"The Hunger Games" author praises upcoming film

(CBS/AP) "The Hunger Games" author Suzanne Collins has given her seal of approval to the upcoming big-screen adaptation of her bestselling novel.

In a message posted Thursday on the official Facebook page for the dystopian book series, Collins wrote that she had just seen the film and was "really happy" with it.

Pictures: "The Hunger Games" cast
Pictures: "The Hunger Games" character posters

She also praised director Gary Ross for remaining faithful to the book while adding a "rich and powerful vision" of the brutal society Collins imagined in print.

"And, my God, the actors," Collins added. She singled out the "extraordinary" Jennifer Lawrence, who stars as the young heroine, Katniss Everdeen.

The highly anticipated movie will be released on March 23. A film version of Collins' second "Hunger Games" book, "Catching Fire," already has a release date set for Nov. 22, 2013.