The Week Ahead—10 Things To Watch, Read and Listen To: March 19–25

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Murray Close

Every Monday, for your planning purposes, we will lay out the week ahead in entertainment. (All times refer to EDT.)

1. Have You “Everdeen” So Excited? 

Katniss. Gale. Peeta. On the big screen. And IMAX, too. The first Hunger Games movie hits theaters on Friday, so get ready for sensory overload from District 12. But if you don’t buy a ticket in advance for one of the most anticipated movies of the season, well…may the odds of getting a seat be ever in your favor.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfmrPu43DF8]

2. A Kick in The Shins

It’s been almost eight years since Garden State garnered widespread attention for Oregon-based indie rock group The Shins, and five since their last album came out. The band’s new members, label and sound will be put to the test on Tuesday, when their latest, Port of Morrow, is released.

3. A Reason to Smiley

This year’s movie take on the classic John le Carré spy novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which earned Gary Oldman his first Oscar nomination for best actor as George Smiley, is available on DVD and Blu-ray this Tuesday. It’s always nice to re-watch a good movie, but this release is must-see viewing: With the ability to rewind, pause and turn on subtitles, you may actually be able to sort out all the animals in this Circus. (“Circus” is spy-talk for the British intelligence bureau. Confused yet? Resist the urge to take one of those Torq/Lite hydraulic torque wrenches to your TV after you finish.)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZYXiHUdCXQ]

4. America to Z

There won’t be any need to “pull-haul” about vernacular after Tuesday, when the fifth and final volume of the Dictionary of American Regional English is released. You’ll see that the term is Maine-ese for “argue” — and, while you’re at it, look up 60,000-odd other words and phrases. The series has been a work in progress since 1965.

(MORE: #Soda or #Pop? Regional Language Quirks Get Examined on Twitter.)

5. Re-Joyce

On Tuesday, Joyce Carol Oates returns to “New Fiction” shelves when her latest novel, Mudwoman, comes out in hardcover. The titular character is an abandoned child who becomes a successful adult but is unable to escape from the past.

6. And…Action

The idea behind Indonesian action movie The Raid: Redemption, in theaters Friday, is grand in its simplicity: The hero is a special-forces agent who has to fight his way through 15 floors of an apartment building full of villains. That’s 15 floors of all the kicking, punching and banging-heads-against-walls that an action fan’s heart could wish for. (And no, the guy can’t just take the elevator.)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyfHQuRjbro]

7. Good on Draper

After nearly a year and a half of waiting (and nail-biting over the series’ future), it’s time to put on a suit, grab your booze and settled down Sunday at 9:00 pm for the premiere of season 5 of Mad Men on AMC.

(MORE: Dead Tree Alert: Mad Men Is (Almost) Back!)

8. Take Me Out to the Mirror-Ball Game

Is it really our 14th season of foxtrots? It’s all gone by quicker than Karina or Derek’s footwork. The two-hour premiere of Dancing With the Stars airs Monday at 8:00 pm on ABC. Tune in for a whole new round of celebs — including Gladys Knight, Maria Menounos and Gavin DeGraw—trying to tango.

9. Win, Place, TV Show

HBO’s horse-racing drama Luck has been in the headlines lately for all the wrong reasons. After the show’s third horse died during filming, the network canceled production last week, even though the second season had already begun filming. What was to be the season finale, Sunday at 9:00 pm on HBO, will be the last episode of the series. Get your bets in now.

(MORE: A Third Horse Dies, and HBO Cancels Luck)

10. Kid Icarus Gets New Wings

Fans of the cult classic video game that debuted 25 years ago can fly high knowing that Nintendo’s 8-bit classic will be reissued on Friday for the 3DS. The 3D shooter has Kit battling on land and in the air.