As I write this, my emotions regarding seeing the film this afternoon are conflicted, as any fans’ would be, but one thing keeps coming forth in my mind and I cannot seem to shake it. Although I feel the stereotypical let down in regards to the omission of certain pieces of the story, or the lack of focus on some relationships, I cannot help but feel overwhelming happiness at what I saw as a whole. This film wasn’t just a movie to be viewed on its own and then forgotten, it was a piece of a bigger story, one in which the endings will come forward and complete themselves.

Obviously, if you have read the books, you know this to be true, but in the context of the film, this idea changes and becomes something with so much more meaning. Before I continue however, I would like to say this: I understand that the premise of these books, and now the movies, is more than some teenage love story, or a tale of good vs. evil, but I believe that these two very prevalent, and incomplete, aspects are what brought the film to an ending that set the stage for the next two or three films.

—SPOILER ALERT—

Yes, as a committed fan I am disappointed that Peeta did not learn the truth about Katniss’ “love” for him, but I think that Gary Ross might’ve gotten it right by omitting it. When the next film begins, this will have to be addressed, and Catching Fire will be made better by it. The conflict shown in Katniss’ eyes (well done on Jennifer Lawrence’s part) was enough to tell the audience that their story is far from over; that everyone’s story is. The lies and the fallout from what happened in this film are all going to come to a head in the next.

I think even such a simple change in the path of their relationship, or the way that the subtle cruelty of President Snow was shown in a bowl of nightlock in an empty room, shows how well this movie was made. Even people who have read the books will not know exactly what is to come, and so many questions are left unanswered. All that’s left is to hope that Ross knows what he’s doing, and judging by this first film, I’m pretty sure he does.

Do you think that he was right in changing many of the details of the character relationships? What about the plotline as a whole? And how will the lost aspects be made up for in Catching Fire?