The Hunger Games (Gary Ross, 2012)

7.5/10
Considering that much of the novel takes place within the protagonist's thoughts, I wondered how an on-screen adaptation would translate without an overbearing voiceover. Thankfully the movie did without one, but there were still a few moments where the film really grappled with the limitations of its format - particularly cuts from the action to the commentators, explaining rules or details almost directly to the audience (we're supposed to feel like they're talking to the spectators of the various Districts, but it's impossible not to feel like they're talking to us), and in one otherwise dramatic scene a particularly jarring subtitle to tell us what District we're looking at, in case we couldn't figure it out ourselves. That was my biggest nitpick but otherwise it's a pretty good movie, true to its source. Jennifer Lawrence simultaneously embodies strength and vulnerability in a way that makes her a natural choice to play Katniss, and she carries the movie. The film moves at a brisk pace and the action is taut, despite jerky camera movements obfuscating the fact that these are essentially children murdering other children - not good fare for PG13 ratings. There were a couple of deviations from the book I wasn't crazy about, especially the ending to the actual Hunger Games themselves, but that's inevitable. Otherwise, I enjoyed myself.