Wow, wow and thrice wow. I walked out of Nottingham Cineworld buzzing. Hunger Games is just brilliant.
Followers of every film will know how rare it is for me to be overexcited about a movie.
Only four times last year in 606 outings did I hand out the 10/10 laurel.
Yet, I am sorely tempted to give full marks to Gary Ross's towering achievement (has he really only directed two other pictures?).
What I can't fathom is why is has been released after the academy awards. It is miles better than the much-lauded yet horribly overblown Avatar and engaged me more than The Artist (even though it was a beautiful movie).
And all of this hyperbole comes from a man who doesn't normally go big for sci-fi and didn't even know there was a book, let alone a three-part trilogy, until five minutes ago.
The movie is based of Suzanne Collins' novel which is set in the near-future after an apocalyptic civil war.
The winners of the war are based in the capital and live extravagantly with buildings and fashions which reflect their decadence.
Meanwhile, the losers are in 12 'districts' , outlying areas where life has been virtually reduced to medieval survival of the fittest.
As part of their war reparations have agreed to hand over two children between 12 and 18 to fight to the death in the celebrated Hunger Games. Thus, from 24 competitors only one will survive.
The story is seen through the eyes of 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), who takes the role of her young sister Prim, when the lottery for contestants picks her.
Her fellow competitor from District 12 is Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson).
On the way to the gladiatorial-like confrontation they are chaperoned by a doll-like woman (I didn't know she was Elizabeth Banks until I just checked), and mentored by a former winner (Woody Harrelson).
Of course, the whole thing is televised (echoes of The Truman Show) and its over-the-top presenters are Stanley Tucci and Toby Jones.
Meanwhile, Donald Sutherland is the evil head of state, Wes Bentley, the ringmaster and I haven't even mentioned Lenny Kravitz who is Katniss and Peeta's make-up artist.
Of course, Hunger Games is a special effects fest and there are many many really good ones but where it really scores is its emotional pull.
Lawrence is simply superb as Katniss, echoing her electric performance in Winter's Bone a couple of years ago.
She is hard as nails but as vulnerable as a kitten. She can kill yet defends those who seek her protection.
Her developing relationship with Peeta is the trust of the movie but by no means its only thrust because Hunger Games also explores family and conscience.
Banks, so dolled up I initially thought she was a man and Harrelson are in fabulous form but the support cast is led by Tucci.
There cannot be many more Hollywood actors more versatile than him. Here, he has a ball.
Because of its teenage market, Hunger Games is not nearly as savage as I expected it to be which I guess is a bit of a surprise, considering how many children die.
It doesn't concentrate on death, instead it focuses on the battle to stay alive.
I can't wait for the next part of the franchise.
Laughs: none
Jumps: a couple of small ones but one big one
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 9.5/10 (on reflection not perfect...but not far off).