For those of you who are die-hard “Hunger Games” fans, some juicy tidbits have been beginning to leak around the internet about the upcoming movie adaptation. While there are some rumors out there that are definitely untrue, here are the facts: the movie rights have been acquired by Lionsgate, and the movie is set to release sometime in 2012. They studio is in talks with Gary Ross to direct the film. He is best known for being the director of “Seabiscuit” and “Pleasantville,” as well as being a writer and producer in movies such as “Big” and “Dave.” He tends to favor working with actor Tobey Maguire, so there have been some rumors as to his potential casting, though they are not completely reliable. Either way, it seems fans can look forward to the epic series coming to life on the silver screen two years from now!
If you haven’t heard of the talented Noomi Rapace, you may live under a rock. She is the leading actress in the Sweedish Millenuim Trilogy movies, based off the popular books including “The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo.” She is raw and real, and potrays the heroine very convincingly. She is quickly becoming one of Hollywood’s up and coming young actresses. To further cement this status, she has recently signed on to appear in the next installment of the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ franchise, as a character who remains shrouded in mystery. The movie is due out in December 2011, and boasts some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, and the recent addition of Daniel Day-Lewis as Professor Moriarty.
The movie “Eat, Pray, Love” has been received at the box office with mixed reviews. Upon viewing it myself, I also felt a mix of emotions about the movie. To begin with, I have not read the book. Those who have may indeed enjoy the movie more than those who haven’t. However, I went into the movie with fairly high expectations, being a fan of both Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem. My first complaint is that the movie is much too long. It drags terribly in the middle, and you begin to wonder if you will be in the theater for the rest of her life. Julia Robert’s character comes off as a bit selfish, over-emotional, and lost. She just isn’t as likable as a character should be, when you are supposed to care about her life story and journey to find herself. She was even a bit irritating. The scenery, however, was absolutely fantastic. Italy was simply breathtaking, and had some interesting plot lines. India was much more boring, and the story began to lose steam here. It is redeemed in the beautiful country of Bali, as more interesting things begin to happen, and you can’t help but get lost in the magical landscape. Its most redeeming quality comes in the form of Javier Bardem, who is not only a more interesting character, but a much better actor than Julia Roberts. In all, the film has its moments of beauty and emotion, and its moments of dullness and even unlikeability. It is truly a mixed bag. It is much a film based upon personal opinion.
