Book to Movie Review: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games (2012)

By now, you have all seen or at least heard of The Hunger Games as it took the world by storm in late March.  Being a huge fan of the book, I knew that I would be making my way to the theatre at some point to watch it.  Little did I know that it would be this much later...

On Saturday, my husband and I were treated to a childless night and opted to take advantage of it.  Dinner and a Movie!!  It was only fitting that we see The Hunger Games together after I made him read the books! ;)  (okay, I made him read the first book... he read Catching Fire and Mockingjay all on his own)

Here is MY take on the movie:

1) It is rare for me to say that I enjoy a movie more than the book because, to me, a story is all about the details and movies can never be as detailed as the book was/is.  While I will stick to that in saying that the movie was not as good as the book, I will admit that it was pretty true to the overall storyline.  Sure there were parts that I missed, Haymitch's attitude was dulled down and a lot of the background of the districts was missing but overall, I thought it was well done... but that is from someone having read the book.  I would be interested to hear the take of someone who hadn't. 

2) The casting was BANG ON!  Other than a few of the background characters (President Snow, Haymitch) most of the cast of The Hunger Games were either newbies or lesser know actors and I thought that they were very well suited to their roles.  When I initially saw the casting for Peeta and Gale, I wished they had been reversed because Peeta looked like a wimp but after watching the movie, I am a changed woman.  Still firmly on Team Gale, I have to say that I have a new respect for Peeta.

3) The gory nature of the story was true to the book, as stated earlier, but I didn't feel that it was taken advantage of in the movie.  We all know that going into the movie there would be blood and killing and a lot of disturbing imagry but in all honesty, I was expecting worse and was pleaseantly surprised with the way it was shown.

4) The opening for Catching Fire was awesome... I wasn't sure how they would show that intense feeling on the big screen but anyone who hadn't read the book would have felt it.  President Snow's character, while still mainly hidden, did allow the viewers a sneak peek into what was to come.  I, for one, CAN'T WAIT!

Overall, I was a little disappointed with the movie but I always seem to feel that way when a book becomes a movie.  I remember feeling this was about Twilight as well and I absolutely LOVE those movies now so we'll see how I feel after Catching Fire!