I still very much like the first movie by Gary Ross. It's different, it's dark, raw, and serious. I liked that he kept it true to the book and didn't turn it into something it's not (Percy Jackson anyone?). There are things that he did I didn't like, like the overuse of the shaky cam and the upclose shots of everyone, and the ending. Shaky cam I'm good with, but it was done way to much in this movie, I think he needed to pick and choose when to do it (like two or three scenes). Instead, the entire movie was shaky. I mean, the worst was right at the beginning of the movie when Katniss walks through district 12. Why did he use shaky cam there? There was no reason for it, and I was so made because I wanted to see what 12 looked like and couldn't see anything. The upclose shots of everyone's faces were annoying. It just made the world Panem feel so small. Like, when watching the movie, I never felt that the world they lived in was big. The ending I felt was very rushed. They totally needed to have the dialouge exchange between Katniss and Peeta where Peeta finds out that Katniss was acting for the cameras and not for love. My family and friends who didn't read the books, were very confused about that part, they either thought the romance was bad/awkward (which is kind of is, but not for the reasons they think) or that they both really like each other. They never picked up on the fact that is was an act. I think the dialouge that the book had at the end would have made it much more clear.
Okay, I know it sounds like I'm hating on the first movie, but there were big flaws with it. I still think Gary Ross had the harder movie to do vs. Lawrence, as filming kids vs. kids killing each other but at the same time making it pg-13 but also violent enough, is super hard. I'm sure Gary tried everything to make it work out. Not to mention, it was Gary who gave us this incredible cast of stars who are mostly all good. The tone of the movie was perfect. The good Gary brought to THG definitely outweighs the bad, it's just natural to nit pick when it's a book adaptation you love. I still give the first movie an 8/10.
I think Gary turned the first book, which is an amazing amazing amazing book, into a good movie. Not perfect, but not bad either, it was good.
Here's a general question to everyone: WHY DO PEOPLE THINK MADGE IS SO FREAKING IMPORTANT??? Uuuuughhh. People are still complaining after watching CF about Madge not being there. Like, seriously??? She's a midget of a character. In no way a "major character" at all.