Good movie. Better books.

Rating: 8/10 (3 August 2012)

I began reading The Hunger Games series a week or two ago and flew through the first one and I am nearly finished with Catching Fire. I enjoyed the book so much I downloaded a copy of the movie and watched it immediately. The movie was good for a movies purpose, to show the viewer what is happening. The book is incredibly detailed and while the movie maintained the story well the detail and emotional factor of the book does not work its way into the movie.
The sets and costumes matched very well with the book, District 12 being the best. I do agree with most other reviews that nobody in the district really looked starved like in the books. The cast was great, but Josh Hutcherson didn't really seem to be into the role. Jennifer Lawrence did a great job playing Katniss, and Woody Harelson was exactly what I pictured Haymitch as when reading the book.
There are a few changes from the movie to the book that, to me, seem like it could make a sequel odd. For example, in the book the Mayor of District 12's daughter, Madge, gives Katniss the Mockingjay pin. In the movie there is not even mention of her or the mayor and they both appear more in Catching Fire. Another thing that wasn't shown much was the emotions between Katniss and Peeta. In the movie they just skim the surface of their relationship.
The only part that really bothered me about the movie was the ending. The last five minutes showed the last seventy pages of the book. They completely skipped the hospital parts after the games and the interview with Caesar could have been longer. Also the train ride back to District 12 should have been extended a bit. In general the movie should have been fifteen minutes longer.
The Hunger Games was a good movie but if you read the books and didn't see the movie, you probably shouldn't. And for anyone that saw the movie but didn't read the book, go out and the book it is much better than the movie.
7/10: Good movie with a great cast, the effects were nice and overall the movie was worth watching. I take points away for the lack of intensity, emotion, and detail that IS The Hunger Games.