North Carolina gets ready for 'Hunger Games' fans

[bathroommonkey76]

RALEIGH, N.C. — Fans of "The Hunger Games" are already turning up in North Carolina, seeking out places where the movie was shot, from old-growth forests to an abandoned mill town.

And the tourism industry is prepared to cash in on them, with everything from hotel packages and zip lines tours, to re-enactments of scenes from the film and lessons in survival skills.

The movie, which opens this weekend and is expected to be a box office smash, is based on a best-selling book about a post-apocalyptic world where teenagers compete to the death in fighting games.

It was filmed entirely in North Carolina, from the mountains, where fake trees were planted, filled with propane and blown up, to Charlotte, which served as the Capitol from the story — the seat of power where the teens are sent for training.

Also prominently featured in the movie is the Henry River Mill Village near Hildebran, about 70 miles from Asheville, which was the setting for District 12, home of the three main characters, Katniss, Peeta and Gale.

Read more here:

http://www.wral.com/entertainment/story/10885797/

[Phentex]

1. I saw it last night...

place was packed with lines out the door.

I thought it was an excellent movie and it stayed true to the book even though people who have not read the book would clearly be able to follow along. Very blurry implied violence in the film and not nearly as graphic as many other movies. It's going to rake in millions.

[Kablooie]

2. I saw it too but it was too intense for my wife. She left the theater.

She said she felt she was going to throw up once the violence started.
It was not overly graphic but very emotionally intense.

[Phentex]

4. The camera motion in the beginning had several of us queasy...

but it settled down a tad.

[Adsos Letter]

3. We just returned from seeing it. I'm glad I hadn't read the books beforehand.

Because knowing the story ahead of time might have taken away a bit from what was an outstanding movie experience.

If Hunger Games doesn't sweep awards in a whole variety of categories then Hollywood has lost its frickin' mind.

[Phentex]

5. See?

I'm glad to hear from someone who has not read it. I think it was easy to follow the story for those who were new to the story.

[Lizzie Poppet]

8. Unfortunately, it's not an "Oscar bait" sort of film.

Collecting Oscars has become something of a science, and Hunger Games isn't really that sort of film (that it, it's not an earnest talking head psychodrama or a Meryl Streep vehicle...). It will get nominations in certain categories, but probably not in the marquee categories like Best Director, Best Actress in a Leading Role, or Best Picture.

Which is a shame, imo. Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss Everdeen is brilliant, as is Woody Harrelson's Haymitch Abernathy. The direction is beautifully paced and the cinematography a perfect compliment. I think some folks may have expected a lot less from a movie based on a YA novel...and the film is way more than that.

[quispquake]

6. I saw it Friday before reading the book...

Loved it...am now...READING THE BOOK!!! (But I'm only going to read the first one...I'll save 2 & 3 for after the movies...).

[Javaman]

7. Why doesn't they guy who owns the land...

set up a tour and cash in?

Also, I can't wait for the coming news stories about teens creating their own "hunger games".