[attanilifardy]

Yeah, I think that Katniss is white, mostly because her sister is described as having blonde or at least fair hair; she just has a darker skin tone (Katniss is described as having "olive skin" I think). Since Katniss is described as being representative of many of the people in her district, they are probably white to. That said, if they had cast a black or mixed-race actress as Katniss, that would have been cool, and it could have worked, even taking her mother and Prim's coloring into consideration, and the people of District 12 could be mixed race.

Re: Jaclyn Dolamore's "Magic Under Glass", I spent about a year wanting to read that novel after hearing about the controversy surrounding the cover, because it sounded like such a cool idea. I finally was able to ILL it and the result was so disappointing. Besides just being poorly written, filled with Bronte-esque brooding male characters, and suffering from a general undeveloped world where things happened for no reason other than it sounded awesome (I still don't understand why trouser girls were called trousers girls and why they wore trousers), I also felt it was filled with gross exoticism.

[ValdisSeroff]

Publishers whitewashing is hilariously sad.

Generally, I do think more often than not when people (the membership here being mostly white) read about a character in a book without knowing what they look like, they automatically assume they're white without even thinking about it. It's understandable. Will this change as people become increasingly conscious that most people living on earth don't look like that? probably.

Yeah, I unquestioningly pictured Katniss as white because of the cover and because I was reading after the cast had been announced and publicised, and probably because I'm white and probably ALSO because I now expect main characters to be white as default because that's what we tend to be given in mainstream media. White or South Asian/Middle Eastern, I guess, because of where I live and who I live with.
I also think some of the names - Haymitch (Hamish?) Abernathy in particular - made me think of people with strong Scots/English ancestry, and I assumed that was likely given the geographical placement of the district. I never felt that it was important though, and my image of certain characters changes quite a bit as I'm reading - I'm not one to solidify a character in my mind to any great extent ("omg this character definitely looks JUST LIKE JOHNNY DEPP TO MEEE!!!").

For those of you who've read further than the first book, does Collins ever explain the ethnic makeup of Panem and how the political boundaries of the districts affect that? I got the impression district 11 was "the black district", and I'm being charitable and assuming that Panem has at some point been subject to segregation and conflict that led to that, rather than Collins just arbitrarily dividing the characters up like that. In my head I guess I assume that Panem would be fairly mixed across the board, but I suppose it's understandable that following the kind of conflicts that are alluded to in the country's past that things would get a little more backward.
She also mentions people from the Capitol dying their skin different colours, and it would be cool if later on she actually explores the social and ethnic identities that inform that kind of practice within Panem.

[Vomazoono]

this is the new trailer with a few new clips

[Nidsstese]

I'm so excited about this movie.

[wrardymar]

Me too. I cannot wait for this movie. Stanley Tucci looks so great as Ceasar Flickerman, and that bit at the end with Cinna gives me chills.

I also read this article on ew.com about how Donald Sutherland wrote to Gary Ross and seriously petitioned to be President Snow. Seeing how inspired so much of the cast is about this film makes me hopeful that it's going to do the book justice.

[hygtfrdes]

I really love the book, but the trailers are so awesome it kind of looks like the movie might be even BETTER. There's something about it, some atmosphere or tone, that is a bit more chilling than even the book was.

[Nidsstese]

OMG y'all.

\

"This district smells like rat piss/my name is Katniss/gonna play the Hunger Games".

[objennasweene]

[neirty]

Happy President's Day...

[wrardymar]

http://www.gofobo.com/news/lionsgate...y_barnes_noble

Thought I'd put it out there, Lionsgate is teaming up with Twitter and Barnes and Noble for some advance screenings. But you either need to be picked on Twitter, or buy a Nook on March 10th to have a chance to get a ticket. As I am not on Twitter and have no interest in a Nook, I will not be getting a ticket.

[YabbaIn]

I just finished reading the books last week and am now really excited about this film. I also watched a couple of interviews with Jennifer Lawrence and I think she's adorable.

Does anyone know how long it will stay in theatres for? I really want to see this film in English when I'm back in the UK in April, but if it's only in the cinema for 2 weeks I might not be able to It's not out in Italy until May and then it will be in Italian.

[Nidsstese]

THIS WEEKEND. Who's going?

[gDGwm8BC]

Our 5th graders are walking to the theatre to see it Friday morning. I'm so excited!

[wrardymar]

me me! I'm going on Saturday. Thinking of trying to find a Mockinjay pin to wear, and/or getting some of Capitol inspired nail polish at least.

[parurorges]

I'm trying to finish up the last book right now. Either way I'll probably go see it on Saturday.

[JorgiOLusinio]

My friends and I all read the book in anticipation of the movie, but we also want to wait until the crowds die a little. We may go Monday. Anxious to hear what everybody thinks!

[Andrius]

Yeah, the boy and I are going Monday afternoon to avoid the swarms of teenagers. Really, really excited! If they mess this movie up, I will be very sad.

[quack!]

Reading an article with a picture of the cast at some press conference, for a moment there I thought it featured Thor

[portoskins]

I think it's his little brother or they are related somehow.

[smazibummigue]

Yeah, they're brothers. I think they actually competed against one another for the Thor role, but Chris Hemsworth (obvs) won.