Rated
PG-13 (Intense Sequences of Violence and Action, Some Frightening Images, Thematic
Elements, a Suggestive Situation and Language)
Running
Time: 2 Hours & 26 Minutes
Cast-
Jennifer
Lawrence-Katniss Everdeen
Josh
Hutcherson-Peeta Mellark
Liam
Hemsworth-Gale Hawthorne
Willow
Shields-Primrose Everdeen
Paula
Malcomson-Mrs. Everdeen
Elizabeth
Banks-Effie Trinket
Woody
Harrelson-Haymitch Abernathy
Lenny
Kravitz-Cinna
Philip
Seymour Hoffman-Plutarch Heavensbee
Stanley
Tucci-Caesar Flickerman
Toby
Jones-Claudius Templesmith
Donald
Sutherland-President Coriolanus Snow
Patrick
St. Esprit-Romulus Thread
Sam
Claflin-Finnick Odair
Lynn
Cohen-Mags
Jena
Malone-Johanna Mason
Bobby
Jordan-Blight
Jeffrey
Wright-Beetee Latier
Amanda
Plummer-Wiress
Alan
Ritchson-Gloss
Stephanie
Leigh Schlund-Cashmere
Bruno
Gunn-Brutus
Meta
Golding-Enobaria
Elena
Sanchez-Cecelia
John
Casino-Woof
E.
Roger Mitchell-Chaff
Maria
Howell-Seeder
Directed
by Francis Lawrence
 |
| Katniss Everdeen finds herself fighting for survival once more in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire." |
Note: Screened on Monday, November 18, 2013 at AMC Empire 25.
'Hope—it
is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective…a lot of hope
is dangerous. A spark is fine, as long as it's contained.' After winning the
74th Annual Hunger Games alongside fellow tribute Peeta Mellark, Katniss Everdeen
inadvertently becomes a symbol of hope among the twelve oppressed districts of Panem
in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,"
the highly-anticipated sequel to Gary Ross' critically-acclaimed 2012
hit. Based on a trilogy of dystopian science fiction novels from author Suzanne
Collins, the original "Hunger Games" was made for only $78 million, a
relatively low production budget compared to other would-be blockbusters but
the odds managed to be in Lionsgate's favor as the film had devoured a gargantuan
$691.2 million worldwide by the end of its theatrical run. Its $152.5 million opening
weekend easily eclipsed (pun definitely intended) all of the "Twilight"
films, setting a new record for highest debut ever for a non-sequel. With
excellent reviews (84% on Rotten Tomatoes), the studio fast-tracked "Catching
Fire" (which had already been green-lit eight months prior to the first
film's release) into production but the tight schedule forced Ross to drop out as
director. Replacing him is Francis Lawrence, whose work has been somewhat of a
mixed affair. Out of the three films he's made, only 2007's "I Am Legend"
stood out due in large part to Will Smith's strong performance. Fans were rightly
concerned but they can put their worries to rest now. Excellently expanding on
the source material's thought-provoking and subversive themes while also upping
the stakes, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is one of those rare sequels
that manage to surpass its predecessor in almost every way.
Emerging
as the victors of the 74th Annual Hunger Games, fellow tributes Katniss Everdeen
(Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) return home to District
12—the poorest sector in the totalitarian nation of Panem, which rose from the ashes
of a post-apocalyptic North America following an unspecified catastrophic event
in the far future. However, Katniss and Peeta's reunion with their family and
friends proves to be short-lived as the two must then embark on a 'Victory Tour'
across all of the districts. Before the tour officially begins, President
Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland), the ruthless autocratic leader of Panem, pays
Katniss a visit and expresses his outrage for her act of defiance that allowed
her and Peeta to win. As he leaves, Snow makes a veiled threat toward her best
friend, Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), whom she has feelings for. Pretending
to be madly in love for their adoring public in the Capital, Katniss and Peeta reunite
with their alcoholic mentor Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) and gaudy chaperone
Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) during the Victory Tour but unrest brews within
the oppressed districts. Knowing that Katniss has become a beacon of hope, Snow
plots to destroy her with the aid of new Game Maker Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip
Seymour Hoffman). As the 75th Annual Hunger Games—also known as the Quarter Quell—commences,
Snow announces that the tributes will be reaped from the existing pool of
victors in a brutal effort to crush the fires of rebellion that Katniss' actions
had inadvertently sparked.
Like
comic books, adapting young adult novels for the big screen has become all the
rage in Hollywood but for every "Harry Potter" and "Twilight"
that makes billions of dollars, there's a "Beautiful Creatures" and
"Mortal Instruments" that flop at the box office. The reason
"The Hunger Games" succeeded where others have failed is because it
offered moviegoers something exciting and new, with the film managing to grow beyond
its fanbase and appeal to those who weren't overly familiar with the source material.
Detractors will continue to complain of its similarities to the 2000 Japanese
film "Battle Royale" and while that's true to a certain extent, Kinji
Fukasaku's violent and controversial action thriller was a cult classic that was
never going to attain the widespread exposure that "The Hunger Games"
now enjoys. For audiences, Gary Ross' adaptation of the 2008 Suzanne Collins
novel was the first time they've seen a story like this. Given the critical and
commercial success of the original film, expectations were at an all-time high
for "Catching Fire." So many things could've gone wrong but not only did
Francis Lawrence build upon its predecessor, he improved on it. Only a handful
of sequels ("Aliens," "The Dark Knight") have accomplished
such a rare and difficult task. In spite of its two hour and twenty-six minute
running time, "Catching Fire" is pitch-perfectly paced with emotional
stakes that will leave you impatiently yearning for the final two installments.
I
had read the first novel prior to seeing Ross' film but this time around, I made
a conscious decision to go into the sequel completely blind. Scripted by Academy
Award-winning writers Simon Beaufoy and Michael Arndt (credited under the puzzling
pseudonym 'Michael deBruyn'), "Catching Fire" immediately sets itself
apart from the original with its decidedly darker and more cynical tone, finding
our young heroine suffering from severe posttraumatic stress disorder due to
her harrowing experience at the 74th Annual Hunger Games. Katniss' blatant act
of defiance, where she was fully prepared to commit suicide alongside her fellow
tribute Peeta rather than give Panem's totalitarian regime the satisfaction of another
victor, has sent ripples across the nation's twelve districts. Unrest with the government
is slowly building up toward open rebellion, forcing President Snow to use
increasingly brutal methods to maintain his control over the populace. There's a
great scene in the first film where Snow explains to Seneca Crane the reason
why they hold the Hunger Games every year. Rounding up twenty-four people and
executing them would be easier and faster but it effectively turns them into martyrs.
The Games exist to give the districts a small measure of hope, which is
violently taken away by forcing the citizens to watch their own children being killed.
This potent commentary of suffering as mass entertainment for the rich is smartly
built upon when Snow decides not to kill Katniss but to completely destroy what
she stands for through the Quarter Quell. One aspect that I really enjoyed is
the concept of celebrity within this dystopian sci-fi world. It eerily mirrors
our own as Katniss and Peeta's 'star-crossed romance' has captured the hearts and
minds of those living in the Capitol while dehumanizing tragedies are all but
virtually ignored. I love the way the story has these characters try to use their
celebrity status to undermine Snow, from Katniss' wedding dress transforming
into a mockingjay in a blaze of fire to Peeta's surprise announcement that she's
newly pregnant with his child, which ironically incites the crowd at Caesar
Flickerman's show to call for the Games to be cancelled! This is contrasted
with the harsh ugliness that now grips Panem in the wake of the 74th Annual Hunger
Games, where even the smallest acts of defiance are met with instant executions
and public whippings.
The
love triangle that has now become a staple of young adult fiction is handled in
a mature manner in spite of the characters being teenagers. It achieves an emotional
resonance that is light-years ahead of the groan-inducing petulance that was at
the center of the "Twilight" series. Katniss' feelings for Gale stem
from them being childhood friends but she also owes a huge debt to Peeta, whose
presence gave her the necessary strength to ultimately win the Hunger Games.
For her, it's not about who she loses her virginity to; it's about forming a human
connection when every day is a battle for survival, whether it's for food or in
an arena. The two men may long for Katniss but they also understand the reality
of their situation. Rather than waste time engaging in pointless competition,
they instead support one another and are not only prepared to die for the woman
they love but for each other as well. It's this noble selflessness that defines
Katniss' relationships with Gale and Peeta, which is a breath of fresh air compared
to other young adult franchises that rely on some shallow interpretation of
'love.'
It's
obvious that Francis Lawrence is a director-for-hire here but that's actually
to the film's advantage. While nothing has really changed stylistically, Lawrence
does eliminate the shaky cam approach that characterized the first film, allowing
the action in "Catching Fire" to feel more fluid as it quickly moves
from one set-piece to another. There's still a bloodbath when all the tributes
rush toward the Cornucopia, now located in the middle of a circular lake, but
there's less focus on the brutality among the contestants. Instead, the tributes
must contend with an hourly series of deadly obstacles designed by Heavensbee.
This includes a poisonous fog that result in painful boils when coming in contact
with skin, vicious mutated monkeys, 'jabberjays' that psychologically torment
the tributes with screams of their loved ones, and drowning the tributes with a
torrential rain of blood. Lawrence keeps the tension at an all-time high without
losing sight of the character-driven drama and a sense of hopelessness pervades
the Quarter Quell as Snow gleefully watches the tributes slowly become demoralized.
The violence definitely pushes the boundaries of its PG-13 rating but it serves
not to entertain but to emphasize the brutal callousness of Panem's oppressive
regime. If there are any flaws in "Catching Fire," it's the film's structural
similarity to the original. However, this is due to Collins' playwriting background,
which taught her to write in a three-act structure. The ending, although true
to the source material, is also somewhat abrupt but it does leave you
anticipating the final two installments.
Most
of the cast bring their A-game as if this was a prestige picture. Fresh off her
Academy Award win for Best Actress in last year's "Silver Linings Playbook,"
Jennifer Lawrence continues to excel with her captivating portrayal of Katniss
Everdeen, adding layers of emotional depth as her character struggles to deal with
the physical and emotional trauma of competing in the Hunger Games while also
becoming a symbol of hope for the oppressed citizens of Panem, a status she'd
rather not have due to the danger it puts her family and friends in. Much has
been said about Lawrence's down-to-earth demeanor and it is that quality that allows
her performance to feel so genuine. Josh Hutcherson is just as strong in the
role of Peeta Mellark, whose love for Katniss goes beyond a mere boyhood crush.
This is someone who has a defined sense of loyalty and respect, and it's these
two traits that Hutcherson derives when conveying his character's intense
devotion to his fellow tribute. Woody Harrelson and Lenny Kravitz perfectly
capture the mentor relationship their characters share with Katniss and Peeta but
one of the bigger surprises is Elizabeth Banks, who lends Effie a more human
side without betraying who she is. Banks also has some of the funniest scenes
in the film as Effie effectively acts as Katniss and Peeta's publicist. The
other surprise is Sam Claflin as District 4 tribute Finnick Odair. He at first
comes off as extremely unlikable with his arrogant self-confidence and cocky personality
but Claflin slowly reveals that there's more to Finnick, that he isn't just the
shallow pretty boy that Panem's media makes him out to be. Jeffrey Wright brings
a calm gravitas to tech wizard Beetee while the beautiful Jena Malone adds some
much-needed spunk to axe-wielding tribute Johanna Mason. Veteran actors Donald
Sutherland and Philip Seymour Hoffman are excellent as always in their
antagonistic roles. Finally, there's Liam Hemsworth and he is…fine. Don't get me
wrong; his performance is miles ahead of the one he gave in "Paranoia"
but being merely adequate just isn't enough when everyone around you is
challenging themselves in new ways.
To
be released on November 22, 2013, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"
has so far received overwhelmingly positive reviews with 95% on Rotten
Tomatoes. Critics are hailing it as 'a thoroughly compelling second installment
in the Hunger Games series' thanks to
its 'smart, smoothly directed, and…deeper exploration of the franchise's
thought-provoking themes.' Judging from its enthusiastic response at Monday's
advance screening, "Catching Fire" is pretty much guaranteed to be a
box office success and has a strong chance of surpassing "Iron Man 3"
as the highest grossing film of the year. Many sequels fail to live up to the
promise of their predecessors but "The Hunger Games" might be one of
those rare franchises that continue to get better with each successive installment.
"Catching Fire" easily cements itself as one of the best films of
2013 and will leave you fuming with rage that "Mockingjay—Part 1" won't
arrive until November 2014.
Final
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
"Katniss,
when you're in the arena…you just remember who the enemy is."
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