An Excellent Adaptation

Rating: 9/10 (24 March 2012)

I saw this movie with my thirteen year old son, who had not read the books, though I'd read all three. I'm a middle school Language Arts teacher, so for some time it has been hard to ignore this series. I enjoyed the books, and looked forward to this movie.
The reviewer who said he reacted badly initially to Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss had obviously not seen her in "Winter Bone" - odd since she was nominated for best actress for the role. The reviewer said Lawrence wasn't "hungry" enough, or gritty and poor, I guess, though she was fantastic as a rural Ozarks teenager with a drug dealing father and abusive family, caring for her siblings and a catatonic mother in a two-room shack. Go figure.
I thought "The Hunger Games" was a terrific adaptation. The cast was outstanding - Harrelson was perfect as Haymitch and the actors for the two male love interests were just right. There were minor differences with the book, but that always happens as you try to make a 2 hour plus movie out of a novel. Katniss' backpack was supposed to be orange, she was supposed to go last when the judges were rating the Tributes, Katniss and Peeta's scene on the eve of the Games was supposed to be on the roof... but none of that really matters. For me, the director brought the book to life almost perfectly. I loved it, and judging from the absenteeism in my classes on Friday (students who went to the midnight premiere the night before) this movie will do very well.