Mini Movie Review - Hunger Games

Thanks to the brilliant Famous Magazine on Facebook, I was able to attend an advance screening of Suzanne Collins's best-selling series, The Hunger Games. Like so many fans across the globe, I've loved this series for a very long time and like so many of us (you know who you are out there), I was so excited and fully pumped to see this book come to life and be able to see my beloved characters on screen and fall back in love with them yet again. So what's my overall verdict on the movie? Well, let me quickly respond through GIF form - the first gif being me walking out of the cinema, the second gif being what I thought of the movie on a whole, and the third gif being me on what I thought after that second gif reaction which is plenty much self-explanatory to most of you.

To be honest with you all here, there's not one book-turned-movie adaptation that I've been fully satisfied with. Harry Potter for one was a great film series and I certainly give them that, but they weren't as EPIC as the books. However, the Hunger Games has proven to me that the director and everyone else involved in this movie project (actors and all) have truly listened to the author - like really, really listened - and followed the correct protocol on pleasing its huge fan-base of readers. There's nothing bad I could say about this book and I'm glad.

As soon as the movie came on with words speaking of the Hunger Games, everyone was sucked in with eager eyes and everyone - judging by the applause that ended the advance screening session - was amazed by this film and were left with a smile on their face. It wasn't hidden and that's for sure. As I was seated (in a really comfortable chair mind you) and began watching the film, I was glued to the screen within a second and for those who weren't lucky enough to attend an early screening (which I'm sure will change because some of you are seeing the midnight sessions as we speak) and are not sure if the film was worthy of all the hype or will make the book proud . . . well let me tell you something . . . the hype was spot on. Twilight never impressed me with the films but boy Hunger Games . . . you were awesome and indescribable. Sure there were a few changes with scenes (a little sad on my part but hey what can you do?) and even the ending was slightly different compared to the book, but the movie has stuck to the book which is the main thing we all want and I found myself whispering inside my head the same lines that were in the movie from the book, and the director himself has created something so honest and true. So well done for that, Gary Ross! Well done indeed.

Concerning the scenes and the ending changes, it was no big deal. Really. I understand you can't put every single detail into the movie because of the time slot and everything, and while it may be a little 'awwwwww' for us fans but really it was no big deal and anything that was left out wasn't needed in the end and you got the gist on what happened with those missing scenes. I mean, pretty much the majority of the movie was the same as the book itself and it was awe-inspiring to see my mind of the Hunger Games, from the words spoken by the characters to the surroundings that were once in my head but now are not, come onto the screen.

When it came to the casting, it was perfect. Bloody perfect. Katniss played by Jennifer Lawrence was just how I imagined Katniss to be like and nobody else could've played her character any better than Jen did. She captured every single emotion Katniss felt in the book . . . you could just see it in her eyes. Then there's Peeta played by Josh Hutcherson whom was just as good-looking, sweet and beautiful as the one in my head, and I just love you Josh for bringing him to life. *sighs thinking about him* And of course, Gale played by Liam Hemsworth, man I love you for bringing my man onto the screen. While Gale doesn't have much of a part - if not at all in the book and film - but Liam . . . I'm definitely looking forward to seeing much more of you in the next film because you and Gale are just as gorgeous and are the perfect suit, and you're exactly how I saw Gale in my head. And yes, clearly I'm a Gale fan readers. And there's no Hunger Games without some laughter and heart in it, and all my high praises go to the actors playing Haymitch, Cinna, Effie, President Snow, Rue . . . all of you were perfect and were EXACTLY the characters in my head. Haymitch in particular . . . oh Woody you made me smile and laugh every single time you came onto the screen and since Haymitch was one of my favourite supporting characters . . . you certainly did him justice. Bless you!

Overall, without breaking blogger with an overload of my feelings and reactions towards the film, I can say without a doubt in my mind that the Hunger Games is definitely my favourite book-turned-movie and bless the whole cast for making everything so spot on and making me have so many conflicting thoughts and feelings about it. I admit the book may have been heaps better than the movie (the books always are better) but overall this film has become one of a kind for me and will be a classic and an unforgettable hit for all. *fangal freakout continues*