The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: Review

Last year, The Hunger Games surprised me with how enjoyable it was. I hadn't read any of the books (and I am still yet to), but it engrossed me very quickly and made me leave the cinema wanting more of the unique story it had created. This made me begin eagerly awaiting Catching Fire in the hope that it would live up to the standard the first film had set...I did not expect, however, for it to surpass it. 

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire takes place almost a year after the first film and shows how Katniss' actions at the end of that movie caused civil unrest, plunging the already threatened civilians of the twelve Districts into a much darker world to live in. Rebellion is now something which simmers everywhere; angering the dictatorial leaders in the Capitol. Expecting to be brought back in to the Games as a coach for a new line of combatants, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) is shocked when it is revealed that many previous victors will be thrown back in to the arena in order to compete in the 75th annual Hunger Games: a plan brought about by the ruthless President Snow (Donald Sutherland) as a means of destroying the reputation Katniss has achieved, due to the fact she has become a figurehead of the rebellion. 

Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence)

Catching Fire is definitely a far darker movie than it's predecessor, with many scenes in the first half taking place in the incredibly dreary District 12. This gloomy atmosphere is intensified by the frequent acts of violence committed against innocent civilians on behalf of the totalitarian government, and the change in mood from the first film is definitely a welcome feature. Public beatings, executions and attempts at stamping out anybody who fights back create a world which is clearly on the brink of it's own destruction. The focus in Catching Fire is less on the Games themselves and instead on the world which Katniss and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) created with their actions in the first movie. In fact, I found that the latter half of the movie which features the actual Hunger Games was my least favourite half, due to its incredibly rushed nature. There were 24 combatants in the games, and many were killed off without even having any screen time (with a cannon sounding the time of their death). Obviously the entirety of the Games could not be fit in to a feature-length movie, but I wouldn't mind a slightly longer film so it could be shown in more depth; especially as Catching Fire felt no longer than an hour. 

Jennifer Lawrence, whom since the first Hunger Games has become a film sensation, plays the central role of Katniss just as well as in the first movie...it's a shame then, that the same cannot be said for the rest of the cast. For the majority of the film, everybody acted to an above-average standard, but there were numerous occasions where a certain line or phrase was performed in such a bad manner that it completely took me out of the film. The main characters were all entertaining to watch, but many of the 'disposable' characters who take place in the Games were underwhelming to say the least. There were times during the film when the entire cinema laughed at how awkwardly somebody said their lines, but for the most part, it was bearable. 

Verdict

Despite it seeming like I have mostly complained about Catching Fire, for the majority of the time, I rather enjoyed it. The acting was occasionally jarring and the ending cliffhanger may not have been needed, but I'm still very excited to see the next instalment, Mockingjay, some time next year. Not having read the books, I cannot comment on whether or not it remains true to their storyline, but it should be known that I don't think you'll entirely understand the plot of Catching Fire if you have not seen or at least understood the plot of the previous movie. 

"There are no winners; only survivors."