To my surprise, The Hunger Games was a faithful adaption.

In a country known for its democracy, how far would the American government go to suppress a rebellion?  The Hunger Games provides a startling glance at a post-apocalyptic America as well as beautiful treat for film lovers.

Based on a popular novel by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games is set in a dystopian society where the government has punished its citizens with an annual Hunger Games, a cruel, televised event where children from twelve districts are forced to fight to the death until only one emerges victorious.  We follow Katniss Everdeen (a very talented and believable Jennifer Lawrence) as she is thrown in the games when she volunteers for her sister.  Katniss is accompanied by the charismatic Peeta Mellark (a heart-wrenching Josh Hutcherson).  Together, they try to gain support from their audience and defy the government.

I never see movies on opening weekend for I hate a packed movie theater.  However, I just couldn’t wait to see The Hunger Games.  I fell in love with Collins’s fiery tale and ever since finishing the book, I had imagined my own adaption with specific locations, sets, costumes, and even actors.  Needless to say, I had high expectations for the movie.

To my surprise, The Hunger Games was a faithful adaption.  When my favorite books hit the screen, usually the stories get lost along the way.  Yet, this film brilliantly kept my favorite aspects of the book.  Additionally, small changes were cleverly made and actually helped to make the plot clearer and the themes more poignant.  I particularly liked how Katniss’s song is sang twice (rather than once), first to her sister and second to young competitor, who reminds Katniss of her sister.  The viewer can easily draw the parallels and understand Katniss’s love for her sister.

Besides maintaining the storyline, the film attempts to preserve Katniss’s first person narrative through various cinematographic techniques.  Most of the movie is filmed from behind Katniss’s shoulder or point of view shots from her perspective.  Yet, it fails to deliver the same effect as Katniss’s narrations in the book.  First, the point of view is inconsistent, constantly switching between Katniss and other characters.  Second, we lose the intimacy and some emotions, which stem from her thoughts.

Additionally, action shots are shaky to emulate the rough nature of the games.  For a book revolving around a bloodbath, the unsteady camerawork for killing scenes is tastefully done.  There is little emphasis on blood or violence.  While this is clever, it was overdone and I became dizzy from the constant movement.

Overall, I feel that The Hunger Games has been misinterpreted.  I was disturbed by the sadistic reaction of the audience.  Many cheered when a kid was killed.  Yet, they forgot that the ‘villains’ were not the children, who were only innocent victims of a totalitarian government.  The film reveals many underlining harsh realities, including war, corruption, poverty, and violence.  It is not a gory movie, but one that reminds us to cherish our freedom and count our blessings.