A Hunger for the Games

While the craze to develop movies from popular books continues, it's not all a ridiculous conglomeration of messed up storylines. Some screen-writers and directors actually care about whether or not their movies reflect the integrity of the titles they're stealing. "The Hunger Games" is no exception. Director Gary Ross, who was also one of the writers for the screenplay adaptation, brought author Suzanne Collins in as one of the script writers to ensure that the movie retained the essence of the popular series. This has to be one of the best moves ever made. Yes, there are some minor diversions and differences, but overall, the movie is the storyline almost exactly. With brilliant casting choices - using talent rather than big names in most cases - the Hunger Games movie tells the heart-wrenching story of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark two of the twenty-four children who are forced to play a role in the most evil invention since the holocaust: Panem's hunger games. A sadistic pageant, the hunger games forces children to fight to the death to remind the country that it should never rise up in rebellion again. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, and Liam Hemsworth are just a few of the fantastic cast that make this movie well-worth watching. If you haven't read the book, go do so now. And read it before you see the movie.  It really is a great adaptation. This movie is proof that filmmakers are finally beginning to take books seriously, understanding that they are popular for a reason, and deserve to be turned into quality movies.