REVIEW - The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

REVIEW - The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Truth be told, I went into the first The Hunger Games movie very cynical. The only thing I knew about it was that it was based on a series of books that are wildly popular among preteens. I imagined it to be one of those over dramatic and underdeveloped plots like the Twilight series; meant to appeal to the short attention spans and raging hormones of a crowd caught in the throes of puberty. I was wrong.

The Hunger Games is one of those rare gems of modern science fiction and fantasy with a fully fleshed out, living, breathing universe that seems as real as the one we are living in.

This is a world in which the division between economic classes has become a Grand Canyon size chasm that cannot be crossed. The rich are very rich and have all that they could ever desire while the overwhelming majority of people are poor and scratch and claw every day just to survive without starving to death. The poor are subjugated into twelve industrial districts. These districts are all ruled over by The Capitol which is where the upper-class live and thrive. The poor tried to rebel, but were crushed by The Capitol and as punishment, were made to choose one boy and one girl from each district (or "Tributes") to compete in gladiator style game until only one child remained alive.

The first movie in the series did a great job of capturing the essence of the book. In some ways, seeing this surreal story come to life visually before your eyes makes the dark undertones of the story even darker. There is something very disturbing about seeing a child kill another child. It is that horrible imagery that author William Golding shocked readers with in Lord of the Flies and it still has the chilling power of a gut punch to the soul in The Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games appealed to fans of all ages as it set a box office record for a non sequel movie with $152.5 million in the first weekend. That means it was more popular that the first Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Harry Potter. I left that movie wanting to know more of what became of the characters and the world in which they lived and so I was excited for the premier of the second movie in the series Catching Fire.

Catching Fire picks up a few months after where the first movie ended. The division between the classes has deepened. There is unrest in the twelve districts and Katniss Everdeen has become a symbol of hope, much to the dismay of those in The Capitol. To quell the turbulence, those in The Capitol have devised a plan to bring down the mighty heroes of the working class . . . those who have survived The Hunger Games. For the 75th edition of the games, all of the participants will be made up of people who have already won the game in the past. This changes the game significantly.

There is much more depth to the story in the second movie. It serves to transition the story from one about a young girl struggling to survive a horrible situation to a story about an entire nation rising up against unjust oppression. That transition is wrapped in a very engaging story with an interesting plot twist at the end that sets up the third movie brilliantly.

Jennifer Lawrence really shines as Katniss Everdeen "The Girl on Fire" and reluctant symbol of hope to the downtrodden. She has one of those faces that conveys emotion without having to say a word and that really serves her well in this role. She does a good job of making you empathize with the situation she has been unwillingly thrust into.

What really makes this movie stand out is that Lawrence is aided by a dazzling supporting cast though. Woody Harrelson is outstanding as a former Hunger Games winner assigned to mentor Katniss. Donald Southerland is a villain you will love to hate in his role as the President. However, my favorite supporting character is Stanley Tucci in the role of an over the top game show host named Caesar Flickerman. He is the embodiment of the spoiled and morally oblivious upper-class with his ponytail and bleached teeth. The costumes and imagery are also amazing and serve to paint a stark contrast between The Capitol and the twelve districts.

If you saw the first movie, you will definitely want to see Catching Fire as there is more of everything that was good in that movie. If you didn't see the first movie, you don't have to have seen it to enjoy this one. It would help to give you a better understanding of the games and the characters, but the movie does a good job of giving you the information you need to know to make sense of the story.

There are a lot of bad movies that get released this time of year. Catching Fire is not one of those movies. The story is engaging, the acting is top notch and there is enough action to satisfy the guys and a love story for the ladies. It would be a perfect date movie or a good movie to bring a family to (provided the kids aren't too young to be exposed to violence and heavy subject matter).

If you saw the movie, what did you think of it (no spoilers please) and if you didn't, what is keeping you from going? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

After arriving safely home from their unprecedented victory in the 74th Annual Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) discover that they must do a quick turnaround and begin a Victors Tour. As she and Peeta travel throughout the districts, Katniss senses a rebellion is stirring. However, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) proves that he is still very much in control when word comes of a cruel change in the rules for the upcoming 75th Hunger Games.

Movie Playing At:

Links & Tags