Lionsgate released its first trailer for The Hunger Games, which will be released March 23, and "it did not disappoint," Entertainment Weekly's Karen Valby observed. "I don't care if you thumb your nose at YA literature in general, if you don't know your Mockingjay from your President Snow, and if you're fed up with all of EW's panting over Collins' trilogy. Surely even the most determined haters felt their pulse quicken in that final countdown, before 24 children of Panem set off to fight to the death in front of television cameras. 3. 2. 1! I can’t think of a more brilliant way to end the trailer to director Gary Ross' movie than watching a terrified Katniss and Peeta, played by Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, racing for their backpacks and the protection of the woods."
