The Hunger Games Is Going To Be Awesome

The Hunger Games is a book trilogy that has gained substantial popularity since the first book’s release in 2008.  The first book’s film adaptation will be released this year, and people can hardly contain themselves.  If one had to describe the Hunger Games to someone unfamiliar with the series, the best way would be: George Orwell’s 1984’s totalitarian world meets the Gladiator fighting arena meets the reality show Survivor.

Without giving too much away, the following is the general plot of the first book and film.  The Hunger Games series follows a 16 year-old-girl, Katniss Everdeen, in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world ruled by a totalitarian governmental power.  Said government is located in one of thirteen existing districts, i.e. the central district deemed “Capitol,” that arose from North America; this new country is known as Panem.  Due to a rebellion against the Capitol, the government now holds what is known as the “Hunger Games” tournament every year.  Said games are a fight to the death by one boy and girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from all districts except the Capitol.  The games are televised and highly watched by all districts.  When Katniss’ younger sister is chosen to participate in the games, Katniss volunteers herself as a replacement.  From here, the movie truly begins.

Police needed after thousands of Hobbits overwhelm casting call

By Marc Bernardin, Source: Blastr.com

How many Hobbit extras are too many Hobbit extras? Well, if you ask the police of Wellington, New Zealand, the nearly 3,000 would-be Middle-earth residents who showed up for a casting call for Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings prequels qualify.

It’s No Lie – PINOCCHIO: VAMPIRE SLAYER A Digital Hit

By Vaneta Rogers, Source: Newsarama

With their story of Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer, artist Dusty Higgins and writer Van Jensen have won loyal readers over by utilizing the classic tale of the small puppet to portray his revenge on a horde of bloodsucking vampires.

This month, the 250-page Volume 3 of the series, titled Of Wood and Blood is being released digitally, along with the first two volumes on ComiXology, introducing a new audience to the story already beloved by its fans.

That X-Men: First Class sequel we’ve been waiting for is on!

By Matthew Jackson, Source: Blastr.com

The massive commercial and critical success of X-Men: First Class meant we were almost guaranteed to see a sequel sooner or later, we just didn’t know when or (perhaps more importantly) if director Matthew Vaughn would come back to helm the project.

Well, we still don’t know when, but we do know that the sequel IS happening, and that Vaughn is back for more mutant madness.

Crazed Alcatraz fans force prison to announce the series is fake

By Trent Moore, Source: Blastr.com

With his latest mysterious island drama Alcatraz, Lost creator J.J. Abrams opted to build the story around a real island, telling the fictional tale of more than 300 inmates and guards who disappeared in 1963.

Apparently some fans of the Fox show missed the part about it being fictional. Since the series began, the National Park Service has reported issues with overzealous tourists sneaking away from guided tours of the closed megaprison to look for the secret rooms showcased on the show.

Grundy’s Weekly Web Pick: Zero Punctuation

If you are a funny Brit with a knack for video games and want to start a review site, you better find a new gimmick because Ben “Yahtzee” Croshaw of The Escapist Magazine has that particular market cornered. His series, Zero Punctuation, is one of the funniest things on he Internet. Period.

Yahtzee’s critiques aren’t so much a giant run-on sentence as the Zero Punctuation name suggests, instead it comes across as verbal comedic assault with nary a pause for breath. Accompanying the speedy tones of Yahtzee is a Flash-style animation acting out the review. The site takes on most of the major releases including the recently popular Batman: Arkham City, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Call of Duty 3, and Portal 2. Yahtzee employs that English sarcasm that cuts to the heart of each game’s problems. In fact, for a guy who likes video games, it certainly seems like he doesn’t like video games.

That said, the focus of Zero Punctuation is bringing the funny. If you are looking for a balanced review of your new purchase, look somewhere else. If you are easily offended by a bit of blue humor, look somewhere else. If you want to laugh at games and at ourselves, whether or not you actually plan on playing any of these titles, you won’t go wrong with Zero Punctuation.

‘Star Trek’ sequel won’t be converted to 3-D until post-production

By Ashley Bergner, Box Office Buzz

J.J. Abrams’ highly anticipated sequel to his 2009 “Star Trek” film will be available in 3-D — but it won’t be converted to 3-D until post-production.

Adam B. Vary reported on the Entertainment Weekly website Abrams isn’t necessarily a fan of 3-D and wants to shoot the movie on celluloid film in the anamorphic format, like he did with his previous “Star Trek” film.

“I did not fight for the 3-D,” Abrams said. “It was something the studio wanted to do. I didn’t want to do it. … The thing that drives me crazy about 3-D is that when you put on the glasses, everything seems dim. I’m not totally on board yet.”

However, after Abrams saw some of the first Trek film converted to 3-D, he’s said he’s not as opposed to post-production conversion.

“I saw the first movie converted; it was actually really cool,” he said. ”So I was okay with [converting the film to 3-D], as long as I could shoot it the way I wanted to.”

Next on Earth Station One…

Next week, Earth Station One abandons ship! If you were trapped in an escape pod with only 5 entertainment items what would you take with you if you had to leave the station in a hurry? With all the technical difficulties we’ve been having at the ol’ Earth Station One station, it seemed like a timely topic.

We would still love to hear from you. What are your top 5 stranded in an escape pod items? Leave us a comment at http://www.esopodcast.com, at the ESO Facebook Group, email us at esopodcast@gmail.com, or call us at 404-963-9057 with your list. We might just read yours on the show.

The ESO Crew
http://www.esopodcast.com

Captain America actor may have revealed Marvel’s 2014 mystery movies

By Don Kaye, Source: Blastr.com

We’ve known for a while that Marvel has scheduled two yet-to-be-revealed movies for 2014. Now thanks to one of the stars of Captain America, we may know what they are.

With Iron Man 3 and Thor 2 already booked for 2013, Marvel is also holding two dates the following year—May 16, 2014 and June 27, 2014—for its next two movies, which have yet to be officially announced.

Eve Myles teases we may be seeing a Torchwood movie in 2013

By Nathalie Caron, Source: Blastr.com;

Despite the overall meh-ness that was Torchwood: Miracle Day, Gwen Cooper herself, actress Eve Myles, is hoping Torchwood fans will at least get the closure they deserve (yes, we do!) through either another series or a movie. But don’t hold your breath until at least 2013.