Hunger Games was written by Suzanne Collins.
District 12 has the right look and feel. However, we do not get to spend as much time with the people living there. The Hob is barely shown, Peeta’s father and Gale’s family, Madge, and many others are absent.
Katniss is not given the mockingjay pin by Madge as a token of her tribute. Instead, she purchases it at the Hob and tries to give it away to Prim before she leaves. Prim, however, presses it back on her sister, stating the icon will protect her.
Once in the arena, Katniss’ hardships are condensed. Her time spent wandering in the woods, starving, and battling dehydration are completely cut out. Cutting out these parts makes it more difficult to understand the games as a whole.
Shots from the arena are intermixed with commentary from Claudius Templesmith and Caesar Flickerman.
Seneca and Snow have their own moments onscreen with the talk show and everything.
Gale is barely onscreen in this first film.