Read the trilogy. As everyone knows, when you read the book first the movie is ussually a dissappointment. Not so in this case. The movie managed to capture the essense of the book--the "feel" so to speak. Jen Lawrence was perfect as Katniss--totally nailed it. Woody Harrelson absolutely great as the mangy, cynical, secretly wise Haymitch. I wasn't too crazy about the kid who played Peeta--very bland and he's supposed to be better looking. They also changed around a few things that I thought would be fine left the same way as the book. But they put more emphasis on the head game keeper, and showing how the games are manipulated, than the book did and that was cool! All and all, really liked it.