Not HORRIBLE, just overly hyped

Rating: 4/10 (22 August 2012)

I think it wasn't that bad, just overly hyped. I took my dad to see this film because I read the book and figured it would have pretty good action and enough intensity to keep me fascinated. Unfortunately, my dad dosed off towards the end of the movie and the parts he was awake he was still bored. I couldn't really complain since at some sections of the movie I was more interested in looking at the bored people around me (who seemed to wish -- much like my father and I -- they were watching Chronicle that was showing next door). Don't get me wrong, the movie had some good parts, it's just that they seemed to be overshadowed by the more lackluster ones. I read the books, and yes I know what you're thinking -- another teen aged girl who compared the book to the movie. I can't say I didn't because that would be a lie, but I can say that the only thing I really remember about the book is that some kids go into some stadium-like thing and battle against each other to live a better life with their family in the Capital and away from their more poverty-like homes...or something like that. My point is, I barely remembered what happened, but I did remember that it was a pretty good book. When I heard the reviews from critics they said that it was AMAZING so I figured it would be alright. User reviews on IMDb begged to differ, but I chose to ignore them because I was dead set on enjoying this movie. Sadly, I should have listened to them and saved $10. Maybe the movie just wasn't for me. I guess if there was another director maybe the intensity in the book would have been better conveyed... I don't know. I do know that I had to apologize to my father about seeing the movie (on a rainy day in the morning -- maybe that had been a sign?). He forgave me but since then he doesn't really trust me on movies like he used to. I will say that the actors did a pretty good job and the movie wasn't HORRIBLE...it's just something I wish could have been better, or at least as great as they said it would be. Oh, well. You take what you get, I guess.