Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games

I admit, I am quite late to this party, but what's even stranger is, how did this party happen without me catching even a hint of its progress?

I mean, considering my taste in books, this one falls right in - except for the freshly discovred post-apocaliptic worlds I used to avoid. That might be the reason. :)

Anyway, after hearing about the movie, I checked the books and decided to give it a go at first (luckily for me, there are three).
And here I need to give you a word of advice:
DO NOT start reading that book unless you have enough time to finish it. Reading until 2 am when you have to get up in the morning is not very appropriate if you have to stay awake the whole day after. :)

But it's been a very long time since that happened to me.

So, the story. The basics are probably familiar to everyone interested in either the book or the movie.

What I'm wondering though is whether the movie will be able to display the bleakness of the lives in some of the districts and the non-smiling faces of the contestants (and in some cases aggresive and blood-thirsty).

Possibly the practicality of Katnyss'  character?
The world she lives in calls for practicality if you want to survive. That doesn't mean she doesn't have feelings, her family means everything to her but that is also where practicality steps in - she needs to keep them alive and well.
She's as strong a girl (she's 16) as you could imagine.

I must say I'm wondering which parts of the book are not going into the movie, and also how are some parts I'd like to see transfered onto the screen possibly being delivered?

I plan on seeing the movie and then reading the following 2 books (if I can wait that long). :)

I can't help but wonder if someone will be able to do something to bring down the awful world they live in.