HUNGER GAMES BACK
Adventure out Friday
Big Release on Nov. 21: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 Big Picture: Julianne Moore joins the franchise as District 13’s President Coin, who helps push Katniss into becoming the symbol of a growing rebellion against The Capital. I’m hoping a couple of Ewoks make a franchise crossover to give the rebels a helping hand. They’re total pros when it comes to taking down evil empires. Fans can expect the return of the dreamy Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. Meanwhile, I can expect the return of daydreams involving Jennifer Lawrence falling in love with a humble journalist with zero survival instincts, while they’re being chased through the woods by murderous children, poisonous fog and killer bees — sigh. Part 1 of the finale hinges on Peta (Hutcherson) being turned into The Capital’s propaganda puppet, and Katniss’s (Lawrence) plan for his rescue. Can love — and a few choice crossbow arrows — save the day? Forecast: Hollywood execs are starting to quiver in their fancy boots. The second-last Hunger Games, and still no true replacement young adult franchise in sight?! The original Hunger Games took the pain away from the end of Twilight (2012) and Harry Potter (2011). Despite countless film attempts with other novels, nothing has lived up to the colossal hype of these three mega-series. My solution? Why not combine them? A “new” series about oppressed vampire child wizards, set in a dystopian future in which they’re annually forced to battle each other to the death on broomsticks in a domed Quidditch pitch — while simultaneously evading hormonal, shirtless werewolves. Ka-ching.
TV
Big Event: State of Affairs (Nov. 17, NBC/Global) Big Picture: It’s an early Christmas miracle! Someone found a cast of actors actually willing to work with the notorious Katherine Heigl! The former TV star (Grey’s Anatomy) turned floundering movie star is slinking back to the small screen as a top-ranking CIA agent Charleston Tucker. She is tasked with providing the president (Alfre Woodard) a daily threat assessment — essentially a daily list of the greatest dangers facing the United States, from terrorist threats to international crises. At night Tucker mainly has ill-advised, one-night stands to cope with the loss of her true love. If Bill Clinton was still president, she could have accomplished all her objectives at the same meeting. Forecast: Tucker’s fallen fiancé happened to also be the president’s son, and they are both bent on payback against those who took his life. So this series is essentially Homeland meets West Wing meets Revenge (with a shade of Knocked Up). The only question is whether Heigl will get revenge on those critics who think that her career is flatlining.
MUSIC
Big Releases on Nov. 18: Paul McCartney (The Art of McCartney) Big Picture: I guess even the second-most talented Beatle of all-time deserves a tribute album (hold the social media attacks!). An all-star lineup of musicians join forces to commemorate Sir Paul’s enduring career with The Beatles, Wings and flying solo. Standout covers include Kiss (Rock Show), Bob Dylan (Things We Said Today), Willie Nelson (Yesterday), Steve Miller (Hey Jude), B.B. King (On the Way), Brian Wilson (Wanderlust) and Billy Joel (Maybe I’m Amazed). Real keeners can opt for the deluxe edition featuring eight bonus tracks, including covers by Robert Smith and Booker T. Jones. Forecast: I’m predicting a future Ringo Starr tribute album by the likes of Miley Cyrus, Ke$ha, One Direction, Nickelback, Justin Bieber and Maroon 5. Miley would be all over Ringo’s 1973 single, Devil Woman. The cover art could even feature her twerking across Abbey Road. Dishonourable Mention: One Direction (Four). I believe this album title refers to either average age — or IQ — of this group’s fans. Then again, maybe I’m just jealous that I don’t have this band’s millions, three wildly successful concert movies under my belt, and adoring fans across the world. Still, I would pay good money to see Harry Styles and company entered into the Hunger Games.