'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' Review
Hunger Games: Catching Fire is a huge improvement over The Hunger Games and it seems that this film had a much larger budget as the camera work and cinematography seems much more polished and refined as opposed to it's predecessor. I was very relieved the first time I saw the film two years ago that there was practically no shaky cam, which is my largest problem with the first installment. Hunger Games: Catching Fire also is directed by Francis Lawrence, who directs the rest of the franchise's film adaptations, and I really liked his take on the novel and felt he did a terrific job bringing all the Districts to the screen, giving them a slightly new fresh take on the dystopian future and I really liked how the film centers around the theme of rebellion and revolution which is the central theme of the entire series as a whole but this film shows the beginnings of this rebellion and I really like how this film's narrative helps stitch the franchise all together as a bridge piece between the first film and last film, which is split into two parts. The film begins where the last one left off with Peeta and Katniss going on a victory tour of all of the districts which allows Francis Lawrence and the production design crew the opportunity to create the aesthetic for the Districts onscreen. The film then manages to differentiate itself from the first with a twist for the 75th annual Hunger Games that the Hunger Games will consist of previous victors raising the stakes in the arena since all of the characters are the cream of the crop since they've won previous Hunger games. This helps to prevent it from being a rehash of the first one by making things a little bit more interesting. The only weakness of the film's narrative for me is the love triangle with Gale, Peeta, and Katniss. I have read the books so I understand that this is a crucial part of the series but it just seems odd to me that she's constantly switching between the two in regards to who she loves more, etc. The love triangle parts of the film somewhat drag but the action in the arena during the second half of the film makes up for it.
One aspect I really liked about this film was the new arena itself as I always found it to be ingenious that it functions like a clock with a new threat each hour contained to a specific segment of the arena representing an hour on the clock. I really enjoyed all of the exhilarating action that takes place in the arena as it's refreshing for the franchise as the action maintains the excitement of the film. This film once again boasts some terrific performances along with a few new additions.Jennifer Lawrence once again shines in the film and is phenomenal every moment she is onscreen. Jennifer Lawrence is given further complexity to dive into Katniss' character with PTSD as the events from the first film are haunting her, as well as her inner conflict due to her love triangle, along with some great emotional scenes. Josh Hutcherson is once again serviceable as Peeta and Liam Hemsworth is given a much more significant role in this film since he is a part of the love triangle and really does quite well as Gale. Woody Harrelson as Haymitch and Lenny Kravitz as Cinna both are given much more prevalent roles for the franchise and both are terrific every moment they are onscreen. One of the new additions Sam Claflin seemed to fit perfectly in the role of Finnick Odair and I think he would have been a great casting choice for Aquaman in the DC's cinematic universe however they have already cast Jason Mamoa in the role. I enjoyed the complexity of Finnick's character as Katniss was unsure if she could trust him and I enjoy his role in the franchise. Philip Seymour Hoffman is another new addition for the franchise portraying Plutarch Heavensbee, the new game maker to replace the now dead Seneca Crane (the game maker from the first film) and Hoffman is phenomenal bringing a seriousness with him onscreen and was very effective in the film in his complex role. Donald Sutherland is finally able to become more than just a nefarious presence but is able to psychologically threaten and torture Katniss by manipulating the events of the Games changing the rules and really begins to step further into his villainous role. The supporting cast are once again each very effective with Stanley Tucci as the eccentric Cesar Flickerman, Elizabeth Banks as the pompous Effie Trinket adding quite a bit of humor and brightness to the film. Overall, I was very impressed by Hunger Games: Catching Fire and currently Hunger Games: Catching Fire is both my favorite book and film in the series and we will have to see if that remains true after I see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.
One aspect I really liked about this film was the new arena itself as I always found it to be ingenious that it functions like a clock with a new threat each hour contained to a specific segment of the arena representing an hour on the clock. I really enjoyed all of the exhilarating action that takes place in the arena as it's refreshing for the franchise as the action maintains the excitement of the film. This film once again boasts some terrific performances along with a few new additions.Jennifer Lawrence once again shines in the film and is phenomenal every moment she is onscreen. Jennifer Lawrence is given further complexity to dive into Katniss' character with PTSD as the events from the first film are haunting her, as well as her inner conflict due to her love triangle, along with some great emotional scenes. Josh Hutcherson is once again serviceable as Peeta and Liam Hemsworth is given a much more significant role in this film since he is a part of the love triangle and really does quite well as Gale. Woody Harrelson as Haymitch and Lenny Kravitz as Cinna both are given much more prevalent roles for the franchise and both are terrific every moment they are onscreen. One of the new additions Sam Claflin seemed to fit perfectly in the role of Finnick Odair and I think he would have been a great casting choice for Aquaman in the DC's cinematic universe however they have already cast Jason Mamoa in the role. I enjoyed the complexity of Finnick's character as Katniss was unsure if she could trust him and I enjoy his role in the franchise. Philip Seymour Hoffman is another new addition for the franchise portraying Plutarch Heavensbee, the new game maker to replace the now dead Seneca Crane (the game maker from the first film) and Hoffman is phenomenal bringing a seriousness with him onscreen and was very effective in the film in his complex role. Donald Sutherland is finally able to become more than just a nefarious presence but is able to psychologically threaten and torture Katniss by manipulating the events of the Games changing the rules and really begins to step further into his villainous role. The supporting cast are once again each very effective with Stanley Tucci as the eccentric Cesar Flickerman, Elizabeth Banks as the pompous Effie Trinket adding quite a bit of humor and brightness to the film. Overall, I was very impressed by Hunger Games: Catching Fire and currently Hunger Games: Catching Fire is both my favorite book and film in the series and we will have to see if that remains true after I see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.
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