An above average movie that does the book justice

Rating: 5/10 (21 August 2012)

After reading "The Hunger Games", I was determined to watch the movie. And so, on Friday I did. The result was a good movie. Not a great movie; however, because of its loyalty to the book and thus good storyline, it is still a good movie.
The story, as I said earlier, is well done, seeing as the author of the books worked closely with the writers for "The Hunger Games". When the movie did take liberties with the book, it executed them quite convincingly. Never did any of the added scenes seem unfeasible or uncharacteristic of the book. I thought, "Yeah, that could've happened." Although the beginning seemed slightly rushed, the plot regained its pacing and was fine from there on. I particularly enjoyed how effectively the movie reflected the perverted atmosphere of the Hunger Games. Many times amongst all the glamor and flair of the whole production of the Hunger Games event, I forgot that the movie was about teenagers battling to the death. The movie portrayed it almost like it was just Superbowl Sunday.
The acting was generally good. None of them necessarily shined, but they all delivered solid performances. The actors were excellently casted; they were perfect for their respective roles.
The cinematography technique however, was questionable. The camera shake in "The Hunger Games" made the "Bourne Ultimatum" look like a movie from the 1920's. I found myself a little irritated with the overwhelming amount of camera shake, especially in for instance just normal shots of people walking. During the fight scenes, the problem was dampened, as it is a fight scene after all. However, I usually spent the time being lost on what exactly is happening the tussle, and at which point I saw a splatter of blood; I suppose that means someone just died.
The soundtrack was actually surprisingly good. It had the right feel to it, matching the tones of the scene well.
Overall, "The Hunger Games" is a good, entertaining movie, but from what I've heard, you should read the books first. This movie is a fan-pleaser; it was very loyal to the books, and added a couple of new scenes that Hunger Games fans will enjoy. "The Hunger Games" is a truly exhilarating movie, with some surprisingly intense action sequences, and sometimes, it would have its emotional moment also. My recommendation is to read the books first, and then watch "The Hunger Games" for a fun and enjoyable experience.