Hunger Games Movie Review: Part 2 (Spoiler Warning)

I'll start by saying that I understand books and better than movies and it is impossible to transfer everything from a book into the film.

With that said. Lets begin with some positives.

1. Katniss was great. Jennifer Lawrence did a phenomenal job. Perfect choice for the role.
2. Lenny Kravitz (Cinna), Staley Tucci (Caesar Flickerman), Elizabeth Banks (Effie Trinket), and just about every other actor did a really good job.
3. Thought they captured the look and feel of the capital just as I pictured it while reading.

Now we enter the suck.

1. Haymitch! Seriously! Haymitch was a fall over, vomiting drunk in the book that left us wondering, "how the hell could this guy have ever one a Hunger Games?" Apparently, he is only a developing alcoholic who doesn't shave very often. He also might be part ninja. Harrelson's acting didn't help either.

2. No character development. AT ALL. Why does Katniss get so heart broken over Rue's death? I don't know? It must be the two minute conversation before she died. Wow, Katniss must be very sensitive.

3. To build on #2. The entire Games are rushed. No suspense, no drama, no tension, no fear.

4. The other tributes. I remember Glimmer being more than Cato's girlfriend. Oh wait, I don't remember that last part at all. And Cato! Cato! I also don't recall him wussing out at the end. Didn't he kill Thresh?

5. Speaking of Thresh's death. In the movie he is killed by a bunch of Bear-dogs (as I call them). They actually reminded me of the underworld monsters in Excavation, but that's for another time. Anyway, there is no mention of genetic modifications to the dead tributes. That was one of the best parts of the book! The idea that even in death, the capital still controlled you.

6. There are more but I will conclude with one last simple one. No reference to the significance of the Mocking Jay pin. I'll just leave it at that.

As I was hurrying out of the theater, in the final credits I noticed there were three screen play writers. That explains a lot. I can't recall any movie written by more than two people as being any good. It shows that there must have been a lot of disagreement. If Suzanne Collins has any integrity, I can only imagine the stink she must have put up with the final edit.

They got my money for The Hunger Games and, no doubt, millions more from other hopeful readers. But I'll be staying home for Catching Fire. Won't even watch it on DVD. If you haven't seen Hunger Games yet, I suggest you save your money.