Intense, poignant, heartbreaking movie.

Rating: 10/10 (2 December 2012)

Having read all the original books, the only thing I can say is "Wow". The movie is so much like the book it's scary; even minor details, like the character's appearance, are faithfully included. Jennifer Lawrence was an incredible pick as Katniss, pouring her all into a heartfelt performance that made me cry at times. And Josh Hutcherson was a find - he portrays Peeta accurately as a caring, compassionate individual who fiercely loves Katniss. A warning: while Katniss and Peeta's romance is included, it's definitely not the forefront of the story. But what takes the movie to the next level is the supporting cast. Stanley Tucci is exactly how I thought of Ceaser Flickerman; he pulls off the entertainment personality flawlessly. Elizabeth Banks is almost the comic relief of the movie as Effie Trinket, and Woody Harrelson almost unnoticeably sets the tone for the movie as Haymitch. The actors really make the movie what it is, pouring their all into their performances and giving depth to such a politically poignant movie. While it is pretty violent, the end result has me counting the days until "Catching Fire" hits theatres!