We saw it last night… in a sold out IMAX show… Sold out shows give me panic attacks… am I the only one that can thank that creepy orange haired Freak mentally ill man in colorado for that?

For me, the movie felt like 2 halves … pre-Games and during-Games. I can’t even tell you which part I liked most… Yes, the action and suspense of the action that takes place during the Games is gripping … but the emotional pounding we get before the Games is just … wow … also intense… I’m not going to lie, I felt pangs of heartbreak in my chest in various parts of the film … and I may have teared up a few times (I’m not even sure who made me cry more… Prim or Rue).

That’s a good movie! … one that can make you FEEL something physically.

I generally am not impressed with film adaptations of books (Although I LOVED the Harry Potter movies) but I was HUGELY impressed with this one. The spirit of the book is alive and very well in this film. Yes, we get a condensed version of all of the action that takes place in the book but the 2 1/2 hours of screen time is used very, very well… There is NO HINT of what’s to come at all in the forthcoming sequel films … which is good for those of you who have not read the books, I think.

I don’t think any of the Hunger Games fans will be disappointed… very well done… I was nervous I’ll admit… but not in the least let down