So, I saw The Hunger Games last night.
I'm embargoed from blogging a review until Friday, but the social media embargo lifted today. And Buffistas can sometimes be social, right?
Anyhow, I'm spoiler fonting most of the rest: I liked it, but didn't love it. It's inevitable, but a lot was left out and I thought there were other places they could have trimmed: hunting in the beginning, the training stuff.
That said, I didn't think the actual changes they made were too egregious and often were very good decisions. The first image was an odd choice; I thought the words alone would have been much more powerful.
A couple of things I really liked were the story of the pin (much better here than in the book) and that the tech is much more prevalent (I have a huge problem with the disconnect b/w the first and third books and thought that will help the movies.)
Aside from Peeta and Gale (both of whom seemed awkward to me), the cast and acting were spot on. Jennifer Lawrence was excellent, but I expected her to be. I liked this Prim way more than the book. Rue was adorable. I particularly liked Stanley Tucci and Woody Harrelson, and I didn't think I would. But if they make the rest, I can't wait to see Haymitch in action. And Cinna, there needs to be more Cinna.
I was with a critic who hadn't read the books so it was interesting to compare our reactions. He felt it dragged in places and that they seemed to be playing to the fans by leaving every plot point and superfluous character in. He would have liked more of the actual games. He thought they didn't really deliver on how much they emphasized the sponsors and I have to agree. You see Katniss get a few things, but they cut the bread, stew, and the sleeping medicine. When I told him some key layers to the story that were left out, for example, that the dog-beasts were "muttations" (!), I may have inspired him to read the books.