Super Bowl Comercials: 'The Hunger Games' trailer

Stanley Tucci and Jennifer Lawrence in "The Hunger Games"

And finishing our Super Bowl trailer coverage is the one that I didn't actually see tonight: "The Hunger Games."

Although the trailer debuted online a few days ago, I was waiting to see it live during the big game, but somehow missed it. I'm going to have to back through my DVR recording to see if I can find it.

Anyway, the trailer for the highly anticipated feature adaptation of the first novel in Suzanne Collins' best-selling trilogy is definitely worth the wait. Unfortunately, I can't embed the trailer, but you can click this link to watch the 60 second spot.

Although the TV spot includes mostly footage from the full trailer, it does add several new scenes, most noticeably a peak at Caesar Flickerman's (Stanley Tucci) interview with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence). We also get to see Katniss imploring Gale (Liam Hemsworth) to look after her family.

Fans of the books will note that the movie is apparently deviating from the source material as to how Katniss comes to possess the mockingjay pin, which becomes an important plot device in the books. I'm not surprised since the person who gives Katniss the pin in the books is ultimately a minor character.

First teaser of 'The Hunger Games' now online

The first teaser for 'The Hunger Games" is now online.

"The Hunger Games" adaptation may not be hitting theaters until March, but the buzz has been red hot the last couple of weeks since it was announced the first teaser would be released during last Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards.

Well, the VMAs came and went, and we got our first 60-second glimpse of actress Jennifer Lawrence ("Winter's Bone") as heroine Katniss Everdeen.

When I first watched the teaser (available below), I have to say I was a bit underwhelmed. Not by the footage itself, but by how lacking in context the clip was. As a fan of the books, I knew what was going on, but I'm betting a sizable proportion of Sunday's audience has never read the books and quite a few had never even heard of them until the clip interrupted their "musical" entertainment.

First teaser of 'The Hunger Games' to debut during MTV VMAs

Fans of Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" will get their first taste of Lionsgate's film adaptation Sunday evening when lead actress Jennifer Lawrence unveils a clip during MTV VMAs telecast.

The film will debut March 23, 2012.

"The Hunger Games" is being directed by Gary Ross ("Seabiscuit," "Pleasantville") based on a screenplay from Bill Ray ("State of Play"). It is set for a March 23, 2012, release and is expected to be rated PG-13.

Lawrence ("Winter's Bone," "X-Men: First Class") plays Katniss Everdeen, who along with Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson, "Bridge to Terabithia") are forced to enter a battle to the death with teenagers from the 12 districts of Panem.

The cast also includes Donald Sutherland ("The Mechanic") Lenny Kravitz ("Precious"), Woody Harrelson ("Zombieland"), Liam Hemsworth ("The Last Song"), Elizabeth Banks ("The Next Three Days"), Paula Malcomson ("Sons of Anarchy"), Wes Bentley ("American Beauty"), Stanley Tucci ("The Lovely Bones") and newcomer Willow Shields ("Beyond the Blackboard").

Jennifer Lawrence will sing for 'The Hunger Games' soundtrack

Jennifer Lawrence (left) will be featured on "The Hunger Games" soundtrack.

"The Hunger Games" star Jennifer Lawrence will be featured on the film's soundtrack with a recording of "Rue's Lullaby."

According to MTV, music producer and co-composer T-Bone Burnett revealed the news last night and Lawrence, who plays Katniss Everdeen, has already been in the studio to record the track.

Fans of the books will know what the context of the song, but everyone else will have to wait until March 23, 2012, when the adaptation hits theaters.

Earlier this month, Lionsgate along with Universal Republic announced a partnership on the soundtrack, which they said will not only include music being recorded by major artists for inclusion in the film, but a series of companion recordings that will feature new songs directly influenced by the themes and subject matter of "The Hunger Games," recorded by "some of music's most successful and acclaimed artists."
Burnett is collaborating with composer Danny Elfman on the film's score, which will also be released by Universal Republic.

Based on the best-selling novel by Suzanne Collins, "The Hunger Games" is being directed by Gary Ross ("Seabiscuit," "Pleasantville") based on a screenplay from Bill Ray ("State of Play").

More photos from "The Hunger Games"

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne

In advance of its new issue featuring photos from the upcoming "Hunger Games" adaptation, Entertainment Weekly has released a number of new samples online.

The photos feature lead actors Jennifer Lawrence ("Winter's Bone") as Katniss Everdeen, Liam Hemsworth ("The Last Song") as Gale Hawthorne and Josh Hutcherson ("Bridge to Terabithia") as Peeta Mellark in costume and on set.

"The Hunger Games," based on the trilogy of novels by Suzanne Collins, follows Katniss and Peeta as they are chosen to participate in an annual fight to death involving two children chosen from each of the 12 districts of Panem. Peeta and Gale ultimately become rivals for Katniss' affections.

"The Hunger Games" is being directed by Gary Ross ("Seabiscuit," "Pleasantville") based on a screenplay from Bill Ray ("State of Play"). It is set for a March 23, 2012, release and is expected to be rated PG-13.

Entertainment Weekly provides first glance of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen

When Jennifer Lawrence ("Winter's Bone") was cast as Catniss Everdeen in the upcoming film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games," the backlash from fans online was strong enough to spur the author herself to come to the decision's defense.

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen

Lawrence didn't look the part. She was blond. She was too old. Too white.

Well, Entertainment Weekly has revealed the first photo of Lawrence in character as a preview of its latest issue set to hits shelves Thursday.

I have to say, while I was not against the pick to start with, I'm impressed with the look presented in  the photo. I can see Katniss, or at least how I saw her to be. And that's always the problem with translating words into movies. Everyone has their own vision of what they read.

As for Lawrence's ability to capture the rest of Katniss, Collins has already given her opinion, so I'll leave that part alone for now.

What do you think of the photo? Do you see Katniss?