I prefer the book so much more. I didn't like how 3/4 of the movie happened before the actual games, and then rush through the games itself.

These movies are pretty good, but the books are so much better

I really enjoyed The Hunger Games series, and the movie wasn't half bad. Not as good as the books, but still enjoyable in itself. The action was great and the effects were nice. Definitely worth seeing.

I absolutely love this movie and cannot wait to see the next one

Plot: Set in futuristic North America following catastrophic natural disasters and civil wars, the 12 Districts of Panem are ruled by an oppressive and materialistic upper class located in the Capitol (capital city). Every year, as a reminder of the conflicts past, each District must provide 1 girl and 1 boy as "Tributes" to fight to the death in the Capitol's live televised sadistic Hunger Games (think Truman Show meets Survivor meets Miss America and add gory battle scenes).

I could get into the Whos and Whats, but seriously people - read the book :) Now to my feelings about the movie.

First off, I would say that this movie is truer to the book than most other adaptations I have seen. That said, there are some key scenes I eagerly awaited that were cut. One can only hope that the DVD might have a few choice outtakes that will satisfy me. Some major supporting characters were scaled back or cut out entirely, but for the most part I did not mind.

The gore was significantly reduced (in order to achieve the PG-13 rating, since being completely true to the book almost certainly would have required an R rating), and some character backstory was left wanting. I also felt that the history of Panem should have been better explained - a critique I also have of the book itself. Key moments I would have liked to see more thoroughly portrayed included Katniss/Rue and Katniss/Peeta in the cave. These felt rushed to me, as did the ending.

There were a few added scenes that did not appear in the book, including a evilly brilliant interchange between Seneca Crane (a character who is severely underused in the book) and President Snow, and behind-the-scenes look at the Games control room which enhanced the viewers' experience of the Gamemakers' manipulations - both brilliant additions I felt.

Surprisingly, I felt like the ending of the movie made a little more sense than the ending in the book in that Peeta is less of a patsy in the movie. And yet, the book did a better job of creating a cliffhanger between episodes; I feel like the first movie resolved too satisfactorily such that people who have not read the book will not necessarily understand that there is so much more to come.

Acting: in my opinion, every actor played the part to perfection. What qualms I had with the performances were due to limitations on the script side (Haymitch for one needed more screentime). Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta), Woody Harrelson (Haymitch), Stanley Tucci (Caesar Flickerman), and Wes Bentley (Seneca Crane) were particular standouts for me.

Anyone who was disappointed with the milksop heroine of a certain other Young Adult series which shall remain nameless (though I think we all know which I mean) will be delighted with this raw but strong young woman you can't help but root for. Peeta is both manly and comfortable with his emotions - a very pleasant combination. Even Cato, the brutal District 2 tribute is made briefly relateable in his final scenes as a boy who understands the horror of the system yet knows he must bring honour to his District (yet another addition to the movie that was not portrayed in the book).

A good movie that I will definitely watch again (though whether I spend the money in theaters or wait for the DVD is still up in the air). I recommend it!