THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE Review

Release Date: November 22, 2013
Director: Francis Lawrence
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Film Pulse Score: 8/10

When Francis Lawrence took over directing duties for the second entry in the massively popular Hunger Games series, there was a promise that this would be an improvement over the first.  Fortunately, Lawrence delivered, and nearly all the poor camerawork and visual problems have vanished, along with some of the more ridiculous story moments.  This time around the script is tighter and the story is bigger and encompasses the themes only hinted at in the first.  Catching Fire is leaps and bounds above its predecessor and is a film that I’m slightly ashamed to admit I was a big fan of.

Following the second novel by Suzanne Collins fairly closely, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire picks up shortly after the first film ends, with Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) on their victory tour after winning the previous year’s game.  As the sounds of revolution begin to permeate throughout the 12 districts, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and newly appointed game master Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) hatch a plan to quash the people’s hope once and for all.

While the games themselves obviously play a large part in the film, like the book, they don’t actually begin until much further into the story.  Like The Empire Strikes Back, Catching Fire is the setup film for the dramatic conclusion.  As such, the events that unfold in the sequel are much more interesting and have more weight than in the first entry.  In a movie that’s two and a half hours long, one would think the lack of actual “Hunger Games” would become a bore, however the snappier script and interesting characters make up for the lack of action.

Visually, Catching Fire trumps the first in every way.  Gone are the vomit-inducing shaky cam effects and spotty CG.  This film had a much larger budget than the first and it shows almost immediately.  The details in the lavish capital city is much more defined and looks more like an actual city than something out of a video game.  The camera thankfully stays still even during the high-tension moments in the games, and pulls away from trying to look artistic and “indie” like the first.

Like the first film, the oddball cast of supporting characters take the spotlight over the main players, with Stanley Tucci, Elizabeth Banks, and Woodey Harrelson being the clear highlights.  While their characters are similar, they seem so much more defined in this film, and have much more to say.  The dialogue is funnier, but also smarter, which goes a long way in a movie that takes itself so seriously and yet has characters named Katniss and Plutarch.

This brings up the point that there is still a fair amount of unintentionally funny moments in the film.  Although much, if not all, of the blame can be put on the book, there are just some things in Catching Fire that are downright stupid.  For instance, one of the female tributes has filed teeth and likes to hiss at people.  It’s ridiculous.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has achieved something I thought was impossible in presenting a young adult adaption that I thoroughly enjoyed.  Its only flaws are the ones presented in the source material, however they are more easily forgiven due to the compelling story and strong script.  Go see it with an open mind and you’ll be sure to leave the theater as surprised as I was.