It's hard to believe we are already halfway through August. Before we know it, we will be in the midst of September, finally spared the horrific heat of the middle of the year as Fall brings its soothing coolness and colorful leaves. Summer is almost over, and for many that means school starts very soon - next week, in the case of the University of Louisville. And while the Summer has brought its share of weekly film screenings from venues such as the Louisville Palace and the Iroquois Amphitheater, I still find myself most fond of the college's Floyd Theater. As the Student Activities Board Film Committee gears up to once again start their weekly film showcases, they kick off the semester tonight with a free outdoor screening of The Hunger Games.

Set in the future in the nation of Panem – a redistributed version of North America – the citizens are forced to take place in a barbaric yearly ritual. As punishment for an implied civil war referred to as The Uprising, each of the twelve districts of Panem must select one male and one female – teenage – to participate in the Hunger Games, a Battle Royale-like fight to the death. The story follows Katniss Everdeen (Louisville's Jennifer Lawrence) as she volunteers to take her sister's place in this year's games.

My full review of the film can be found here.

The Hunger Games will screen at 9:30 on the west lawn by the Student Activities Center on the University of Louisville campus (look for the clock tower). And best of all – it's free! Bring a blanket and some snacks and start the semester off right. Further information can be found at the Facebook event page.

Image: Internet Movie Database