I guess since the last post is only a couple months old, I can bump this without feeling like a necroposter.
I read the book a couple years ago, and hadn't seen the movie yet - looks like my initial concerns were well grounded.
I'd like to start with what I liked. The movie (like the book, IMHO) really picks up when it moves into the arena, when the film shifts genres: it starts as a satirical look at reality television, and becomes survival horror. I was actually surprised at how tense I was during the final countdown, and at how much I winced during that first dash toward the Cornucopia. There isn't a lot of character development in the movie, but you don't need much to feel sorry for the 24 Tributes. That said, it would have been nice to know a bit more about Cinna, Gale (what, three minutes of screentime?), Haymitch, whatsherface with all the makeup, and even Katniss herself. And Peeta... not even sure what to think.
Now I'm straying into "things I didn't like." So here's the bad: Before the arena, they really fail to create a convincing world. There are two aspects to this: the cast, and the setting.
The cast: There was some early controversy about the casting choices, with some saying that Jennifer Lawrence's figure was too 'womanly' for the role of Katniss. I think that's a bit unfair. She plays the part well - and I think the criticism is reflective of the fact that a female lead is going to catch flak about her appearance, much more so than a male lead. So it goes. That said: everyone in this movie... looks like a movie star. Even in the arena, Katniss doesn't have a single hair out of place. Peeta and Gale look like twin Adonises, cut from stone. Granted, a life of hard work would do wonders for anyone... but then, this is supposed to be a dystopian fantasy. Teenagers don't look like this in 2013, and the world hasn't ended. Why does everyone look so well-groomed and well-fed?
And the setting: We don't see much of any of the districts, nor do we really see much of the Capitol. They could have a better job fleshing out the setting to better paint the contrast between District 11 and the Capitol itself. In the book, it is an honor to be selected as a Tribute. It is an escape (however brief) from the suffering of your home District. The movie doesn't do a great job at conveying that suffering. Apparently hairdressers are less creative, and they don't have light rail.... so what? This is really remarkable to me because there isn't a great reason to shield the viewer from "suffering." This is a movie where children kill each other in some pretty gruesome ways. But presumably, the Games are not the only terrible aspect of life in Panem. Why not show us that?
In short: the arena is great. Everything else feels like an afterthought. I'd give it 6/10. It is worth seeing. It really is not worth seeing a second time. Hopefully the second movie does a better job at addressing its faults.