When the Hunger Games was released in 2012, everyone was slightly taken aback. Due to the fact that Twilight wasn’t exactly a critical hit, many didn’t expect the new franchise to be that impressive, perhaps also because the book basically just tells a story. That is not a criticism of the Hunger Games, but it is aimed towards a Young Adult audience and it does little to break out of that basic language which tells an amazing story.
The first instalment felt a little like it had been done before, many compared it to the wonderful Battle Royale in theme, but there was certainly something in it that appealed not just to audiences but to critics also. Firstly, there was the cast, including the wonderful Jennifer Lawrence who is now an Oscar winner and secondly, the fact that the first film was actually quite brutal. In a society where the Capitol dominates how the rest of the twelve districts live their lives and under the rule of a ruthless President, their is little hope.
With the amount of pressure on the second instalment, from both fans of the book and new fans who have been drawn to the franchise, it was never going to be easy to please everyone, but surprisingly, and we don’t want to speak too soon here, but we think they have most definitely pulled it off.
Catching Fire returns to District Twelve after the victory of the 74th Hunger Games. Katniss continues to take care of her mother and sister, while dealing with a jealous Gale, a resentful Peeta and a drunk Haymitch. She, along with Peeta and Haymitch, prepares to go on the Victor’s Tour where she must pretend to still be in love with Peeta but a visit from President Snow puts a lot of things into perspective for the young contender.
Katniss discovers throughout the tour that she has created quite a storm in the district thanks to her open defiance of the Capitol, but that defiance has come with a price. The Districts begin to suffer because of the very idea of her, she has become the symbol for the Revolution that they so desire. Snow knows he must get rid of her, but urged by Plutarch, the Game Maker, he decides to create a special games for the 75th games, a game for the Victors.
There are no two ways about it, Catching Fire is a far better film than the previous instalment. Taken over by Francis Lawrence, he of Water for Elephants and I Am Legend fame, Catching Fire is a much more assured and confident film, perfectly mirroring its lead character. It also manages to paint a much deeper picture of the characters through the script, giving us a little more of Peeta and Katniss.
The cast are exceptional, there is literally not one bad performance in here. Lawrence is far more confident now, stronger as Katniss, we get a little bit more of Hemsworth’s Gale here also. However, the support cast are spectacular, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Elizabeth Banks, Jena Malone, Stanley Tucci and the brilliant Woody Harrelson, they certainly bring the script and book to life.
The action is still as good as the previous film, while the tension dials up a notch now that the Capitol are making it their mission to take out Katniss. It suffers a little from its length of two hours and twenty-six minutes, but it never really drags, in fact, it looks so beautiful you won’t be able to take your eyes off the screen.
As a stand alone film, Catching Fire is excellent. We can’t recommend this enough. Go watch Jen in all her glory.
