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Lionsgate recently released the The Hunger Games: The Ultimate Steelbook Collection 4k/Blu-ray set (Best Buy exclusive). Read on to find out more about it...

[ SYNOPSIS ]

THE HUNGER GAMES (2012)
Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers in her younger sister's place and must rely upon her sharp instincts when she's pitted against highly trained Tributes who have prepared their entire lives. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE (2013)
Against all odds, Katniss and fellow tribute Peeta have returned home after surviving the Hunger Games. Winning means they must leave loved ones behind and embark on a Victory Tour through the districts. Along the way, Katniss senses a rebellion simmering – one that she and Peeta may have sparked. At the end of the tour, President Snow announces a deadly 75th Hunger Games that could change Panem forever.

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY, PART 1 (2014)
Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived. She awakens from the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell deep inside the bunkered catacombs of District 13. Separated from some of her closest allies and fearing for their safety in the Capitol, Katniss finally agrees to be the Mockingjay, the symbolic leader of the rebellion. Still uncertain as to whom she can trust, Katniss must help 13 rise from the shadows, all the while knowing that President Snow has focused his hatred into a personal vendetta against her-and her loved ones.

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY, PART 2 (2015)
Katniss Everdeen began her journey fighting to survive the brutal Hunger Games, and rose to lead the rebellion against Panem's tyrannical president (Donald Sutherland). Now, Katniss and a team of rebels from District 13 prepare for the final epic battle that will decide Panem's future.

[ PACKAGING ]

Although Lionsgate had previously released this 4K/Blu set, the Steelbook cases are new. The set includes four Steelbook cases, each containing a 4K UHD disc and a Blu-ray disc for each film (one disc on each side of the case). The four cases are stored inside a sturdy hard paperboard case, which has slots for each case so they don't rub up against each other in the box. The front of the box shows Katniss front and center, with six of the other characters flanking her sides inside flames. The flames wrap around to the back where six more characters await.

The fronts of each case features a portrait of Katniss created by top artists Flore Maquin, Ise Ananphada, Alice X. Zhang, Tula Lotay, Paige Reynolds, Aracely Muñoz, Gemma O'Brien, Lauren Hom, Meni Chatzipanagiotou, and Gia Graham. The case backs align to form a map showing all of the districts, with a legend that includes a hidden "District 13" in the lower right corner. The spines of all cases form the Mockingjay symbol. Here is a featurette Lionsgate released online about the creation of this packaging. (It is not available on any of the discs.)


A digital copy code voucher is included inside the case that features a single code that redeems for all four movies.

[ SPECIFICATIONS ]

Each of the four movies is presented in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. Each 4K UHD and Blu-ray disc for each movie contains audio in English and Spanish, and subtitles in English, English SDH, and Spanish. Each of the movies is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and for some thematic material.

[ SPECIAL FEATURES ]

Here is a list of the special features on each of the eight discs. See the next section for the Blu-ray Easter Eggs. It needs to be noted that the original 6-disc Blu-ray set contains a Bonus Disc containing many featurettes and other materials that are excluded from this so-called "Ultimate" set. This disc should have been included in a fifth Steelbook case, or included in the case with the fourth film (which could have been in a three-disc Steelbook to accommodate it). Given the price of this "Ultimate" set, it is inexcusable for all of this readily-available material to have been left out.

THE HUNGER GAMES (4K DISC)

• Audio Commentary with editor Stephen Mirrione, visual effects supervisor Sheena Duggan and supervising sound editor Lon Bender.
• Game Maker: Suzanne Collins and the Hunger Games Phenomenon (14:15)
• The World Is Watching: Making of The Hunger Games (Play All 2:02:00) - A 9-part documentary.
• Letters from the Rose Garden (9:08)

THE HUNGER GAMES (BLU-RAY DISC)

• Nothing

CATCHING FIRE (4K DISC)

• Audio Commentary - with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson.
• Surviving the Game: Making The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Play All 2:24:56) - A 9-part documentary.
• Deleted Scenes (4:36) - Five scenes in total.

CATCHING FIRE (BLU-RAY DISC)

• Audio Commentary - with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson.
• Surviving the Game: Making The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Play All 2:24:56) - A 9-part documentary.
• Deleted Scenes (4:36) - Five scenes in total.
• Divergent Sneak Peek (6:43) - A look at the then-upcoming film.

MOCKINGJAY, PART 1 (4K DISC)

• Audio Commentary - with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson.
• The Mockingjay Lives: The Making of Mockingjay Part 1 (2:14:19) - A 8-part documentary.
• Straight from the Heart: A Tribute to Seymour Philip Hoffman (11:03)
• Songs of Rebellion: Lorde on Curating the Soundtrack (8:10)
• Deleted Scenes (11:18) - The 9 scenes include "Katniss & Boggs Walk Through District 13", "Katniss Leaves District 12", "Beetree Reaches District 8", "I'm Not Asking", "Hummingbirds", "Face of a Revolution", "We're Still in the Game", "Snow Sees Propo" and , "Cressida Preps Katniss & Gale".
• "Yellow Flicker Beat" Music Video by Lorde (4:05)

MOCKINGJAY, PART 1 (BLU-RAY DISC)

• Audio Commentary - with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson.
• The Mockingjay Lives: The Making of Mockingjay Part 1 (2:14:19) - A 8-part documentary.
• Straight from the Heart: A Tribute to Seymour Philip Hoffman (11:03)
• Songs of Rebellion: Lorde on Curating the Soundtrack (8:10)
• Deleted Scenes (11:18) - The 9 scenes include "Katniss & Boggs Walk Through District 13", "Katniss Leaves District 12", "Beetree Reaches District 8", "I'm Not Asking", "Hummingbirds", "Face of a Revolution", "We're Still in the Game", "Snow Sees Propo" and , "Cressida Preps Katniss & Gale".
• "Yellow Flicker Beat" Music Video by Lorde (4:05)
• Insurgent Sneak Peek (4:11) - A look at the then-upcoming film.

MOCKINGJAY, PART 2 (4K DISC)

• Audio Commentary - with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson.
• Pawns No More: The Making of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (2:21:30) - A 8-part documentary.
• The Hunger Games: A Photographic Journey (10:16)
• Cinna's Sketchbook: Secrets of the Mockingjay Armor (9:21)
• Panem on Display: The Hunger Games: The Exhibition (1:56)

MOCKINGJAY, PART 2 (BLU-RAY DISC)

• Audio Commentary - with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson.
• Pawns No More: The Making of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (2:21:30) - A 8-part documentary.
• The Hunger Games: A Photographic Journey (10:16)
• Cinna's Sketchbook: Secrets of the Mockingjay Armor (9:21)
• Panem on Display: The Hunger Games: The Exhibition (1:56)
• Jet to the Set (41:58) (BLU-RAY ONLY) - A PopTV special, which originally aired on October 29, 2015, that looks at some of the North Carolina filming locations.

[ BLU-RAY EASTER EGGS ]

Since the four Blu-ray discs included in this set are the same discs that were originally released for each film when they first debuted on home video, they contain the same Easter eggs. Unlike most DVDs and Blu-rays, the eggs are not easy to find. Thankfully, the Internet did the detective work for us. The information I will provide in this section is based on the work of the fans at the Welcome to District 12 website. I have expanded upon it using information gathered elsewhere, and left out the "puzzle" elements; giving you the down-and-dirty instructions to get right to the goodies. NONE OF THE EASTER EGGS WERE PORTED OVER TO THE 4K DISCS, AS FAR AS I'M AWARE.

THE HUNGER GAMES (BLU-RAY DISC)

* Secret Messages - The original Blu-ray release contained two discs: the movie disc (included here) and the Special Features disc (NOT included here). The movie disc contains the clues to uncover the secret on the Special Features disc. On the movie disc, after the Lionsgate logo, the opening animation of The Capitol reveals banners of each district, each with a word at the top and bottom of each banner. As these banners zoom by, some letters light up red, and some green. You would have to write down these letters and then apply them to two secret notes found on the Special Features disc.

Since the Special Features disc is NOT included in this so-called "Ultimate" set, you won't be able to find the secret notes. Thankfully, you're not missing out on anything. On that Special Features disc, you would have found the first note by highlighting "The World is Watching: Making The Hunger Games" on the Main Menu and pressing DOWN on your remote. The second note was found by highlighting "Featurettes" on the Main Menu and pressing DOWN on your remote. Circling the red and green letters from the banners on the movie disc in each note reveals the messages "Beware of the Quarter Quell" and "District 13 survives" from Plutarch Heavensbee. The Welcome to District 12 website has screenshots of the two secret notes. Yeah, no hidden videos or anything. (Note: The 6-Disc Blu-ray set's Bonus Disc - which contains all of the content from the Special Features disc PLUS more [thus making the Special Features disc completely irrelevant] - ported over the two hidden notes AND solved them for you!)

CATCHING FIRE (BLU-RAY DISC)

* "Inside District 12: The Hob / Mockingjay Tease (2:56) - Unlike the first movie, the egg on this one DOES lead to a secret video. On the Main Menu, there is a hologram of the Panem seal. Wait a minute or two, and the Panem seal will suddenly change into a Mockingjay for a split-second. As soon as it does, quickly press the RED button on your remote, and you will be taken to a video that starts with a quote from the book, then takes a detailed look at The Hob, and ends with a tease for the Mockingjay film. (The video starts off the same as "Inside District 12: The Hob" from the 6-Disc Blu-ray set's Bonus Disc, then leads into new footage that ends with a tease for Mockingjay.) If you want to know the puzzle that would have lead you to the egg, check out the Welcome to District 12 website

MOCKINGJAY, PART 1 (BLU-RAY DISC)

* Katniss Propo Video (0:16) - Again, we have another secret video, but it's going to be MUCH more annoying to get to since access to it is completely random. Upon disc boot-up, you will see the Lionsgate logo, which will then transition into one of two menus. If the Lionsgate symbol turns into marble and you see President Snow's office, RESTART THE DISC! This is the menu you DON'T want. If the Lionsgate logo turns into dirty metal pipes, which leads into the image below of Haymitch's stash, press the BLUE button on your remote. You will then see a short video showing you "how a revolution dies". If you want to know the puzzle that would have lead you to the egg, check out the Welcome to District 12 website. (The video is the same as on the 6-Disc Blu-ray set's Bonus Disc.)


MOCKINGJAY, PART 2 (BLU-RAY DISC)

* Three Deleted Scenes - Hands down, this is the most annoying of the eggs to access, but the most rewarding as it gains you access to three deleted scenes that (I don't think) are available elsewhere on any disc. After the disc boots up, during the video introduction, keep your eye out for a blue light flashing on a device on the table. Press the BLUE button on your remote at the same time that the blue light flashes (you have to be very quick), and you'll be taken to a random screen featuring three different character photos. Here is an example of one such screen:


You will notice letter and numbers to the left of each photo. The idea is to enter six numbers using your remote for the character seen in the photo. The catch is that the code for each character is a combination of numbers AND letters. Not only will you need to identify which character is in the photo, but you will need to look at the legend next to the photo and determine which number to press on your remote for each of the letters in the code. Thanks to the Welcome to District 12 website, I have the complete list of 24 character codes for you:


It would have been better if the Welcome to District 12 website would have provided a photographic chart - since I am not familiar with all of the movie's characters - AND deciphered the letters into numbers so we would know just which six number buttons to press on our remotes. Oh, well. At least we can all be thankful that they compiled this list for us and clued us in as to how to even find this egg in the first place. I miss the days of just highlighting an item in a menu and pressing a button combination to find secrets.

Should you get a screen with three characters that you recognize, and enter the codes for all three of them, you will unlock these three deleted scenes:

1. Katniss video chats with Haymitch - "We made a deal to save him, remember?" (??:??)
2. Star Squad looting for food in Capitol apartment. (??:??)
3. Katniss sewing up Gale's wound, Tigris' basement. (??:??)

As far as I'm aware, these are all of the Easter eggs on the discs included in this set.

[ NOTES ]

The Hunger Games: The Ultimate Steelbook Collection is available on 4K/Blu-ray Steelbook exclusively from Best Buy. If you don't care much for Steelbook packaging, you can also buy it from Amazon on 4K/Blu-ray, 4K/Blu-ray Bundle, 6-Disc Blu-ray, and 8-Disc DVD. THE 6-DISC BLU-RAY SET (AND 8-DISC DVD SET) INCLUDES A BONUS DISC THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE OTHER SETS. If you don't need 4K resolution and you want ALL of the special features (aside from the first film's commentary, which is exclusive to the 4K disc), the 6-Disc Blu-ray is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. If you don't care about special features at all, a 4-film Movie Only set is available on Blu-ray and DVD.

It should be noted that the 8-disc DVD set (at least the one I have that was released in Canada by Entertainment One) includes one special feature for the first film that doesn't seem to available elsewhere. When Disc 1 boots up, you are greeted with a World Food Program PSA featuring the stars of The Hunger Games. While it's not a "special feature" in the true sense of the word, and it's only 16-seconds long, it's still a nice little thing to have. Thankfully, for you, I have ripped this short video off of my DVD copy. You can view it on the Youtube channels of the World Food Programme and Lionsgate UK, or you can download the 13MB DVD rip here (MKV format). (Hosted in my Internet Archive account.)

A trailer for each of the four films is embedded below. More videos can be found on the official Hunger Games Youtube channel.








This item has been provided by Lionsgate for review on this site.