Rating of
3.5/4
This Fire Burns Bright
Chris Kavan - wrote on 11/24/13
While I was happy enough with The Hunger Games when it came out, I have to admit it feel just short of my expectations. But when the buzz started rolling about Catching Fire - notably that it was better than the first film and fixed many of the issues (damn shaky camera!) that was present, I started to take notice. And, I'm happy to report, that the early reviews are correct: Catching Fire is better than the first film and is a fantastic adaptation that rises above the typical YA mold.
A big chunk of the reason Catching Fire works can be placed firmly on the shoulders of Jennifer Lawrence. Hot off her Academy Award-winning performance in Silver Linings Playbook, you would think she might put less effort into Katniss Everdeen. But that couldn't be further from the truth. If anything, she puts more emotion into the character this second time around. From her relationship with the people in her life to dealing with the fallout from "winning" the 74th Annual Hunger Games - she truly sells the role. This may not get the awards attention, but I think she put every bit as much heart and emotion as she did for director David O. Russell.
Speaking of directors, Francis Lawrence manages to fix what I found wrong with the original film. I didn't feel that much of a spark between Lawrence and co-star Josh Hutcherson (or Liam Hemsworth for that matter) but this time around, there is a better connection. Lawrence also ditched the shaky camera action for a more straight-forward approach - and it works much better in my eyes. He was also gifted with someone who was excellent with casting. The newcomers, from Philip Seymour Hoffman as the new games master Plutarch Heavensbee to Jena Malone, Sam Claflin, Amanda Plummer and Jeffrey Wright as fellow tributes - I wish some people had been given more screen time, but for what it's worth, everyone was cast pretty much spot-on.
The film takes place shortly after Katniss and Peeta have won the games. Now charged with going on a Victory Tour (to each district, ending at the capitol) they must continue the charade of being a couple in love while also dealing with a burgeoning revolution that has sprung up following their mutual rebellion. President Snow (Donald Sutherland - in and understated yet terribly effective menacing role) pretty much spells out that if the couple don't convince the world they are in love (and not putting on a show) he will start murdering people. But when they fail to halt the spread of the unrest, Snow shows his true colors - in order to celebrate the 75th Hunger Games - a Quarter Quell - the tributes will not be picked randomly from the districts, but rather, be picked from a much smaller pool or former victors.
While the first half of the film is much more dramatic and character-driving, the second half deals with these new, much more dangerous Hunger Games. In order to have any chance of survival, former tribute himself Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) tells the young duo they better start making some friends. That won't be so easy as half the pool is made up of the dangerous "career" tribute - who really are out for blood - and the other half is hard to trust. The film doesn't skimp on the action as killer fog, angry simians and deadly lightning are just some of the dangers facing our heroes.
But danger doesn't matter without emotion and there is a lot to go around. From the opening scene where Katniss pays tribute to Rue though some heavy sacrifices - Catching Fire is not a film to shy away from making an impact. Hell, even the over-the-top fashionista Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) manages to have once scene of real feeling. There is even a bit of humor to go around an otherwise grim film. It is heavy - people get whipped, an oppressive police state is ever-present and executions abound - but there is still a chuckle or two hiding under all that weight.
When it comes down to it - Catching Fire tops the original Hunger Games and, for a blockbuster, it raises the bar. One can only hope the next two Mockingjay films will be as effective.
