Movie Review

A few weekends ago, I actually went to see the Hunger Games Movie. It was opening weekend. My sis-in-law and I weren't going to go on opening weekend, what with all the screaming teenagers on spring break. But, we decided a mantinee in the middle of a Sunday would be a good time. Not to mention that Sis's parents were in town, so she had cheap instant babysitters too.
We dragged her hubby with us. I'll come back to that in a minute.
For the movie...

what can I say? I didn't like it all that much. It was true to the book for the most part, but left a huge portion of the book out of the movie. I really don't think that the movie did the "hunger" part of the book justice. In the book, the characters come from the outlying impoverished District 12, where people starve to death. The "hunger" in the book is not only about food, and true hunger, but the hunger for a better life, for hope. All of that seemed to be "glossed" over in the movie.
And the movie was made for teenagers. So, there wasn't as much violence or goriness as I thought there might be.
The movie was just lacking that sense of anticipation, that sense of terror, of injustice, that the book so keenly put across. I was actually a little bored about half way through the movie.
But, on the other hand, it seemed to be entertaining for the audience it was geared for... like the 3 or 4 teenage girls behind me that swooned out loud every time Cato or Peeta were on the screen. But, for us 40 somethings, I would give this one a pass.
As far as the rest of the gang in my party, Sis-In-Law loved it. But Bro-In-Law gave it a big thumbs down. Me? I give this movie a 2 out of 5.