Did not do justice to the book.

Rating: 4/10 (10 May 2012)

OK I don't profess to be a movie reviewer but I have to say something about this movie.First of all by saying that I as a reader of the books, I was very disappointed by movie adaptation.
My main complaint with the movie being the cinematography and character development. It seemed to be a chronological list of things that happened. Like someone stalking Katnis and video taping her. Yes the story is based on her experience but that is not the story.
The camera work actually made my head hurt.I had a migraine after the movie. first time that has happened from watching a movie. Too many shots were zoomed in on faces, pointless things that had nothing to do with the story. Especially in the beginning when Katnis was being ushered around by Peacekeepers. I don't think they had room in their $78,000,000 budget for a TRIPOD! From what I saw, every shot was hand held and shaky to boot! It was so annoying to watch. The pace was too quick between shots. Its like they didn't feel the need for basic production planning, shot lists, story boards, beat scripts etc. It's funny, the pace between the actual shots and frames was quick but the actual progression of the plot was very slow.Painfully so.
I did not feel the angst Katnis is supposed feel, the utter hate she has for the Capitol. I would have loved to see more from Katnis. Don't get me wrong. I thought Jeniffer Lawrence played the part exceptionally. I just wish she would have had more emotional involvement. She came across as too hard and harsh. the Katnis I read about struggled emotionally and was challenged emotionally as well as physically. It seemed too easy for her to interact with Peeta, she was supposed to hate and have mixed feelings(I must sound like a total emo right now). It kind of made her look merciless, which would have been appropriate in some scenes but not the whole movie.
I went to the movie with friends. I told them the basic premise of the story before we watched it. I had to continually inform them on who each character was and their significance to the story. Even when the credits were rolling my friends were still asking me what had just happened. I was hoping that my friends would like the Hunger Games series as much as I do.
Did not do the story justice. I think I could have done a better job. Pretty presumptuous I know but the Hunger Games was so much better in My imagination. I just hope Francis Lawrence dose a better job in 2013 for Caching Fire.