Have Twilight and Harry Potter finally met their match?

Rating: 10/10 (23 March 2012)

I have been building up to this release for longer than in can remember for any other film, and as a massive Harry Potter fan, that is truly saying something. I can still remember the blog post I wrote on the day Lionsgate announced purchasing the film rights - not to mention the excitement! For this reason, I approached the cinema with some trepidation - so often a film I've been excited about has fallen short of my expectations. However, 2 hours and 20 minutes later I dragged myself from the cinema, already planning my next visit at the weekend.
Lionsgate have truly achieved a feat of film making with this title. Even for someone like me who knows the books inside out, it was an emotional roller-coaster. Any doubts I had about the casting were blown aside and the incredible attention to detail were enough satiate even the hungriest appetite. The adaptation - presumably helped in some extent by Suzanne Collins's involvement with the screen writing - is beautifully done, coping with the time constraints that have so often proved the downfall of a book adaptation being dealt with with great panache and style.
For those of you worrying that the film maker might have foregrounded the love element between Katniss and Peeta, rest assured, there is nothing Twilight-y about this. It is represented almost perfectly from the books. Instead of the love story though, the really important themes are brought out in grand style. The modern "game show" influence is clearly shown through cut scenes showing the game makers manipulating the arena to force the contestants together and force conflict. The mechanism of the games is much more clearly shown than in the books, and for me (one of those people who reads books and watches films for their themes!), this is really what I wanted out of this film.
However, please don't misunderstand me. As a visual spectacle the film is remarkable and would be a great "popcorn and Pepsi" viewing. Also the sci-fi subject makes it great for kids who will not understand or care about the deeper undertones of the story.
There are also a couple of places in the film where it is set up for the sequels and the significance of Katniss and Peeta's actions for the dominance of the Capital are clearly shown.
In summary, this is a remarkable production. It will work on all levels for any age group or breed of film-goers. Whether you want to come away feeling some great epiphany about our (and I have to say this at great risk to my reputation, particularly America's) society works, or just with a stupid look on your face at the quality of the graphic detail, this is a must see film.
P.S. If any responsible parents are out there reading this to try and find out if it's alright to take their 10 year old to see it, there are no real bloody moments. There is some close up of a burn wound, an injury to Peeta's leg, and a corpse disfigured by 'wasp' stings. Also there is a scene in which a young girl is killed, but again, this is not graphic and is more emotional. I do not think it likely to perturb most children. However, I'll withhold my address in case you find me to be wrong!