The Hunger Games

Rating: 8/10 (3 April 2016)

Based on the Suzanne Collins book of the same name, The Hunger Games is the first in a four-part adaptation of the book trilogy. It introduces Panem, a region split into twelve districts who are all ruled by the Capitol. In retaliation for a historic uprising, the Capitol holds an annual Hunger Games in which a boy and girl from each district fight to the death in a custom-built arena. The victor gets glory for their district, and all citizens are expected to remember Capitol's strength and provision.
This first movie sees Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) enter the arena alongside Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) on behalf of District 12. It's very faithful to the book, and fans will approve of the treatment. The only significant change is the expansion of Seneca Crane's (Wes Bentley) role as as Head Gamemaker. In my view, this is a sensible and necessary change, allowing the audience to see the deliberation that Katniss presumes in the book, deftly switching from a first person narrator to an omniscient audience.
The movie does well to incorporate the backstory of the Games, and Katniss, with relative smoothness and clarity. It also does extremely well with the setting, with district, arena and Capitol all transposed brilliantly from page to screen.
Due to Katniss' standoffish, independent nature, it's difficult for the audience to connect with the lead. This is through no fault of Lawrence's, but is a challenge presented by the character's personality. Where Collins used first person to get us inside Katniss in the book, the movie offers no real way to get closer than arm's length of her, threatening our investment in her future.
The characters are very well cast. Not just Katniss, Peeta and Gale (Liam Hemsworth), but other key supporting characters like Cato (Alexander Ludwig), Effie (Elizabeth Banks) and Rue (Amandla Stenberg). In fact, the only surprise was Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), who was slightly more dashing and less Father Jack than expected. Having said that, he played the part well.
Though the movie covers all of the main plot points, what it's missing is the brutality of the source material. Though the violence was necessarily toned down to comply with age ratings, you can't help feeling this is a sanitised version that lacks the same bite.
The ending fails to inspire. It's abrupt but unsatisfying. Either a more rounded climax to close this first chapter, or a cliffhanger to lead into the next movie, would have strengthened it. Instead, it rather suddenly stops.
Overall, The Hunger Games is a sound adaptation of the book, with excellent casting and setting, but the change in media erodes the connection to Katniss and the brutality of the Games, which are so very important.