Could have been great.

Rating: 4/10 (12 July 2012)

I came into the crowded theater, hoping to see the movie live up to the book. I left disappointed. But it could have been worse.
First off, I loved the first book. I couldn't stop reading it until the final page was flipped. So my expectations for this movie were stacked pretty high. But I still think my expectations weren't met. The thing that killed the movie was it's PG-13 rating. The premise of the movie is kids killing other kids. And if there are no guns or bombs involved, then it must be very bloody. But it turns out to be bloodless. The action is destroyed... Wait for it... Through a shaky camera. Really? The inevitable action sequences are kept "family friendly" through a possibly drunken camera man. In fact, the shaking goes on through out the movie. Action-wise, it only is kept still when there is danger that doesn't actually kill anyone. Those that are killed, are either killed off screen, or through the sickening shaking of the camera. The action scenes are heavily cut, and seem obsolete to the result of the movie. All that's left to wonder about is the Relationship between Katniss, Rue, and Peeta. The movie is supposed to be a future government forcing kids to kill each other, not a future government forcing kids to make out with each other in caves, all while under the heavy watch of a shaky camera. It shouldn't even be in the Action/Adventure category. But it could have been worse.
The acting was great, and the effects were good. The locations were better than I expected them to be (Although, I couldn't fully enjoy all of them, thanks to a certain camera crew.) If the Directing and Camera crew were totally replaced, then the movie would be much better than it actually is.
Let's hope Catching Fire will be better. Although the 2nd book wasn't as good as the first, the casting of the new Director, and new actors, could be what is needed to save the trilogy. It would take major improvements, but it could be done. Time will only tell.