‘Hunger Games’ Exhibition satisfies

Popular franchise on full display at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts

SAN FRANCISCO – The Hunger Games Exhibition is a fantastic and dashing display of all things “Hunger Games” at the Palace of Fine Arts Innovation Hangar in San Francisco.

In the exhibition, fans will get to see all of the props and costumes from the saga on display in chronological order of the events in the four movies.

There has been only one other known exhibition, which was in New York City.

Many notable members of the cast, such as Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss), Sam Claflin (Finnick), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta), and Jena Malone (Johanna), attended the New York event.

The only cast member that came to San Francisco for the press release was Willow Shields (Prim).

The exhibition, which opened Feb. 13 and runs through July 31, starts out a lot like walking into a museum: an introduction tells fans everything they need to know before going in.

The exhibition mirrors a museum almost exactly.

Those attending may wander through and explore on their own, or be directed by a  tape recorder describing some of the features on display.

Projected on two double doors, both Effie Trinket and the actress who played her, Elizabeth Banks, trade off welcoming the attendees into District 12.

Next to the props stands a board containing a description of how “Hunger Games” author Suzanne Collins originally came up with the idea of the story.

The popular book and movie series was inspired by a History Channel documentary on the Iraq war, the movie Spartacus, the Greek Legend of Theseus and the Minotaur, and Collins’ own father’s military experience.

As fans walk along, they can also see costumes worn by Peeta, Haymitch, Gale, Prim, Snow, and Heavensbee in the films.

An attendee even commented on the fact that this was Philip Seymour Hoffman’s last film before he died, and that made seeing his costume tug on her heartstrings a little bit.

Along the way there are also virtual activities, such as a video tutorial where the stunt coordinator talks about how the death-defying stunts were achieved.

Ticket prices range from $27.50 for adults to $25 for seniors, and $22 for children ages 3-11.