Disgruntled Viewers...Dig Deeper!

Rating: 9/10 (24 March 2012)

I saw the film last night and was pretty content with the adaptation.
Then I got home and began reading the reviews...
I'm shocked at how closed-minded people are to the necessary changes in the film. Since the book is written from a first-person point of view, the movie would obviously not be able to convey all of Katniss' thought. (i.e. how her relationship with Rue paralleled her and Prim's, and how betrayed she felt when she discovered Peeta with the Careers)
Unlike most other series, the makers of Hunger Games had a huge advantage: all three books were published before they began shooting, and they were able to begin developing these plot lines in the first film, instead of waiting around. I found this to be a great addition to the plot.
There were many comments about the lack of explanation or focus on certain aspects, and it seems that people who have read the books were worried than those who didn't read the book would have a hard time understanding. This isn't the case at all. The movie uses a lot of symbolism instead of dumbed-down verbal explanations, so as long as the viewers are devoted to watching the film, they should grasp even the smallest hints the director included.
The acting was beyond my expectations. Jennifer Lawrence gave an incredible performance that was very true to the character. The casting for this movie was well-done! The actors stay very true to the characters.
My recommendation to all of those who, like me, read the books: be open minded! Don't expect the book to be a script, and pay attention to the symbolism used in the film, as it offers a lot of insight to the story.