The Hunger Games: Catching Fire [M]

Victory of the Hunger Games usually means a comfortable new home, money, and the odd publicity tour, but for Katniss Everdeen it means more. It means ongoing nightmares, false smiles for the cameras, and an even falser romance with her co-victor Peeta. Since her trick with the berries, the neighbouring districts have begun to revolt against the Capitol and President Snow warns Katniss that if she cannot make him and the rest of Panem believe her act was of love and not defiance, there will be consequences. But, unbeknownst to Katniss, the wheels are already in motion and the nightmares are pushed to a new level as a special Hunger Games in celebration of 75 years calls for her to go back into the arena. 

Excellent. Really excellent. This, I say with firm confidence, is the closest adaptation of a book that I have ever seen. The performances are brilliant, the emotional turmoil into which all the characters are plunged headlong comes through so well, and the costumes and makeup are bigger, grander, and in all ways better. I’ll be truly surprised if costume designer, Trish Summerville, isn’t nominated for an Academy Award for her work. 

For me, everything about this movie was right, which is particularly important because, as a fan of the books, Catching Fire was my favourite and I’m sure many other fans out there will agree. The only disheartening thing now is that I have to wait until it’s released on DVD so I can watch it again and again and again. 

Victory of the Hunger Games usually means a comfortable new home, money, and the odd publicity tour, but for Katniss Everdeen it means more. It means ongoing nightmares, false smiles for the cameras, and an even falser romance with her co-victor Peeta. Since her trick with the berries, the neighbouring districts have begun to revolt against the Capitol and President Snow warns Katniss that if she cannot make him and the rest of Panem believe her act was of love and not defiance, there will be consequences. But, unbeknownst to Katniss, the wheels are already in motion and the nightmares are pushed to a new level as a special Hunger Games in celebration of 75 years calls for her to go back into the arena. 

As I mentioned before, costume designer Trish Summerville really outdoes herself with the styles in this movie and the outfits that she creates are just phenomenal. From Katniss’ Capitol dresses to the lightweight, figure hugging, arena clobber, everything is a fabric marvel and deserves an accolade. I applaud you Trish.

I don’t want to single people out and talk about their performances like a normally do: “Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss is brilliant” blah blah blah because for me all the performances were so good. I mean this so sincerely. The second book, aside from focusing on Katniss going back into the arena, really explores the human mind and emotional status: it’s strength and fragility. The romanticism of the first book and movie is removed somewhat in this one and replaced with the real danger and harsh reality of the story’s central concept. As a result, there is a lot of emotional tension, struggle, trials, and turmoil facing everyone and the entire central cast, particularly of course Jennifer, Josh, Elizabeth, and Woody brought this out so beautifully. The character of Effie is one to watch here because although she still retains that glamorous naivety as to what’s happening outside the Capitol, there is a definite change and maturity that comes through in her character and I think it’s that that really hammers home the point that everything has changed and dark times lie ahead. The rules have changed so to speak and words such as “friend”, “ally” and “enemy” are not just for the arena. 

If I had to criticise one thing, it would be the exclusion of Haymitch’s story of how he won the Games. I always loved the character of Haymitch in the book and would have really liked to see them bring his history to the surface here, even just a little, because it’s so revealing about his character. 

The casting of all the new characters featured is something that deserves a round of applause too, they were all just as I imagined them on the page. Fantastic. 

Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Josh Hutcherson, Willow Shields, Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Amanda Plummer, Sam Claflin, Lynn Cohen, Toby Jones, Jena Malone, and Stanley Tucci, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is a fabulous adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ novel, the closest adaptation of a book that I’ve seen on screen. Filled with violence, nasty creatures, politics, drama, defiance, dazzling costumes, and romance, it’s absolutely brilliant and I just loved it!