Hunger Games Movie Actors Cast

 Here is the press release:

LOS ANGELES, CA, April 4, 2011- Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES are pleased to announce that actor Josh Hutcherson (THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT) has been cast in the role of Peeta Mellark, with Liam Hemsworth (THE LAST SONG) joining the film in the role of Gale Hawthorne in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel. Both actors will star opposite Jennifer Lawrence, who it was recently announced will play heroine Katniss Everdeen.
Peeta accompanies heroine Katniss Everdeen into the 74th annual Hunger Games as the male tribute chosen from their native District 12, the most remote and marginalized district of all the subjugated districts of Panem. At the outset of the Games, Peeta publicly confesses his longtime feelings for Katniss, setting up one of the most fascinating fictional rapports of all time with his supposed arena rival.
Though Katniss and Gale have never had a romantic relationship, they share a transcendent bond, often of few words. When Katniss volunteers to participate in the 74th Annual Hunger Games in her younger sister’s stead, they both presume that bond will carry her far through the horrors she will face in the arena, and they each silently hope they’ll be reunited in safety on the other side of the ordeal.

The movie is scheduled to come out on March 23, 2012.

 

 Here is the book summary courtesy of Barnes and Noble: 

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival.

 My Review

The Hunger Games is the thrilling story of a dystopian land not so far in the future. The book infers that some great catastrophe has happened so that many of the inhabitants of Earth were destroyed. Yet, from the ashes,  the country of Panem arises. The country of Panem is separated into thirteen districts, who each serve The Capital.
District 1: Luxury Goods
District 2: Stone Mining
District 3: Electronics/Technology
District 4: Fishing
District 5: DNA Splicing/breeding
District 6: Medicine and other scientific research (aka morphlings)
District 7: Lumber and paper products
District 8: Textiles
District 9: Food Processing
District 10: Livestock
District 11: Agriculture
District 12: Coal mining
District 13:  Graphite Mining (unofficially they manufactured nuclear weapons and among that housed and produced other weaponry)
However, soon the Dark Days came, when each of the Thirteen Districts rose against the capital. District Thirteen was destroyed. After the Dark Days, the Hunger Games was created by The Capital. In these games, each of the Twelve Districts are forced to give up one of their children, between the ages of twelve and thirteen, to fight in an arena with the other contestants to the death. This is the way in which The Capital punishes it's people. The winner will live in luxury for the rest of their days. Nearly seventy four years later, we meet Katniss Everdeen a resident of District Twelve. What struck me about this book was Katniss' love for her sister. When her twelve- year old sister, Prim, is chosen during The Reaping, Katniss immediately runs to volunteer in her sister's place. This book shows the horrors of the Hunger Games as Katniss strives to win the game. The games are broadcasted to the entire nation, as almost a national holiday. It shows the reader the dangers of having a government, which is too powerful, and how even the smallest spark can set the fire of rebellion. The Hunger Games is extremely well written and I would definitely recommend this book for ages thirteen and up. My summary is probably not the best as it does not capture the heart of the story, but if you do read it I promise that you will love it.

Stars: 5 out of 5