‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ is marked improvement over original
The Hunger Games film adaptations are probably best considered love-it-or-hate-it movies. Based on the bestselling books by Suzanne Collins, the story surrounds the adventures of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and her quest to survive among other tributes, essentially chosen teenagers who must fight to the death on behalf of their district. It’s an interesting dystopian idea that explores the themes of sanctioned violence, celebrity culture and public sacrifice. The original was film was good (here’s our review), but the premise was vaguely familiar (think The Truman Show).
Catching Fire, the second installment, antes up on the first and truly outpaces its predecessor. Again starring Lawrence, one of Hollywood’s best actresses, the plot follows her battle to once again survive a tribute challenge. Along for the ride are some of the usual suspects, including her love interest Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) and Effie (Elizabeth Banks). Liam Hemsworth’s character of Gale, another love interest, is wasted and absent for much of the movie.
What makes the second film so rich is that the exposition has been decreased and the action maximized. In many ways, it feels like the original set up the trilogy’s entire backstory, and now Catching Fire reaps all the benefits.
I found myself enjoying some of the eccentricities of the supporting characters. Stanley Tucci’s crazed anchorman is wonderfully over the top and the right level of zaniness. Harrelson’s Haymitch is like a washed-up child star, although his wisdom proves important to Katniss.
Hutcherson is OK in the Peeta role, but there’s not much to his character. We fully explore the strengths and reservations of Katniss but learn very little of her on-again-off-again fabricated relationship with Peeta. Oddly enough, I have no interest in learning more about Peeta; he’s that not that interesting on the larger scale of this futuristic world.
Philip Seymour Hoffman and Donald Sutherland do their best with underwritten roles.
Director Francis Lawrence, an alum of Constantine and Water for Elephants, keeps the action flying by at a fast pace. The two-and-a-half hours don’t feel overly long, and the audience is able to see more action on the island. Lawrence needs to be credited with much of this success.
The Hunger Games has a built-in fan base, and I’m probably not the target audience. But as a film franchise, it has made two watchable flicks. This is not Twilight, but it’s also not The Lord of the Rings. Instead, The Hunger Games is proving to be an acceptably stirring human drama with good performances, great action and probably too much exposition.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
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The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
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2013
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Directed by Francis Lawrence
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Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Donald Sutherland
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Running time: 145 minutes
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Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some frightening images, thematic elements, a suggestive situation and language
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Rating:
