Adaptation of the Hunger Games

The process of adapting a novel into a two hour film is not an easy one. Directors and play writers have to determine which pieces to focus on, what parts must be dropped, and which theme will they choose to emphasize the most. The possibility of creating a movie exactly like the book it was inspired by is nearly impossible. Naturally, The Hunger Games is no exception to this system. Author, Suzanne Collins creates a world far beyond our wildest imaginations and drops us straight into the middle of the chaos known as “the games”. It is the prerogative of the director to shape the story however he chooses, in order to capture his audience. For Gary Ross, capturing our attention was not hard with the storyline. How could we not be captivated by a heroine who was prepared to save herself at whatever cost, especially with a love story in the mix. The basic plot of The Hunger Games was not lost in translation from book to screen, only a few details managed to change. One of the biggest differences in the adaptation was the lack of Madge, the mayor’s daughter. Madge is not one of the main characters by far, but she is important in distinguishing the differences between the two classes in district 12. She is the one who gives Katniss the mocking jay pin, and instead of using her in the movie, they have Katniss find the pin at the Hob. Madge may not be necessary for this particular part of the saga, but in the later books, I’m not sure how the director is going to get around leaving her out. Another difference is that the story is not told from Katniss’ point of view. In film, it is difficult to have a voice over going throughout the entire movie, and so rather than have Katniss’ thoughts and inner monologues, Ross used other characters such as Caesar Flickerman and the other announcer to tell what was happening during the games, as well as filming from Katniss’ point of view to show what she was seeing. While the film and book are different in these ways,