Very good adaptation!

Rating: 7/10 (10 May 2012)

First, let me say that I am age 42 and I devoured the book in FOUR DAYS. It was that intense and personal. I was so looking forward to the movie, because I heard Susan Collins herself was helping write the screenplay in order to get a faithful adaptation. This is NOT just your average teen-angst soap-opera barf-o-rama like Twilight. This is intense, violent, addictive, guttural, emotionally-charged stuff. The book is phenomenal. The movie tries its best to get there, and although it is immensely exciting, it falls short on a few points. Here is my interpretation:
THE NOT-SO-GOOD:
1) Katniss' internal monologue is gone. The greatness of the novel lies in the mystery of the Capitol, the oppression, the visceral terror of the annual Reaping, the deadly perils of the Arena and unease of not knowing WHAT was coming next from the sadistic Gamemakers. This was because the book is told entirely in first person from Katniss' narration. It is vividly personal. The entire story involves her reactions to and wonderment about the brutal things that are happening to her. The movie goes more behind the scenes and delves more into the Gamemakers and the political personalities that inhabit the Capitol. This does our heroine a disservice, and leaves those who haven't read the novel wondering what the heck is going on a lot of the time.
2) That damn "jiggle-cam." In an effort to evoke a sense of "immediacy," I guess, the filmmakers employed a hand-held camera for about the first 45 minutes. Once Katniss arrives in the Capitol after the Reaping, it goes away, thank god, and you can put away your Dramamine.
3) Gale's character, so enjoyable in the novel, is wasted and flat in the film. He's like a cardboard cutout of himself. The whole love-triangle thing that Katniss employs to survive the Arena with Peeta is played way down.
THE GOOD:
1) Jennifer Lawrence as kick-ass Katniss, the Girl On Fire. 'Nuff said.
2) Rue's death at the hands of the boy from District 1 in the Arena, because Katniss is a split second too slow in firing her arrow at him, is as emotionally devastating in the film as it is in the book. You know it's coming, but you still don't want it to happen. Katniss has become protective of her. She reminds her of her own sister. Rue is only 12. She's a beautiful, innocent child. This scene alone illustrates, in a nutshell, the utter absolute cruel inhumanity of the Capitol, keeping their 12 districts in line by having children kill children on live TV and call it a "Holiday." It's clear that this is one of Ms. Collins' favorite scenes, because it is a lavish and beautiful tragedy.
3) The action is fast and furious. Donald Sutherland as President Snow. Woody Harrelson as Haymitch. Lenny Kravitz as Cinna. ALL excellent.
Enjoy! Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be EVER in your favor...