental theme through and through. The only thing Americanized or Westernized are the choice of beverages.
Even water was served in a canteen-like bottle with a skinny and stout glass.
The kitchen was rocking out dishes left and right.
Needless to say, the senses are stimulated sitting in such proximity to all this delicious looking Thai food.
My dinner for the night was the Tofu Pad Thai with medium heat. The dish definitely brings along with it umami, sweet, salty, and sour tastes - thankfully no bitterness.
Overall, my experience at Indochine was a good one.
I would have liked to see more Thai servers instead of all-American, but that's just me.
Recently, I've felt this tug in my spirit towards Japan.
Having lived in Misawa, Japan as a child, I've always wanted to go back as an adult.
Since my relationship with God is growing stronger and stronger.... the 'tug' I've felt towards Japan may have undoubtedly come from God.
According to the 'ever-reliable' Wikipedia, Japanese Christians represent < 1% of the population.
You really don't have to be a mathematician to see where that can take this conversation....
tangent: my new job is awesome. what makes it awesome is that I have a lot of downtime in between actually working.
In that time, I study the bible (Greek/Latin/Hebrew roots of words - BLUE LETTER BIBLE is the bomb!), browse eBay, and...... Angry Birds....
Recently, I came across something interesting.
Any anonymous alcoholic knows the Lord's prayer (since it's said at the end of most AA meetings)
However, if you have no clue what I'm talking/typing about.....
Matthew 6:9-13
New King James Version (NKJV)
9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
What's cool is that I found the Japanese translation.
Wanna read it? Cool...
4 different versions:
1. Kono yue ni nanjira wa kaku inore:
Ten ni imasu warera no Chichi yo,
Negawaku wa mi na no agameraren koto wo;
Mi kuni no kitaran koto wo;
Mi kokoro no, ten no gotoku chi ni mo okonawaren koto wo.
Warera no nichiyO no kate wo kyO mo atae tamae.
Warera ni oime aru mono wo warera no yurushitaru gotoku,
Warera no oime wo mo yurushi tamae.
Warera wo kokoromi ni awasezu, aku yori sukui idashi tamae.
2. Sareba nanjira kaku inorubeshi;
Ten ni mashimasu warera no Chichi yo,
Negawaku wa, mi na wo agamesase tamae.
Mi kuni wo kitarase tamae.
Mi kokoro no ten ni naru gotoku, chi ni mo nasase tamae.
Warera no nichiyO no kate wo kyO mo atae tamae.
Warera wo kokoromi ni awasezu, aku yori sukui idashi tamae.
Kuni to, chikara to, sakae wa kagiri naku nanji no mono nareba nari.
Amen.
3. Ten ni imasu watashitachi no chichi yo
O-na ga agameraremasu yoo ni
O-kuni ga kimasu yoo ni
Mikokoro ga ten de okonawareru yoo ni
Chi de mo okonawaremasu yoo ni
Watashitachi no higoto no kate o
kyoo mo o-atae kudasai
Watashitachi no oime o o-yurushi kudasai
Watashitachi mo watashitachi ni
oime no aru hitotachi o yurushimashita
Watashitachi o kokoromi ni awasenaide,
aku kara o-sukui kudasai
Kuni to chikara to sakae wa tokoshie ni
anata no mono da kara desu
Aamen.
4. Ten ni orareru Watashitachi no chichi yo,
mina ga agameraremasu youni.
Mikuni ga kimasu youni.
Mikokoro ga okonawaremasu youni,
Ten ni okeru youni chi no uenimo.
Watashitachi ni hitsuyou na kate wo kyou ataete kudasai.
Watashitachi no oime wo yurushite kudasai.
Watashitachi mo jibun ni oime no aru hito wo
Yurushimashita youni.
Watashitachi wo yuuwaku ni awasezu,
Warui monokara sukutte kudasai.
Man oh man..... how do I even sum up my life around this time....
A whole lotta 'leaning on the Lord'
A fruit of the spirit that I'm WELL familiar with is LONGSUFFERING.
The kitchen sink is being thrown at me, yet I'm rather confident that I will have an EXPECTED END
From a recent conversation with a friend, I told him that I'm kind of a 'learn-from-mistakes believer.
On one hand, I'm a raw uncut personality type that doesn't take no for an answer and always questions (the motives of) authority.
On the other... my inquisitiveness has gotten me in near-death situations in the past giving me hindsight, allowing me to have greater sense of - what my dad would bark as - accountability and responsibility. That's where all the fruits of the spirit have entered my life when I realized that my way wasn't really cutting it.
I've said all that to say,
"I've grown wiser about life through my mistakes while always thinking outside the box."
__________________________
Recently my life has led me to take pictures at the new site of CELEBRATION CHURCH.
It was a surreal experience that I'll expound upon soon.
I'll expound with pictures from my good camera soon.
Until then, here are some pictures that I took on my camera phone:
kinda been a whirlwind [kamikaze] since my last blog post.
currently, i'm at work.... in training.... friday..... super bored because we're pretty much done with our training sitting around looking at each other.
what's funny is that on monday [day 1] I jokingly said to my co-workers, "when's our potluck?"
it became a running joke throughout the week... and BAM.... today.... we had an awesome potluck!!! ::)
life and death is in the tongue right?
OMGGGGGGGGGG... have you been going to the AWAKENING REVIVALS???
my face has been melting over the past couple days....
such extraordinary words from Men of GOD.
Sergio de la Mora telling us to take up His Mantle for the oil (of blessing) in our lives...
and JOHN GRAY pretty much had me laughing and shouting all night.
my abs were BURNING from laughing and my voice was nearly GONE from shouting.
["you my ribs Jesus!!! His T.D. Jakes impression had me rolling..........]
I saw so many people that I haven't seen in FOREVER.... two people... ironically... it was their second time ever at CELEBRATION CHURCH !!!
what an AWESOME second time ever right??
I shared my GOD DID IT story at church on how... during the first week of the fast, my temporary assignment ended on a Wednesday.
Thursday, I had a job interview (when I got all that wood for the bonfire(s)).
Friday, I got notice that I got the job.
It pays $4 more than the last... and i'm over the moon. .......
nothing surprises me anymore... seriously. .... i'm just trusting God hardcore (shield of Faith)
and that's really helping me move forward in the things of God and he can operate fluidly through me and on my behalf.
I know i'm not perfect... but I have an awesome relationship that I share with my King and I just feel like the "Teflon Don"... or "Comeback Kid" Philippians 4:11-13
In my insatiable quest for the best plate in town, my wanderings led me to INDOCHINE. Located in the heart of downtown Jacksonville on Adams street, this cozy 2nd floor restaurant boasts traditional and modern Thai artwork with a HEAVY emphasis on wood throughout the restaurant. There's a real feeling that you're in a tropical bungalow elsewhere in the world. 
The menu ranges from pad Thai to fried rice with your choice of meat (or veggies) and desired heat. Indochine definitely keeps an oriental theme through and through. The only thing Americanized or Westernized are the choice of beverages. 
My dinner for the night was the Tofu Pad Thai with medium heat. The dish definitely brings along with it umami, sweet, salty, and sour tastes - thankfully no bitterness. 
