IMDb Review: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire1 of 1
8.4/10: A sequel that is actually advancing the story instead of just biding its time, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, is a fitting next chapter in the Panem saga. It's not as gritty as the first film, as former director Gary Ross's handheld camera approach is largely shelved, yet the proceedings still have an edge of chaos and the stakes still feel high. This is also due to an extremely emotional performance by an invested Jennifer Lawrence who proves beyond a doubt that she can carry a picture. With such fuel Catching Fire does indeed ignite and even lights the way for the subsequent films.
Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) is living in relative comfort in the grey bureaucrats' quarter in District 12. Though she remains haunted by her actions in her first Hunger Game, she can still steal off to see her unconsummated love, Gale (Liam Hemsworth), and rest in knowing she'll never have to re-enter the brutal winner-take-all event. Unfortunately for her, her selfless acts of the first film, volunteering to take her sister's place and nearly sacrificing herself as a martyr, have inspired courage and rebellion in other people in other districts. She has transcended her role as "the girl on fire" to become a true symbol, one she has not done consciously or calculatingly.
Of course, President Snow (Donald Sutherland), the master manipulator in the Capitol, can't have that, and he orders another, special Hunger Games in honor of the 75th anniversary of the event. Every quadranscentennial of the Games is called a Quarter Quell, and this third Quarter Quell is set up to be an all-star event, with those eligible coming only from the past victors. Since Katniss is the only female victor from District 12 that puts her on a very short list. She is chosen by the less-perky Effie Trinket (the always effective Elisabeth Banks) as is Hamitch (Woody Harrelson), the former District 12 victor and current sot, who trained the team the year prior. Peeta (a rather glum Josh Hutcherson), volunteers in Hamisch's stead, out of what appears to be a deep, protective love for Katniss, one she does not reciprocate. They board the train back to the Capitol but, before that they endure a whistle-stop tour of the other districts.
In each one they see signs of a coming change. Mockingjay graffiti can be seen at the entrance of train tunnels. People whistle the Mockingjay tune during assemblies and raise the three-fingered salute to Katniss, at their own peril. In Panem even President Snow's granddaughter now sports a Katniss-inspired braid, a fashion choice that is not lost on him.
Snow informs his new Head GameMaker, the unctuous Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman), that Katniss needs to be killed in this round to which Heavensbee agrees that "she should die but in the right way. At the right time." Heavensbee also reasons that the Capitol should co-opt her, by threatening her family and friends, and destroy her as a symbol. "They're gonna hate her so much they just might kill her for you," he says.
Once the victors arrive in Panem Catching Fire retraces many of the steps of the first film: the presentation of the tributes, their audition for patrons, their televised presentation in front of Caesar Flickerman (an extra exuberant Stanley Tucci). To distract the Districts from the underlying rustlings of rebellion Snow and Heavensbee dream up an upcoming marriage between the fabricated star-crossed lovers Peeta and Katniss. A scene where Katniss reveals her wedding dress, crafted by her stylist Cinna (the ultra suave Lenny Kravitz), is a tweak in the nose to reality shows that revel in all the unreal, fantasy trappings of marriage, and proves is one of the finer, more unexpected moments in the film.
The Games, given the rules of a fight to the death, themselves play out very differently than the first film as well. Peeta and Katniss face experienced killers this time, including the too-perfect Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin), the cocksure force of nature Johanha Mason (a very game Jena Malone) and the odd but intelligent Beetee (Jeffrey Wright) and Wiress (Amanda Plummer). Neither Katniss nor Peeta know who they can trust or to whom they can pledge their allegiance.
Credit goes to director Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, Constantine), who coaxes from Jennifer Lawrence a much more damaged, much more shattered Katniss, and screenwriters Michael Arndt and Simon Beaufoy for adapting Suzanne Collins' book so well. They are constantly building both the threat of rebellion and the danger of the Games into a climax that is both unexpected, unresolved, and yet, entirely satisfying.
Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) is living in relative comfort in the grey bureaucrats' quarter in District 12. Though she remains haunted by her actions in her first Hunger Game, she can still steal off to see her unconsummated love, Gale (Liam Hemsworth), and rest in knowing she'll never have to re-enter the brutal winner-take-all event. Unfortunately for her, her selfless acts of the first film, volunteering to take her sister's place and nearly sacrificing herself as a martyr, have inspired courage and rebellion in other people in other districts. She has transcended her role as "the girl on fire" to become a true symbol, one she has not done consciously or calculatingly.
Of course, President Snow (Donald Sutherland), the master manipulator in the Capitol, can't have that, and he orders another, special Hunger Games in honor of the 75th anniversary of the event. Every quadranscentennial of the Games is called a Quarter Quell, and this third Quarter Quell is set up to be an all-star event, with those eligible coming only from the past victors. Since Katniss is the only female victor from District 12 that puts her on a very short list. She is chosen by the less-perky Effie Trinket (the always effective Elisabeth Banks) as is Hamitch (Woody Harrelson), the former District 12 victor and current sot, who trained the team the year prior. Peeta (a rather glum Josh Hutcherson), volunteers in Hamisch's stead, out of what appears to be a deep, protective love for Katniss, one she does not reciprocate. They board the train back to the Capitol but, before that they endure a whistle-stop tour of the other districts.
In each one they see signs of a coming change. Mockingjay graffiti can be seen at the entrance of train tunnels. People whistle the Mockingjay tune during assemblies and raise the three-fingered salute to Katniss, at their own peril. In Panem even President Snow's granddaughter now sports a Katniss-inspired braid, a fashion choice that is not lost on him.
Snow informs his new Head GameMaker, the unctuous Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman), that Katniss needs to be killed in this round to which Heavensbee agrees that "she should die but in the right way. At the right time." Heavensbee also reasons that the Capitol should co-opt her, by threatening her family and friends, and destroy her as a symbol. "They're gonna hate her so much they just might kill her for you," he says.
Once the victors arrive in Panem Catching Fire retraces many of the steps of the first film: the presentation of the tributes, their audition for patrons, their televised presentation in front of Caesar Flickerman (an extra exuberant Stanley Tucci). To distract the Districts from the underlying rustlings of rebellion Snow and Heavensbee dream up an upcoming marriage between the fabricated star-crossed lovers Peeta and Katniss. A scene where Katniss reveals her wedding dress, crafted by her stylist Cinna (the ultra suave Lenny Kravitz), is a tweak in the nose to reality shows that revel in all the unreal, fantasy trappings of marriage, and proves is one of the finer, more unexpected moments in the film.
The Games, given the rules of a fight to the death, themselves play out very differently than the first film as well. Peeta and Katniss face experienced killers this time, including the too-perfect Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin), the cocksure force of nature Johanha Mason (a very game Jena Malone) and the odd but intelligent Beetee (Jeffrey Wright) and Wiress (Amanda Plummer). Neither Katniss nor Peeta know who they can trust or to whom they can pledge their allegiance.
Credit goes to director Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, Constantine), who coaxes from Jennifer Lawrence a much more damaged, much more shattered Katniss, and screenwriters Michael Arndt and Simon Beaufoy for adapting Suzanne Collins' book so well. They are constantly building both the threat of rebellion and the danger of the Games into a climax that is both unexpected, unresolved, and yet, entirely satisfying.
PeopleJennifer Lawrence
CountriesUnited Arab Emirates, Australia, Canada, Ecuador, Egypt, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Japan, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Sweden, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, Taiwan, United States, South Africa
LanguagesEnglish