海角大神

The film adaptation of the Suzanne Collins novel 鈥�The Hunger Games鈥� doesn鈥檛 hit theaters until Friday. But the hype is wall-to-wall and many of the movie reviews by film critics are in. The verdict? The movie looks to be a winner whether you鈥檝e read the book or not.

For most reviews, 鈥淗unger Games,鈥� which has currently sold more advance tickets than any non-sequel, scored ratings of at least four out of five stars, three out of four stars, and a few "A" grades. Critics particularly praised actress Jennifer Lawrence鈥檚 performance as heroine Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to replace her sister in the deadly Hunger Games run by a dystopian government.

鈥淎t its center is Jennifer Lawrence, an ideal choice to play this strong, independent young woman,鈥� wrote of the film. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a youthful energy and even a vulnerability that make her relatable to the core, target audience of female fans. Lawrence is endlessly watchable."聽

said he would praise Lawrence as the best thing in the film if the rest wasn鈥檛 equally as good.聽

鈥淭he young actress received an Oscar nomination for her work in "Winter's Bone," and her performance here is no less fierce and purposeful,鈥� he wrote.聽

Entertainment Weekly鈥檚 Lisa Schwarzbaum agreed:聽鈥淛ennifer Lawrence鈥� is, in her gravity, her intensity, and her own unmannered beauty, about as impressive a Hollywood incarnation of Katniss as one could ever imagine,鈥� Schwarzbaum wrote.

Reviewers also agreed that director Gary Ross鈥檚 film treatment of the source material keeps the societal commentary of author Suzanne Collins鈥� original trilogy.

鈥淪o-called reality TV is given a sharp, satirical kick as Tributes learn to play and pander to hidden cameras,鈥� writes .

wrote that 鈥淸Ross] rustles up a film that is harsh and satisfying; a candy-coated entertainment with a chip of ice at the centre."

Also praised: the supporting cast, which includes stars like Elizabeth Banks as perky contestant escort Effie Trinket, Woody Harrelson as alcoholic mentor Haymitch Abernathy, and Stanley Tucci as unctuous TV host Caesar Flickerman, of whom Phillips writes, 鈥淣othing in "The Hunger Games" is more frightening than Tucci's smile.鈥�

The AP's LeMire, however, did complain that the less-attractive behavior of the character Haymitch, who spends much of the beginning of the novel intoxicated or suffering the after-effects of it, were toned down for the film. 鈥淭he character鈥檚 rough edges have been buffed significantly and it鈥檚 not an improvement,鈥� LeMire writes.聽

A different heroine than Twilight

The books and movies have been compared to the last boffo young adult series, Twilight, which centered on the teenager Bella Swan and the tortured love triangle made up of her, vampire Edward and werewolf Jacob. Many suggest that 鈥淕ames鈥� will appeal most to female teenagers.

鈥淭eenage girls are going to love this film 鈥� so much so that I wouldn鈥檛 mind betting it will be the first in a very profitable franchise,鈥� wrote.

But many reviewers pointed out the positive (in their eyes) differences between 鈥淕ames鈥� and the vampire saga featuring mopey Bella Swan. 鈥淜atniss makes聽Twilight's Bella Swan look like the wimp she is,鈥� Travers writes. noted that 鈥渂oth teenage heroines journey deep into the woods at dusk, but while Twilight's Bella returns flanked by bickering supernatural beefcake, Katniss emerges alone, smeared in blood and muck and gnawing on the charred remains of a spatchcocked squirrel.鈥澛�

Some critics also had problems with the film鈥檚 ending, which apparently differs in some way from the novel. 鈥淥nly at the end does the director falter, hindered by the demands of franchise film production (there are three books in the series) and bowing out with a whimper not a bang,鈥� Brooks wrote of Ross.

But so far, response to the movie has been overwhelmingly positive. Fans can take a deep breath and buy their midnight tickets 鈥� if there are any left, that is.聽

Molly Driscoll is a Monitor contributor.