Page to Screen: The Hunger Games

I’m sure most everyone who read The Hunger Games has seen the movie by now but I’m going to offer up my review of the movie anyway. This review will have spoilers if you haven’t read the book so PROCEED WITH CAUTION…

I thought the screenplay adaptation of the book into the movie was fantastic. I know a lot of people were disappointed that the character Madge, the mayor’s daughter, didn’t make it into the movie. I wasn’t bothered by this – the movie was already almost two and a half hours long and I was fine with this being left out. Other than that, I think most every important detail in the book made it into the movie.

Jennifer  Lawrence’s portrayal of Katniss was amazing. I couldn’t believe how realistically she was able to make her body tremble in the scene where she is about to go into the tube that will take her up into the arena. And her love for Rue was so geniune. Even though I knew Rue was going to die, I bawled like a baby when it happened. Amandla Stenberg, who played Rue, was cute as a button and had the angelic presence of Rue down pat.

When I read the book, I was squarely Team Peeta but I may be leaning towards Team Gale after watching the movie, just because Liam Hemsworth looked so much better than Josh Hutcherson. Josh’s Peeta had some very distracting frosted blonde hair. I’m pretty sure they don’t sell home hair color kits in District 12 so I don’t know why his hair had to be like that. Hopefully it will be toned down in the next movie.

All in all, I had just minor, nit-picky complaints about this movie. It’s a great adaption of the book and I give it two thumbs up! I can’t wait to see it again.