THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE // DIRECTOR Francis Lawrence STARRING Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks RATING PG-13
A quick recap: post-apocalyptic America is now Panem, separated into twelve districts and ruled with an iron fist by the Capitol. Each year, 24 teenagers are forced to fight to the death until only one remains, as a reminder of exactly who’s in charge and the dark days gone past. 2012’s
The Hunger Games saw dual victors Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) nearly upstage the Capitol and are, frankly, in a tight spot. The feverishly anticipated sequel,
Catching Fire, follows the sequel playbook with sharp execution - it’s bigger, bolder and, yes, darker.
Opening with our heroine gazing into the snowy and bleak abyss that is District 12, Katniss is a damaged soul, burdened with being the poster girl for a possible uprising and haunted by the events of the arena. After slugging through a grueling victory tour with Peeta, they are devastated to learn they’ll be dragged back to the Capitol for round two of the Games, this time to compete against past winners.
"Jennifer Lawrence offers a performance that shows Katniss as fractured, vulnerable and real."
The ever-excellent Lawrence offers a performance that ranges from subtle to strong, showing Katniss as fractured, vulnerable and real - crucially, however, never weak - but still determined and brave enough to stand up to her rulers. While reluctant to take up the mantle of the Mockingjay, she grows and becomes a truly riveting character, somebody you’ll want to stick with ‘til the very end.
Her supporting cast is solid, if a little underused; Peeta, less bland this time around, is still disheartened by the fact their “romance” turned out to be a sham; her best friend Gale (Liam Hemsworth) is still having a hard time believing that it even
happened; and Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks hang about, but seem to do less. For all the talk of star cross’d lovers, though, Katniss isn’t interested in moping about, whining about who’s kissing who. Her harsh reality is too cruel to focus on the petty, superficial tripe that the Capitol finds so enticing.
And that’s the film’s triumph. Going right back to Suzanne Collins’ novel,
Catching Fire is ripe with dread and clouded by fear. Breaking free of its
Battle Royale-meets-
Twilight-meets-
X-Factor shackles, the film deepens the mythology and ramps up the political commentary, with higher stakes and a clearer goal. There’s a lot more going on than the first film implied; facing the subversion of his fascist dictatorship, the slithery President Snow (Donald Sutherland) targets District 12’s victors before the oppressed begin to fight back and collapse the order. It’s simply brilliant storytelling.
Direction has been clearly improved; with Gary Ross out,
I Am Legend’s Francis Lawrence adds spectacle and shows off the movie’s fantastic design. The frantic shaky-cam has been opted out for a smoother, more conventional approach, and the movie is all the better for it.
"Catching Fire is ripe with dread and clouded by fear."
Once things are back in Games mode, the movie follows the same beats as its predecessor: introductory parade, a slim training montage, controversial talent assessment, interviews with the flamboyant Caeser Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) and then goodbyes. But it doesn’t feel like you’re watching the same movie; everything is intensified, with new faces - including the charming and brilliantly named Finnick (Sam Claflin), the wayward extrovert Johanna (Jena Malone) and the indifferent gamemaker wanting to make a difference, Plutarch Heavensbee (a fantastic Philip Seymour Hoffman) - added to further test Katniss’ trust.
When we do finally arrive in the 75th Hunger Games, it’s well worth the long wait. If it weren’t for the improved visuals and incredible twists and turns, the first half would just about overshadow the thrilling event that many are sitting there waiting for, counting down the minutes until some guy launches an axe into some other guy. The second Games still keep the intensity of the first, but what happens there is nothing compared to witnessing the brutality of law enforcement in the Districts. Not afraid to reflect on the horrors of our real world,
Catching Fire boldly goes where few have gone before.
Expanding upon themes and ideas that were only the tip of the iceberg last time,
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is a sequel that well and truly delivers and then some; a dark, tense and relentlessly brutal follow-up with some stellar acting from Jennifer Lawrence. Expect big things in the two-part finale,
Mockingjay, as the heat is turned up to 11. If you had your doubts, they’ll be easily extinguished.
VERDICT: ★★★★ 1/2 (Awesome)
A grimmer and gutsier effort, as intense and terrifying outside the arena than in, this franchise’s Empire Strikes Back is a follow-up not to be forgotten. The fire rises.