The Hunger Games novel by Suzanne Collins made its appearance on the silver screen at midnight on March 23, 2012. The film features intense action and powerful emotional scenes that keep the watcher hungry for more.

The Hunger Games tells the story of Panem, a sprawling city located where North America once was. A terrible war broke out, initiated by rebels from Panem’s thirteen Districts, fighting against the oppressive Capitol. The rebellion was crushed, District 13 was destroyed, and as a reminder of the district’s weakness, the Hunger Games were born.

Every year each district must send one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 as tributes to participate in the games, which are a fight to the death, free-for-all slaughter with only one tribute crowned as victor.

The movie follows the original novel nearly perfectly. The film adds extra scenes featuring the game’s announcer that explain important details that were Katniss Everdeen’s, the main character’s, thoughts in the book. This allows the filmmakers to elaborate on the movie’s action without having Katniss talk to herself or be forced into awkward, explanatory dialogue.

The film also adds scenes that do not appear in the novel at all. These scenes are not meaningless however, and foreshadow events to come in the later novels that will, hopefully, be made into movies as well.

The power of the emotion that the character’s express is nearly overwhelming. As Katniss mourns the death of a friend the viewer will find themselves tearing up, if not outright sobbing.

The movie’s makeup artist Ve Neill and wardrobe designer Judianna Makovsky deliver a stunning interpretation of the Capitol’s insane style. Fans of the books will be amazed at their image of the wacky Capitol fashion and the tribute’s explosive costumes coming to life before their eyes.

However, the film does have a significant flaw. The camera switches between smooth and simple shots during the less action-packed sequences, but once the fighting and running kicks in, things get chaotic.

It’s difficult to keep up with the action when the camera doesn’t stop moving for so much as half a second. Who’s killed who and who’s fighting who gets confused and lost with the shaking, jittery and constantly shifting camera shots.

The Hunger Games film will impress both fans of the books and those who have never read them. It is an action-packed thrill ride and a powerful emotional piece that will please any moviegoer.