Books-to-Movies: What's With The Sudden Boom?

Shatter Me, Beautiful Creatures and The Mortal Instruments. What do all of these books have in common? There all books that are going to be made into movies. With films like The Twilight Saga and The Hunger Games blowing up the box office some people are asking what is the big deal with all these books becoming movies? The answer is really simple: all of the books are already best sellers or have the potential to be huge commercial successes. The movie companies are clamoring to receive the rights on certain books because they have huge potential at the box office. Readers have a lot of influence in both the publishing and cinematic world.

Just recently, The Hunger Games made $152.5 million in its opening weekend, the third-highest domestic debut and biggest opening ever for a non-sequel. How many want to bet that the first viewers of the film were diehard fans of the book? The second weekend pulled in $61 million showing the staying power of The Hunger Games at the box office. In all, the movie has been the #1 Movie in America for 4 weeks straight!

Books that are being turned into movies also display the essence of their genres. Beautiful Creatures is an excellent example of books in the southern gothic genre. Some readers might say it is one of the best books in the southern gothic genre. The cinematic world is buzzing so much about this upcoming movie because it is visually stunning even as a book and already has a huge fan base. 

The Mortal Instruments is also a good example of books with a huge fan base. Cassandra Clare, the author, interacts with her fans through her blog, answering questions & re blogging fan-pictures fans has made her. Her fans are hungry for anything she'll say; either if it's a picture, some movie news, or teasers & deleted scenes. From that, her fan base has grew wildly, and will explode just like every book-to-movie as it comes to theaters.

To sum it up, the movie world is making millions and millions of dollars off of books and it is all thanks to the readers!

So what do you think of the book-to-movies situation? Do you prefer that some books don't turn into movies, or only specific books turn into movies?

The Hunger Games Movie Review

 .5

This was really a great movie, honestly. I really liked it ... A LOT! Though I couldn't give it five stars. As always, I think the books are better than movies, but some people don't, and that's fine! First of all, I want to point out the parts I cried at.

Parts Selena Cried At:

1. When the "Lions Gate" logo came on.

-Okay, honestly? I was really excited! I couldn't believe I was actually sitting in a theater, watching the movie ... So I cried. ;)

2.When Prim screamed at the beginning at the movie, and Katniss and Prim started singing.

-I thought this was SO CUTE! Such a cute bond. And I also cried because it was still the beginning of the movie ;)

3. When Katniss Volunteered at the reaping. 

-Okay, to be honest, I saw this on the previews SO MANY TIMES that I thought I wasn't going to cry. But then, when the scene happened, I just balled my eyes out. I don't know why! It was just so sad and brave of Katniss to take Prim's place (:

4. When Katniss was saying goodbye to her mother, and told her not to cry.

-Katniss expects me NOT to cry when she says NOT to cry? Crazy girl ....

5. When Peeta was crying in the car with Effie and Katniss.

-AHH! Peeta crying? HOT! That's why I was crying ;)

THENNN after that, my aunt told me to shut up or I was going to get kicked out. First of all, I thought she was joking. THEN I looked over at the doorway and saw a man standing there. That's when I finally stopped crying(: But then I cried again when Rue died. SAD! But if I had to choose, the Reaping was probably when I cried the most.

Now here are the things that bothered me .... a lot:

1. The mocking jay pin - First of all, THEY CUT OUT MADGE! Madge was the WHOLE reason WHY the pin is SO important in the other books. That just made me mad.

2. Katniss didn't get dehydrated in the arena. That made me mad because in the movie, she looked like she didn't even SUFFER! In the book, Katniss had a hard time, and I wanted that to show in the move. 

3. Katniss didn't yell Peeta's name when the announced that people from the same district can win if they're both alive. I mean, really? That was kinda the whole part of showing how she faked everything ....

4. Katniss and Rue HARDLY talked! They were suppose to talk about their Districts, and how District 11 is worst than 12! Grrr ....

5. The Cornucopia. Don't even get me started on what was all wrong with it. It looked like .... Nothing!

6. THEY DIDN'T EAT THE BERRYS! They were suppose to at the end, and then spit it out! But NOOO! The didn't even get to number 3.

7. The dogs? God Dammit. THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO HAVE THE COLOR OF THE EYES OF ALL OF THE TRIBUTES! They didn't even look ANYTHING like I pictured them.

8. Peeta didn't take his shirt off. Disappointment ...

9. The cave scene? Could have extended MUCH longer. And the syrupy? They didn't even show that! THAT part I was looking forward to!

10. When Clove died? No .... NO NO NO NO NOOOOO! It wasn't suppose to be like that!! She should've died worst. Even though I'm Team Clove all the way, I still thought how she died should've been more.

Things I actually enjoyed in the movie:

1. When Haymitch sent Katniss the note; "You call that a kiss?" HAHAHAA!

2. Jennifer Lawrence is AMAZING! So freaking happy she got the role. She is Katniss no doubt about it!

3. I though Cinna was cool. Peeta was hot. Effie was amazing. And Haymitch should have been more drunk ;)

4. The showed the districts ACTUALLY rebelling. Now THAT'S a big part in the next movies ... (:

5. When the cannon blew and Katniss started yelling Peeta's name. She then ran into him and yelled "God Dammit Peeta! You scared me!" and then hugged him! I thought that was cuteee <33

6. When the dogs/mutt things came to attack them. You knew they were coming ... but at the same time ... you didn't. That's the part that made me jump and I LOVED IT!

So it's really half and half, honestly. It's easier to point out the things that weren't right. Overall, you should go see the movie! :D It's amazing, and so much action, too! A good date movie, really. Some romance but with action ;)

Oh, and another thing. The soundtrack? 3/12 (how many songs there are on the soundtrack ... whatever.) only  3 songs played ... really. That made me MAD! I was looking forward to MORE songs! Isn't that why they have a soundtrack?!

Here are some pictures w/ Katniss, Peeta and Gale! They were giving away life-size Katniss, Gale and Peeta! Unfortunately, I didn't win them :( Though they were giving these things away to ages 9-18 .... get it?! HUNGER GAMES! Hahaa :)

With Katniss and Gale ;)

AHHH!! TEAM PEETA! <333

With the Hunger Games Poster outside of the theater!

And yes, that is the Mocking Jay pin on my left shoulder. And my shirt says Team Clove :)

"The Hunger Games" New Song & Trailer

So I'm a bit excited for the movie .... Just kidding; You don't even know how freaking excited I am! I can't stop talking about it at all!! It's just an amazing book and (I know) an amazing movie, even though I haven't even seen it yet. :)

As you guys know, the soundtrack of The Hunger Games releases on March 23rd; the same day the movie comes out! Taylor Swift has another song on the soundtrack that has been leaked a few days ago. It's called "Eyes Open". My friend and I actually had a really good argument on where the song would be places. For me, I though it would be placed when Katniss is on the train going to and/or coming back from the Capitol. I also thought that it would be placed on the last day Katniss is sleeping in the Capitol.

Here's the song!
P.S. The song quality is bad, though it is the only one that isn't pitched :)

Click here for the lyrics of the song.

Also, today, "The Hunger Games" released a new trailer! How exciting is that?! I was really excited to see this, though it was just technically the same footage over and over again :)

There are SO MUCH MORE videos of The Hunger Games, including Peeta's interview, and President Snow talking with Seneca Crane! Click here to go to their official Youtube Page and check out all the videos!

What do you think about Taylor Swift's new song?