It gave me mixed feelings to hear that the 25th season of Survivor, "Survivor: Philippines", will seed each of three tribes with one past medically evacuee. Might as well just call it "Survivor: Do we have to suffer another season with Colton?" :) It'd be cool if Jonathan Penner returned at least.

A couple of my own suggestions for future Survivor seasons:

Survivor: Smarter Planet

A cast of nothing but intellectuals, like chess players, psychologists, ex-politicians, or intelligence officers.

Survivor: Babel

A truly diverse international cast where no one speaks the same language. If that's too crazy to film, then I'd settle for a truly diverse international cast that speaks English. :)

NBC cancelled "Awake". I wonder if that means that the upcoming season finale will leave the series open-ended. Here's how I think they should end it: make the "green" reality a dream (meaning Rex died in the car crash), and have Det. Britten live on in the "red" reality with his sweet wife (whom he can always have more kids with) and their future grandchild. :)

"House, M.D." ends next week too. I found the penultimate episode pretty heartwrenching. After House insisted that no afterlife exists, it dawned on me why he never resorted to suicide (dunno why it took me so long to make that connection). Personally, I never understood why House couldn't just get that leg amputated if the pain bothered him so much. But I guess curing House's misery would mean no more show.

I recently spotted a raccoon outside our cafeteria in broad daylight, raiding a trash can. Guess they're getting bolder.

Watched movie: "Dark Shadows" (2012)

Pretty standard Tim Burton film full of pale, eccentrically comical characters. I found Johnny Depp's behavioral similarities to Charles Montgomery Burns particularly amusing. The Victoria Winters storyline really confused me. But I guess I shouldn't dwell on it given that the movie's based on a soap opera (apparently, the original character even travelled through time). Side note: Cool gothic music. Rating: 6

Watched movie: "Sound of My Voice" (2012)

Similar to Brit Marling's other 2011 Sundance film, "Another Earth", in that nothing too memorable happened until the end. This time she plays an unsettling cult leader who alleges--unconvincingly--that she travelled back in time from 2054. I say "unconvincingly" because even though she established that she wouldn't be born until 2030, her descriptions of our future sucked pretty badly. Granted, I'd have trouble proving to the people of 1956 that I travelled from 2012, but at least I could spill anything I could remember (even though they couldn't easily verify anything I said). Why would I even risk changing history though--I'd probably just lay low. Rating: 5

SPOILER ALERT: Instead of hiding everything with a spoiler tag, I appended my review after the graphic below. Warning! Do not scroll down unless you're ok with spoilers to the conclusion of the Hunger Games trilogy!

Read book: "Mockingjay" (2010) by Suzanne Collins

Remember the good old days when all Katniss had to worry about were Hunger Games? :P

"Mockingjay"...bar none the most depressing novel I've ever read. I still can't believe that this young adult book, slated to become a PG-13 movie, delved into such gore, murder, and despair. To my discomfort, Katniss spent most of the book either traumatized, sedated, hospitalized, scarred, bloodthirsty, or completely suicidal.

I particularly hated how she kept throwing herself on the front lines...so much so that it hurt my enjoyment of the book. Finnick seriously ticked me off too, when he inexplicably volunteered to play "Hurt Locker". I felt like that whole Willy Wonka mission wasted lives and wasted time (both theirs and mine).

In others words, I felt like Katniss had nothing left to prove and indirectly got a lot of good people killed. Other than that...good book. :) Rating: 8

Crazy. "The Avengers" made over 200 million dollars in its opening weekend, and shattered the box office record set by "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2". The IMAX screenings, 3-D upcharge, and midnight showings no doubt helped. Unsuprisingly, Disney/Marvel has since green-lighted a sequel. I still feel bad for the Disney chairman who resigned over that "John Carter" flop. It's like, John who? Maybe the film could've done better had they stuck with the original title, "A Princess of Mars"?

Watched movie: "Marvel's The Avengers" (2012) in 3D

Although the semi-illogical plot and technogadgetry threatened to overload my brain, I felt that overall Joss Whedon wove everything together pretty well. If I had my way, Robert Downey Jr. would appear in all of Marvel's movies, though to my amusement the Hulk might have upstaged him this time around. :) P.S. Scarlett Johansson and that peashooter looked really out of place in that warzone. Stay after the credits. Rating: 8

Watched movie: "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" (2012) in 3D

Often times British humor escapes me, but I found this claymation decently funny (albeit historically inaccurate). Rating: 6

SPOILER ALERT: Instead of hiding everything with a spoiler tag, I appended my review after the graphic below. Warning! Do not scroll down unless you're ok with spoilers to the Hunger Games sequel!

Read book: "Catching Fire" (2009) by Suzanne Collins

Remember the good old days when all Katniss had to worry about was starvation? :P

I found the book title's metaphor apropos, as that heinous Capitol really made my blood boil (to the point where I even had trouble sleeping). They need to burn that Capitol to the ground--that's all there is to it.

Overall, I felt that the novel started slowly but then got awesomely good in the second half. Much as I hate those Hunger Games, I couldn't help but admire how fascinating that the 75th annual games were. Like one big puzzle from the pattern of the deathtraps to the Tributes' bewildering (and heartbreaking) acts of self-sacrifice. Hopefully, the movie will help clarify all that mayhem at the end.

Katniss and her once-cute tendency to assume the worst actually vexed me this time around. It's like, just report the facts and stop biasing them with your negative, teenage conclusions. :P Eventually, I found her thoughts so dark and fatalistic that I seriously began worrying about her mental stability. But given that I'd probably suffer a nervous breakdown one mile in her shoes, I tried not to judge her too harshly. :)

In conclusion, it seems pretty clear to me that Katniss should pick Peeta over Gale. Even though I often gagged at Peeta's lovesick comments, I found his speech about the locket downright moving. Rating: 9

I saw "The Hunger Games" yet again, this time in Cinemark XD. Ever since I read I book, I've found myself appreciating the movie more and more. In fact, I could even argue that Jennifer Lawrence's portrayal of Katniss gave me more insight into the character than Katniss' own words!

I still find all that suffering in Panem rather poignant, and think that it really speaks to the human condition. I also felt that the film did a lot of things well:

• The entire music soundtrack, especially during the final scenes with Rue and Seneca and that first song in the end credits.
• The scene where Cinna stayed with a visibly trembling Katniss.
• The way that they romanticized Rue's death as if to convey that she moved on to a better place.
• The ending where Katniss saw her loved ones again. Still disappoints me that the book ended so prematurely.

I'm currently reading "Catching Fire" bit by bit. It's not like the first novel where I couldn't put it down--however, thanks to my lack of willpower, I'll more than likely be done by the time London rolls around. :P

As part of Best Buy's closure of 50 stores in 2012, looks like one of my favorite stores will permanently close next month. It's going to get harder and harder to buy WWE DVDs. :P

In one bit of good news, a new Seattle's Best Coffee store opened near my apartment. I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder because man their classic mocha tasted good.

Now that Brock Lesnar returned to the WWE, I'll have a hard time suspending disbelief that anyone on the roster can beat him. Actually, I had trouble suspending disbelief even before he won the UFC Championship. The guy looks like a hulking freak of nature.

Watched movie: "Lockout" (2012)

In terms of plot holes, I think this movie had more holes than plot. For starters, I couldn't fathom the United States green-lighting a space prison when nowadays it won't even fund Space Shuttle missions. :( Rating: 5

Watched movie: "The Cabin in the Woods" (2012)

An amusing, unpredictable comedic horror mystery from the people who did "Buffy" and "Angel", which satirizes the horror genre much like "Buffy" and "Angel" did (and also features two of the cast members). Best to know nothing about the plot going in. Side note: Maybe I missed it, but do those scientists take any precautions to ensure that the "virgin" never dies before everyone else? Rating: 6

Watched movie: "The Three Stooges" (2012)

Vintage slapstick comedy that I found disturbing and abusive despite my efforts to switch my brain off. Dude, Moe ran a chainsaw against Curly and stuck a "Jersey Shore" character's head in a microwave--that's like, attempted murder. Props to Larry David--I thought his bitter nun character made a great foil. Rating: 6

I compiled a new list of coming attractions that interest me in 2012:

"The Avengers" (May 4, 2012)

Hope it lives up to all that post-credit teasing.

"Safety Not Guaranteed" (June 8, 2012)

Two writers investigate a classified ad to travel back in time.

"Brave" (June 22, 2012)

The obligatory Pixar film.

"Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" (June 22, 2012)

The latest from Timur Bekmambetov, director of "Night Watch" and "Wanted".

"Ice Age: Continental Drift" (July 13, 2012)

Looks funny so far.

"The Dark Knight Rises" (July 20, 2012)

The conclusion to Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy.

"Resident Evil: Retribution" (September 14, 2012)

I basically have it on my to-see list as a formality. At least Paul Anderson is directing it.

Update 4/15/2012: "Looper" (September 28, 2012)

From the director of "Brick": a hitman, hired to kill people whom the mob sends from the future, discovers that the latest target is his future self (who oddly enough, resembles Bruce Willis).

"Cloud Atlas" (October 2012)

A collaboration by the directors of "The Matrix" and "Run Lola Run". That's enough for me.

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (December 14, 2012)

Awesome trailer.

"Zero Dark Thirty" (December 19, 2012)

In military time, 0030 hours. I think soldiers pronounce it Oh Dark Thirty. Anyhow, it's about the Navy Seal mission to kill Osama bin Laden, from the director who did "The Hurt Locker". I'm there dude.

Watched movie: "Wrath of the Titans" (2012) in IMAX 3D

"Clash of the Titans" sequel with such flimsy character development that to understand their motivations, I felt like I needed a rundown on their mythological backstories...and even those, the movie took liberties with. Also to my dismay, I found out afterward that Perseus' queen wasn't some new demigod character like I originally thought--she was that human princess whom he had rescued in the previous film. What! Did it not occur to Perseus that bringing her along would totally jeopardize her safety?! Side note: What's with that mechanical owl? Rating: 6

Watched movie: "Serbuan Maut" a.k.a. "The Raid: Redemption" (2012)

Wildly violent Indonesian martial arts flick wherein SWAT team survivors, trapped inside of a druglord's apartment building, fight to survive an onslaught of gangs. Like my favorite Bruce Lee movie "Game of Death", each gang seemed to specialize in a specific form of combat such as automatic weapons, machetes, or Pencak Silat. As for the protagonist--he seemed so lethal with a knife that I wondered why he didn't just fight with one for the remainder of the movie. Rating: 7

Watched movie: "Le gamin au vélo" (2011) a.k.a. "The Kid with a Bike" (2012)

Critically acclaimed co-winner of the Grand Prix about a 12-year-old boy who can't seem to reconcile his father's abandonment. I hardly felt any emotion at all, and spent most of the film frowning at the kid's insolence and wondering why the heck he never locked up his bike. Rating: 5

SPOILER ALERT: Instead of hiding everything with a spoiler tag, I appended my review after the graphic below. Warning! Do not scroll down unless you're ok with Hunger Games spoilers!

Read book: "The Hunger Games" (2008) by Suzanne Collins

Now I understand why "Hunger Games" fans flocked to the midnight screenings. I found this novel so addictive that I read all 374 pages in less than two days!

The main character Katniss impressed me and struck me as a great teenage role model. Granted, she did seem sullen, hostile, and cynical--but I admired how deeply she inspired people without even trying to. I also respected how she and Gale provided for their starving families even if it meant jeopardizing themselves more and more at Reapings.

Thanks to the book's first person narrative, I finally got valuable insight into her fiercely guarded thoughts. Namely:

• Her feelings (or lack of them) toward both Gale and Peeta, and also her conflicted distrust of Peeta. However, I did begin wondering if her thoughts about them were completely open and honest. Could she have been in denial, locked her feelings away, or lacked the maturity to articulate them?
• Her careful self-discipline in front of cameras, including mental reminders to keep the show entertaining so that the Gamemakers won't have to shake things up.
• Her constant hunger and neverending preoccupation with food, which basically kept her from finding her own identity.
• Her unwillingness to forgive.

The movie followed the book pretty closely except for all those new cinematic scenes outside of the Hunger Games that Katniss might have imagined, but never could have witnessed. Also, my favorite parts differed. In the movie, I couldn't forget that heartbreaking scene where Katniss, looking very vulnerable, entered the elevator tube. In the book, it moved me how the crowd at Katniss' Reaping refused to applaud and instead raised three fingers (a gesture of deep respect that the movie neglected to explain).

Other details I found noteworthy:

• Panem rose from the ruins of North America, not some faraway planet like I originally imagined. (The mockingjays came from genetic engineering.)
• Bombs obliterated District 13.
• The family of a Hunger Games victor lives in luxury in their District's Victory Village as the Capitol showers the District with gifts. A female victor mentors her District's female Tributes, which Haymitch had to handle for about 30 years as District 12's only surviving victor. I'm convinced that Katniss would miss her old life.
• Katniss owed her life to Peeta's kindness.
• The mockingjay pin that Katniss found in the movie came from the mayor's daughter in the book (who is missing in the movie along with the redheaded girl without a tongue).
• The Capitol is virtually impregnable in the Rockies.
• Cinna asked for the District 12 assignment.
• Katniss got her knife from Clove's missed throw.
• At the start of the Hunger Games, Katniss almost died of dehydration.
• Katniss seemed to seriously consider killing the firestarter and Foxface.
• The Career Tributes never had to know hunger like Katniss and Rue.
• The explosion deafened Katniss in her left ear.
• District 11 actually pooled their money to sponsor Katniss.
• Peeta's dad loved Katniss' mother??
• Katniss was bluffing about the berries (I think).
• The Capitol made a 74th Hunger Games highlight reel (that'd make a good DVD extra).
• Apparently Peeta through their romance was real. Ouch.

In conclusion, I look forward to the next two novels in the trilogy and plan to read them during my London flights. Rating: 9