*********

Rating: 9/10 (13 June 2012)

i absolutely love the hunger games trilogy written by Suzanne Collins it was a great mix of a love story, and sci fi yet still very believable as it was based in the undated future. a lot of people have said that trilogy's are to much like twilight but i 100 percent go against that as people said the same relating twilight to harry potter. in the hunger games their are no vampires, werewolves or wizards, just ordinary people.
America was split into 13 districts after tough times and ruled by the almighty rich capitol where the lucky and wealthy got to live, but as the book starts there are only twelve districts remaining as 74 years ago district 13 tried to rebel against the capitol and there fore got took down with bombs and to the day each year, each district must offer up one young man and woman ages 12- 18 to be placed in an arena where they must fight to their death on live television. the story is based on district twelve a starving district where people mine.soon to be two main characters live, katniss is the heroine in the story and provides for her family so when her 12 year old sister gets chosen for the game, she soon volunteers to take her place. and is sent to the capitol with fellow tribute and district twelve citizen peeta, to get ready to train and make an impression for sponsors which could mean the difference between life and death.peeta soon reveals he has always had feelings for katniss leaving them to saving one another a number of times in the arena.
i thought the twists in the film were great. yes there is a love triangle like twilight but there is a completely different dynamic to the story. as katniss does care for peeta she doesn't love him in the first book, in the second her feelings grow and by the 3rd she can not see life without him. i thought josh hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence (peeta and katniss) gave such a beautiful performance which bought fellow cast members to tears. Alexander Ludwig and Isabelle fuhrman also made a great impression playing Cato and clove from district 2 and even though they will not be in the next two films they were very purposed characters. i do believe as the trilogy goes on the more emotional it gets. its a captivating story. and i could not put the books down and managed to read all 3 in 3 days. try them out.
i did feel the last few scenes were rushed, and one missed out, but it made you want to watch the next.
i suggest everyone watches these films as there not just for teenage girls but everyone. the violence isn't graphical and its rushed so you do not see gore. i always believe a book is better than the films but as Suzanne Collins, the author, co wrote the film. it made the film reflect the book so well.
Gary Ross the director did an amazing job and its sad that he wont be directing the next but with such a great cast i doubt it will be a bad film.
the hunger games catching fire the mockingjay