Two years ago, I read the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins for the first time. I really loved it- every part of it, actually. I loved Katniss, the strong female archer who is the main character. I loved Gale, her loyal best friend. I loved Peeta, the male tribute from District 12 who soon becomes the main man. I loved it all- the characters, the politics, the action. It was all just great.

So when my friends who were also fans of the Games told me that yes, a movie of it was going to be made, and that it was going to come out in March 2012, I could hardly contain my excitement. Okay, that’s a lie- I couldn’t contain my excitement. I think I actually jumped up and down repeatedly while clapping and emitting a high-pitched squeal.

Before the movie came out, I played that all-familiar waiting game. I re-read the books several times and did other fandom-related activities including, but definitely not limited to: wondering which District I would be from (either seven, nine, or 11); making my own arrangement of Rue’s Lullaby; deciding that I should start working out because I know that I wouldn’t survive in the Games; as well as trying to get my family and friends to read and love the books as much as I do.

Slowly, I ticked off the months, then weeks, then days until the movie finally came out. Did I get to see the midnight premiere? Nope. No, I am a responsible student who knows she would not survive a day of school after staying up late to see a movie. And the sleep-deprived zombie look? Yeah, it isn’t a really good look for me.

But that Saturday morning, I woke up bright and early- 7 a.m. is bright and early for a weekend- to get ready to see it with my three also obsessed friends: Kelsey Smith, Selena Galindo, and Stephanie Micinski.

Let me start this semi-review of the Games by saying this: I do not cry at movies. I don’t. I just don’t. So it was quite a surprise as I cried at almost every little thing- Prim’s screams as they took her away from Katniss, the bloodbath as soon as the actual Games began, the death of almost every tribute, the burns Katniss sustains from the fire… the list goes on. And Rue, oh my goodness, I sobbed at Rue.

What makes this entire ordeal even stranger is that I knew they were all going to happen. I saw it coming a mile away, and my tear ducts were still strangely activated.

And the movie? What did I think about it? Did I like it? …I don’t know. No, seriously! It was good, I think. It stayed very close to the book, which is good, because I can’t stand it when a movie strays far from the book, and something gets really messed up- can anyone say Eragon? The big difference between the book and the movie is that the book is specifically always from Katniss’ point of view, and the movie wasn’t. That’s understandable, of course, but some emotional issues that Katniss had to deal with weren’t, and couldn’t be, properly represented. So, yes, that’s a slight disappointment, but I can forgive that because I understand that they can’t fit in everything from the book.

I still don’t know my opinion over this movie. Oh, darn. I guess I may just have to see it, oh, three more times while it’s in theaters? That may make up my mind.