Ill start off by saying I read the first book, so I can add a bit of a comparison since this movie is entirely based on the FIRST book. And honestly, Im not entirely sure how much I can truly say about it. Its pretty darn true to the novel itself, and just like the written form this story shown on the big screen is a freaking emotional ride. It brought me closest to crying that Ive been in many years. It took me to that rage-filled twitchyness where my lip almost curls and my eyes narrow. And there were times I was jsut like... 'well that was stupid of you...' X>

During my read of the book I was constantly commenting to myself 'Uh, thats not smart, dont do that...' and 'surely that wouldnt happen...' But Ive read more in depth novels about survival, fantasy and death that make much more logical sense than a lot of the story in Hunger Games, but I also may have been taught wrong by these same things. Ill admit, Im no expert on living and surviving off the wild, but there are just things in Hunger Games that dont make reasonable sense to ME, from my frame of view.

Still, this movie is a FANTASTIC adaptation of the novel, and truly plays with your emotions in the same way that made the novel so wonderful. Sure, the writing isnt perfect, Eragon was a much more incredible feat of writing in terms of content (considering the age of the author,) but if you can grade a story based on how well it grips you, moves you, and keeps you wrapped up, then this is grade 'A' material.


TL;DR - Hunger Games, as a movie, stays true to the book and is fantastically entertaining, even though there are points which are a bit too soap opera-y for my taste.