Disappointing movie version of the book

Rating: 1/10 (25 March 2013)

Even knowing quite a bit about the heavily hyped film before I saw it (on DVD), I was still very disappointed. This is a poorly made film, very lackluster and the only reason to rave over it is sheer "fanboy-ism" -- you just love the books so much, or the heroine Katniss, or the strikingly pretty actress Jennifer Lawrence, that you cannot view the film objectively.
It is boring, it is disjointed. If you go in to it, not knowing the story beforehand or having read the book (or trilogy of books), it would make little sense -- just a lot of carnage without much rational explanation.
Yes, the books were influenced by the Japanese "Battle Royale" and yes, some films like "Running Man" and others. That did not bother me. The first book of the trilogy is strongly written, with moving prose and a very appealing female heroine; it was nice to read a book for young adults (and it IS a book for teens, not adults) that is not all about "who the female protagonist loves?" and "who will she choose?" and/or the bitchiness of her teen female rivals.
Susanne Collins treated Katniss like a real heroine, whose journey was important than her romantic life, ergo this was a MUCH better book than "Twilight", with its weak, clumsy Bella Swan who just falls into romance with her sparkly vampire lover. I loved Katniss in the book, and wanted to read about her journey.
So that brings me to the biggest flaw of the film version: Jennifer Lawrence, gorgeous and sexy, is 100% wrong for this role. Darkening her hair and making it messy will not turn this stone fox into anything but what she is -- a super beautiful 21 year old woman. Katniss, on the other hand, is STARVING -- I repeat, STARVING -- skinny, underweight 16 year old, who the books say "looks about 12" due to malnutrition, who has short boyish hair and dark skin (it is implied she is of mixed race).
Lawrence was clearly picked because of her stunning debut in "Winter's Bone", and hey! that was set in the rural Ozarks, with her as a uneducated mountain girl. But the resemblance ends there; Ree Dolly was nothing like Katniss, except "rural".
Myself, I was rooting for Hailie Steinberg ("True Grit") who was the right age and physical type for this part. But I am sure many young actresses might have done a good job. Lawrence, with her voluptuous body and sturdy frame, does not remotely convince us she's ever missed a snack, let alone a balanced 3 course meal, in her life.
Everyone else in the film is similar good looking, evoking a TV show with teen stars rather than Dorothy Lange photos of Depression-era Appalachia (which the book DOES evoke). These big strapping movie-star gorgeous actors don't look hungry; they don't even have a smear of dirt on their faces. None of them, including Lawrence, ever look remotely scared or worried, hungry or thirsty, angry or sad. It's like watching a cast of good looking robots beat each other up.
The violence, which in the book is quite upsetting, is blurred and subdued -- OK if your kids want to watch this, worthless as dramatic narrative. There is no sense of loss when anyone dies, not even cute tiny little Rue.
The movie costume crew had some fun dressing the citizens of The Capitol in over-the-top costumes -- kind of mash-up of "The Fifth Element" and the Court of the Sun King -- but the Lady Gaga-like results just look silly and not menacing. Much more effective if they looks banal, like our TV talk show hosts and politicians are nowadays. Blue wigs and hot pink makeup make them look like ineffectual clowns.
Of the 3 novels, this first one is by far the most affecting, serious and well-written; the sequels are quite weak. Lacking the big action set pieces and the fact that the heroine sleeps through most of them, I can't imagine where this is going. Jennifer Lawrence, though: she is going to be a BIG big star, that's already written in the cement.
In short: not recommended, especially for adults who will be bored.