Rent The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the book (paid link)
Written by: Simon Beaufoy and Michael Arndt (screenplay by), Suzanne Collins (based upon the novel "Catching Fire" by)
Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Jena Malone, Alan Ritchson
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.
Verdict
This hits a lot of the same notes as the first movie while also relying on that movie's foundation and trying to truncate an even larger story. Unfortunately it doesn't have the same emotional moments. It's clear this compacted the book's story as there are a lot of plot threads that don't conclude. This movie is more a teaser for the next more than anything else as the games end prematurely, lacking the intensity of the first movie. We're introduced to political turmoil, but that's not much more than a generic fascist regime desperate to hold on to power faced with a new threat.
It depends.
Review
This picks up soon after the first movie with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) on a victory press tour playing the part of a couple. Katniss must pretend to love Peeta while it's clear he really does love her. The ruling party in the Capital considers her a problem as her actions in the first movie sparked rebellion across the country. They also don't like her stunt in the first games where she threatened to poison herself, leaving the games without a winner. The Capital capitulated to her demands, and that irritates them that anyone was able to influence them.
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| Josh Hutcherson, Jennifer Lawrence play Peeta, Katniss |
Back in Katniss's home, District 12, a new peace keeper rolls in just to upset the locals and exert the Capital's authoritative rule. He threatens to kill Katniss and her mentor Haymitch (Wood Harrelson) when they intervene as he's beating a citizen, but he's forced to relent as you can't kill the Hunger Games victor without stoking a rebellion.
While the first movie hinted at the political undertones, this movie explores Capital President Snow's (Donald Sutherland) tenuous rule across the land. We see him maneuver to bend perception to his will, but he's terrified of the rebellious streak Katniss has created. He realizes how dangerous that is while fully aware that any false move to diminish her presence could have the opposite effect and cause a complete rejection of his regime. His scheme manifests with the next games comprised of former victors which ensures Katniss will have to play against much fiercer competition.
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| Sam Claflin, Jeffrey Wright, Josh Hutcherson, Jennifer Lawrence play Finnick, Beetee, Peeta, Katniss |
The first glimpse of the competition is intimidating. These people are fierce. Katniss and Peeta get a week to train and earn sponsors, just like the first games. Haymitch encourages her to find allies. That's part of what helped her survive previously. I understand why this expands to include the political dynamics of this world, but this movie doesn't start the games until ninety minutes in.
This relies too heavily on seeing the first movie, both to set up the story and to satisfy the action. The games are cut short in this sequel, and it's nowhere near as effective. This never has the same danger nor tension, lacking the emotional moments of the first movie. I was supremely confident Katniss would survive. Also, Katniss and Peeta's fake relationship turns into a real romance. I get the games would illicit strong emotions, but it's a bit convenient and is an easy way to generate stakes. It's clear this movie is trying to fit a lot of story into the runtime. There's not enough space for it all, and truncating it doesn't work. This doesn't have a conclusion. It ends prematurely, teasing what comes next.
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| Title Card |
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