The Hunger Games (2012)

"As thrilling and smart as it is terrifying. There have been a number of big-gun literary series brought to screen over the past decade. This slays them all."

"A faithful adap, a grown-up teen movie and flaming good entertainment. The big test for the franchise lies ahead with the uneven second and third books."

"That rarest of beasts: a Hollywood action blockbuster that is smart, taut and knotty."

"Stands up on its own as a compelling thrill-ride of a movie. And while it might be a 12A, some of the kids still meet surprisingly grisly ends."

"A solid take on the material, but it could have done with a little less narrative incident and a little more cinematic sparkle."