I died watching the book's magnificence re-engineered masterfully on the silver screen.

Rating: 9/10 (24 March 2014)

I've been a Hunger Games fan ever since before the movies came out. I've read the entire series with no halls barred from day one to day four neglecting my duties as an online teacher that day, and I've no regrets, just pure fascination on the entire series.
The Hunger Games movie came out with a blast, injecting a political and showbiz paradigm of a new America called Panem with an awesome movie that garnered 83% fresh in rottentomatoes.com and was followed up by The Hunger Games: Catching Fire movie this year.
Catching Fire is a follow up movie telling the aftermath series of events right after the first film and how Katniss Everdeen tries to outrun the trauma she's gotten into and tries to be neutral on the recent spark of revolution she's given to the citizens of Panem and the desperation of the government to kill off that uprising including Katniss herself.
Why was The Hunger Games book and movie a trend lately? Because of the unique story of a new dystopian tyrant world ruled by one central successful district called Capitol and the rest are slaves or workers for them. And it cannot linger away from most political transgressions in most countries nowadays; only less showbiz killing and showoffs on cam. Also the addition of the effervescent Jennifer Lawrence who's stunning and down-to-earth celebrity who tries to concisely diminish the usual celebrity ladder to fame which is to look like a skinned doll and try to be delusion in front of the camera: no, JenLaw is not that type, and I can say she is a role model for us human beings who doesn't need to look perfect in order to please everyone.
Months ago I've seen and been impressed by the trailers of the movie and how I was not afraid that it would fail me as a fan and how will it be true to the book. And then I've read fantastic reviews from critics all around the world telling how good the movie was until today.
Here's what I can say to the movie.
THE MIRAGE
What I love about reading books that'll be turned into movies is for the reason that I want my imagination to be brought to life; when you read something, you promote yourself to an illusionary world where you are the director and the camera man. When I precisely have a vision on a revolutionary epic story and will be translated to the silver screen; it makes me excited.
But due to the fact that, let's be honest, an adaptation of a film from a book doesn't need to be exactly what the book says since the true meaning of adaptation is not a Xerox copy; instead, the entire plot is taken into precautionary re-telling of the tale with small modifications but intends not to destroy the said plot.
But this one, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire movie is a true manifestation that you could adapt and Xerox at the same time! The movie did not go far away from the book, and still has the essence and contents in it.
The mirage of the events of the story inside my mind happens to look SOMEWHAT exactly in the movie! I have to applaud the director, Francis Lawrence, for doing such an amazing job to stay true to the book. Not all scenes happen to look exactly what I imagined, but close to that of the movie, especially the arena.
THE ACTING
Jennifer Lawrence won a best actress. JenLaw is pleasing to me seeing her acting in all the hurtful emotions displaying a traumatized girl was a bravo.
And the rest of the cast were amazing in delivering their characters. I applaud Phillip Seymour Hoffman who played the role of the illusionary antagonist, Plutarch, who, I thought was scary and if I hadn't read the book, I wouldn't know that he's part of the rebellion especially when he speaks with Donald Sutherland who played President Snow creating a nonchalant tension in the way he looks and speaks that displayed arrogance and evil-ish look.
THE DIRECTION AND MUSICAL SCORE
Thankfully, they've also changed into a perfect director, Francis Lawrence, who gave out the essence of the book beautifully. It's one of those action packed books that they didn't ruin at all. Instead, they magnify every scene that still captures your attention with strong musical score.
OVERALL
In totality, I was beyond amazed by the film and how it was taken from book to the screen with amazement! Not all my favorite books that were brought to the silver screen were this epic. I die watching the book's magnificence re-engineered masterfully on the silver screen.
(This review is also seen on my blog, One Setting at a Time)