What A Let Down!

Rating: 1/10 (25 March 2012)

I was looking forward to this movie for months and have read through the books going on 3 times. The movie started out decent enough and it looked promising. First problem I had was that hunger did not seem be a huge issue, the characters seemed so pleasant not starving. Now I knew that Madge was not going to be in the movie but there were some details that went with her story that really would've helped explain and put more emotion into the story. Oh well I could have dealt with that but it all started getting shaky when they got on the train. The first scene in the train did not happen in the book.Then The train ride was OK. Not exactly how I imagined but I'm still hoping it will start to get going. Well Haymitch all the sudden sobers up and gets responsible and starts being nice to Katniss. Um... Did I miss something because I read in the book that Haymitch was always sloppy drunk and used sarcasm to communicate with Katniss because that how she operated. She and Haymitch had unspoken understandings later on in the arena (which BTW are sent with a little note instead of her thoughts). The "fire" if that's what you even want to call it, that was suppose to engulf Katniss' wardrobe was the lamest excuse for fire I have ever seen. It looked like a cheap production trick. Let me just take a moment and say I cannot believe they spent 100 million dollars on this because they don't have anything to show for it.
Anyways, my next HUGE issue with this movie was that the characters weren't developed at all! I felt no connection to any of them at all and I wasn't pulling for anyone the entire time. The movie didn't suck me into a futuristic society that was so bent on keeping control over all the districts that they produced a hunger games for entertainment. It didn't show me how destitute and hungry the inhabitants were, it didn't show the true horror of the games. It was like reading the inside flap of a book. I felt like I was watching a true kid's version of this story and that does not do it justice! On the games, the Cornucopia was the dumbest thing I've ever seen and what was with all the suit case looking items??? Stuff was supposed to be hanging off the Cornucopia not in a huge neat pile in front of it. Katniss does not get splattered with the blood of a boy tribute for the backpack but Clove chases her and she runs into Foxface (not in book). Katniss in the arena lasted all of like 20 minutes. There was not true terror about it all .. there was no desperation.. no near-death experience for Katniss. No folks, she doesn't get dehydrated in the movie.Oh when Katniss gets burned she throws herself into the lake and here come Cato an the careers and they are like "look there she is! let's get her! Yeah!let's get her!" It was like watching bullies at school not kids trying to kill each other. You know if the subject matter is too adult for kids make rated "R" don't water down such an awesome story! If they had to be so politically correct as to not offend anyone on the subject matter why even bother making a movie.
When Cato and careers see smoke they leave a kid behind (doesn't happen in the book) Foxface somehow sneaks directly behind him and stills food without him knowing. Katniss blows up supplies does NOT lose her hearing or have a bloody ear. Cato just puts his hands on the kids face and twists it sounds cool it wasn't.
Rue initiates the alliance in the movie. They spend like 5 seconds getting to know each other and then Rue's death (which Katniss proceeds to get her out of the net before she has a spear thrown into her)then Katniss cries uncontrollably for like 10 minutes.
Peeta did not get blood poisoning. He barely was scratched. His medicine was a cream not a syringe. Katniss did not pass out with her injury she "shared" Peeta's cream. UGH. typing this makes me sick. The cave scene lasted all of 2 seconds.
Muttations aren't anything like the book describes they looked like over-sized dogs. Peeta doesn't hobble the Cornucopia cause his leg is all better. Cato is already on it when they get there and they fight on top.. Cato talks nonstop for 5 minutes katniss finally shoots. Then 2 seconds later she shoots an arrow and kills him so much for listening to him all night. Yes this is gruesome stuff yes it is horrible but horrible things happen every day and we publicize them! Don't tell me we can't make a movie and not put violence in it.It's so much more than kids killing kids yes this is awful but it's about the capitol and its control over the people and the dictatorship.
I do not recommend this movie just re-read the books instead of going to the theater and wasting your money which BTW is all the producers of this movie wanted they made no real effort to make this a true adaption from book to film . I wish Jerry Bruckheimer or James Cameron could have gotten a hold of this title. I hope someone will re-make it somewhere down the road and have the guts to make it as real as it was in the books.