The Hunger Games: Catching Fire [DVD]

There is an unsettling trend that has festered its way into Hollywood. I guess you could say it has been going on for years, but this is a little different. An author writes a trilogy (or more) of books geared toward young adults, they become popular and then Hollywood milks the public dry with movies that have no ending until they actually make the final movie; which could be delayed longer and longer, depending upon how much milking takes place. "Harry Potter" was the poster child for this trend and that was followed by the "Twilight" series, both of which split their final books into two movies for more milking.I call this an unsettling trend because often what happens is bad film-making; movies with no payoff, stories that are interrupted for months or years until they film and release the next chapter, movies that their entire purpose for existence is a side-story and finally, payoff after 4,5, or 7 movies that makes you realize that 4,5 or 7 movies was really unnecessary. I say this because "The Hunger Games" is one of those franchises' of films and you should be fully aware of these downsides that I just listed.Fortunately for "Hunger Games", it is spectacular film-making. Most importantly though, it is gifted with an amazing actress that effortlessly achieves the one thing that I think is the greatest asset that any movie can; empathy. Katniss Everdeen is an unwilling and sympathetic anti-hero and if you as an audience member don't feel the emotions that she is going through or are moving in your seat as she runs, dives and survives, you may need to check your pulse."Catching Fire" is more than the action movie that you would expect. It is brilliantly thought-provoking. Each character is drawn to complexity with great thought and performed with vigor by great actors. When Woody Harrelson's character Haymitch tells Katniss that the upcoming exercise is to find allies, the message is clear to her and to you the audience. From that point on, you the audience member and Katniss Everdeen are one in the same. You are studying the characters and your heart is racing when the events begin to unfold. Who does she trust? Who do you trust?You'd have to have been in a Turkish prison not to know that "Catching Fire" is the middle book of a three-book series and the second of a four-movie series. Therefore, despite its qualities, the movie builds you to a boiling point, the screen drops to black and on the screen comes the crackling burning mockingjay icon, signifying credits and a wink to you that you'll have to wait until November 2014 for part 1 of the rest of the story and November 2015 for the concluding film. Thanks for your cash! See you then! Hope you live that long!On the good side, rather than make you mad, the movie achieves its desired goal and lights an appropriate fire in your gut. I have already drawn three 'X''s on my living room wall. When I get approximately 365 of them, I can see the next movie.

Let's get right to it. I really enjoyed the entire Hunger Games trilogy of books, and I was definitely disappointed with the first Hunger Games movie. There were 2 big reasons I disliked it. First it felt like they spent a lot of time on insignificant details and, as a result, lost a lot of the emotional depth the film needed. Secondly, the shaky handheld camera was distracting and downright nauseating. Thankfully, a new writing team and new director means that Catching Fire had none of these problems. In fact it was a great sequel that actually improved on the predecessor and has me excited about what will come next.They finally allow Jennifer Lawrence to experience more real emotion in this film. She genuinely made me tear up a couple times because she wears her emotions on her sleeve this time around. Josh Hutcherson is very likeable as Peeta, and you can see why Katniss actually starts falling for him a little in this film. Liam Hemsworth as Gale, however is superfluous. I know in a post-Twilight world it makes sense for the studio to play up the 2 suitors vying for the female protagonist, but nearly every scene with Gale could be easily cut without losing the story. I think I'd call the forced love triangle my only big thumbs-down in this film. The cast of other victors are really good. I particularly enjoyed Sam Claflin who gave a very passionate performance. Philip Seymour Hoffman was also a good casting choice and he does a good job with Donald Sutherland of showing just how vicious the Capitol government can be.By and large it was what this film did not do that impressed me more than what it did. They were willing to cut unimportant moments from the book. An entire scene was summed up in just a few looks. We didn't need to meet every single victor, just the ones Katniss would actually interact with. It kept the film interesting and engaging without slowing things down unecessarily. There were a number of nods to things in the book, little things in the background which were kind of cool, almost like hidden Easter eggs. I think the only thing I missed seeing was Haymitch's back-story getting fleshed out a bit more. However that's a minor complaint in what I thought was a majorly good film. Catching Fire seriously gets the franchise back on track and should satisfy anyone who enjoyed the books or the first film. It is one of those rare cases where the sequel actual outshines the original, and I loved it.

10/10 on this franchise!!