Caught the Midnight Screening of THG at Newport with friends and I must say, I'm so glad I did! Even with my current virus on full force, I felt exhilarated all throughout the film. While they did take some liberties with the script, and the continuity with regards to the book isn't exactly the greatest, I was enchanted enough by Jennifer Lawrence's superb performance, backed by a solid cast, to slightly overlook those details. At times, the camera work was a little too shaky for my liking, but all in all, the film was a veritable feast for the eyes and one cannot help but become gluttonous with it. My only comment is that even with the 2 hours and twenty minutes of blockbuster cinema, non-readers might find the timeline of events a little disjointed and disconnected. At the end of the day, it serves as a great accompaniment to the series, as well as a gateway for future readers.
Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which "Tributes" must fight with one another until one survivor remains. Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
