Over 100 people crowd into the dark room eagerly waiting for the screen to light up. At 12:35 on the dot a hovercraft fills the screen as it flies across a desolate field in a world we can only be thankful isn't our own. As punishment for a rebellion many years ago, the people are forced to send their children into an arena to fight to the death. If they win they become famous. If they lose they die. Based on a best selling book by Suzanne Collins, the movie The Hunger Games is already a promising watch.

The plot starts to pick up as children file into the town square to see who will be chosen to go into the arena and fight to the death. When her younger sister Prim is chosen as a tribute, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers to take her place. As an added twist, her fellow tribute from district 12 is Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), who saved her life years ago by giving her and her family food after their father died. The pair travel to the Capitol wondering how they can kill each other when Peeta saved Katniss’s life and Peeta is in love with Katniss. Then, in a surprising turn of events, the rules are changed and for the first time two tributes are allowed to win if they are from the same district. Lawrence proves exceptional at her role already having two successful movies under her belt (Winter’s Bone  and X-Men: First Class). Josh Hutcherson  also proves his ability to  convince the audience  in  multiple movies such as Bridge to Terabithea and Journey to the Center of the Earth.

However, even the terrific cast was unable to hide some serious flaws in the movie. For those who have read the books, there is no hiding the fact that major details are significantly different from the movie. For one, the cornucopia is not even the right color. How hard is it to make the main source of the tributes weapons and food gold instead of silver? Then, the symbol of freedom and uprising is not given by Madge, Katniss’s friend, but by her younger sister. While this may have been done to cut out the numbers of characters it seems unwise to change such a major detail. There were also multiple details that were left out so that many who had might not have read the books would be left in the dark about some events.

Nonetheless, the movie has many major twists and turns to keep the audience wondering what will happen next.  We are hopeful when Katniss pairs up with Peeta to defeat the other tributes but caught of guard when the Capitol changes the rules again meaning only one tribute can win. With only those two left, how can they face their hometown after killing the other. Better yet, how can they face themselves? One has to watch the movie to find out.