Very good, for Hollywood.

Rating: 9/10 (24 March 2012)

I think the movie was very good considering all the hype from how awesome the books are. I am a huge fan of the books and was very excited to see how well they stuck to the heart and storyline of the books. Keeping in mind that you can't put every single detail from the books into the movie, I thought overall it was very well done.
While depicting the violence quite graphically, camera angles and moves kept the on screen gore to a minimum. Very artfully done and kudos to the director and all editors. Yes, certain aspects of Katniss's relationship with certain characters, like Gale and Peeta weren't entirely fleshed out but it's not surprising. In the book she is completely uncertain herself. She bounces back and forth manically from "I don't want to hurt Gale but look I'm kissing Peeta to save my life and get sponsors." It's confusing enough in the book and almost impossible to get that kind of mental confusion on screen without her actually voicing all of those thoughts out loud, which would be weird.
In respect to the anger and oppression felt by the districts toward the capitol... well they kinda got there. Gale and Katniss talk about it a little at the beginning. But for an audience that has not read the books - I think it's almost a little self-explanatory that there is anger at a government that makes them sacrifice their children every year in a 'game'. There weren't any kids fighting from the capitol just the districts, so resentment there really doesn't need to be explained that is just human nature.
There was no mention of District 13 and that was disappointing. But in the second movie they will be more able to show the districts rage over not just killing their children every year but at their anger at the capitol itself and it's unjust treatment of the districts. First movies have to take more time telling back story to set the stage because exposition takes longer and is slower on film than in a book.
So I liked it, I want to go see it again, and I will buying it on DVD. :)