Fire the director, and the DP

Rating: 4/10 (23 March 2012)

The story, acting, and costuming were well done. It stops there. Despite the fact the movie will make hundreds of millions of dollars in the box office, the studio should fire the Director and the DP (director of photography). Nearly entirely shot "hand-held", and shaky at that, the film will give the strongest stomachs a run for their money.
I'll start by saying I've seen many films, I even make them, and i have a very sturdy stomach. But watching this movie set me off, giving me a full blown headache by minute 15, and making me nauseous by minute 30. I even had to get up and walk out for a few minutes to quell the vertigo.
FAR too many close ups, even more too many extreme close ups, and all with a shaky almost nervous hand. It got to the point where as a character was running all we see is quick, shaky, close up cuts of the feet, then head, then feet, then face, then feet... This does not create suspense! The story is suspenseful enough! What's more is nearly EVERY action shot is blurred by the terrible choice of camera movements so that the audience really doesn't see what's going on. What's more, simple shots of the characters doing mundane things are ALSO shot in this horrid manner.
Sadly I was not alone, as a dozen more people also left the theater to regain their equilibrium, some did not return. After the film many of us gathered in the lobby, all strangers, to openly complain about the films camera work. Several of those that left early demanded their money back.
I must also speak to the positives of the film. The acting was well done, particularly by the films lead, Jennifer Lawrence. She portrayed emotion and lack there of as it was called for. Completely believable as the character Katniss Everdeen. The pacing of the film lacked a bit in the beginning but picked up quickly.
My advice to future moviegoers: Sit in the top row. Distancing yourself from the screen may be the only method of effectively staving off the dizziness.