The sequel to last year's wildly successful The Hunger Games is here and it's superior to its predecessor in almost every single way.
I'm of two minds when it comes to The Hunger Games, the first movie, not the series as a whole. On one hand, I enjoyed it as a faithful adaptation of Suzanne Collins' novel but as a standalone film, I don't think it was as successful as it could have been. The expansive world of the novel felt very small on screen, the production design and costuming felt cheap and the ill-advised use of shakycam by director Gary Ross simply served as a way to avoid showing things that the production couldn't afford to produce. But even though it wasn't perfect, the movie was a smash hit expanding the awareness and fan-base of the series far beyond the "young adults" that first stumbled upon it in 2008. I was cautiously optimistic leading up to the release of the sequel, Catching Fire. At this point, the series was the major cog in Lionsgate's franchise wheel and there were several trials and tribulations on its expedited road to the big screen. Namely, Gary Ross' exit from the franchise and the addition of Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) as a new director. Would all the behind-the-scenes issues and rushed production lead to another ho-hum adaptation?
Within its first fifteen minutes, Catching Fire proves its superiority to The Hunger Games. The opening scenes have a new, strong confidence about them, making it hard to not be immediately swept off your feet – the epic first shot of Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), lush, expansive landscapes (that were never really featured in the first film), and an immediate sense of its larger world and the story it's telling. Picking up months after the events of the previous installment, Catching Fire finds Katniss haunted and enraged over her memories of the first games and torn between the two men in her life – Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), her co-victor from District 12, and her longtime friend Gale (Liam Hemsworth) – more than ever before. President Snow (Donald Sutherland, yep, still terrifying) is still none-to-pleased with the way Katniss and Peeta outsmarted the gamemakers in the 74th annual games and is keeping an eagle-eye on Panem blaming every moment of rebellion in any district on Katniss. He pays Katniss a visit at Victors' Village, where Katniss and Peeta now reside, and warns her that during their Victory Tour, a sort of celebrity press tour all victors take after they win, she better keep up appearances as a gracious winner who is loyal to the capitol and hopelessly in love with Peeta or else deathly consequences await.
The first hour of the film is flat-out fantastic. Every scene tingles with dramatic, high-stakes politics layered within a much more engrossingly executed love triangle. Katniss and Peeta are forced to tour the districts as a happy couple, kissing and waving to the increasingly frustrated and angry districts all while the Capitol, namely President Snow, watch on sniffing out any hints of an uprising inevitably on its way. When visiting District 11, the district of Katniss' fallen friend, Rue, one of the residents whistles the iconic "Mockingjay Song" and raises his three fingers as a sign in support of Katniss and District 12. The crowd follows suit prompting the Peacekeepers to attack and execute the rebel on site. What I love about these early scenes is the insane amounts of tension and stakes the film is able to pull off – all while revealing even Katniss and Peeta are unaware of just how impactful their decision in the last games was to the districts of Panem. Katniss Everdeen is a sign of hope for the repressed districts thus morphing her into the Capitols most dangerous political target. It must be noted that Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson both turn in improved performances here. Lawrence is at her finest when she's sticking it to President Snow and Hutcherson has an edgy, cooler confidence making Peeta more fun to be around this time. Predictably excellent are Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks as Haymitch and Effie, respectively. Harrelson playing drunker yet wiser than ever before and Banks thriving in even more outlandish costumes while also getting a chance to show a deeper side to Effie.
After much chaos and confusion amongst the tour, President Snow announces a twist in the 75th Hunger Games, or the third Quarter Quell. The contestants will be reaped from the existing pool of victors. Katniss and Peeta return to the Capitol representing District 12. It's here when Catching Fire resembles the first film's structure the most. Only this time, the film has more grace and wit about itself. It flows better and moves quicker. Stanley Tucci is back as the insane, master of ceremonies Ceasar Flickerman, hosting what's now probably one of the most iconic laughs in the history of film. It's apparent Tucci's having even more of a blast this time around. New to the series is Philip Seymour Hoffman as the new head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee. Hoffman is a wonderful addition and delivers his lines with a glimmer of mystique and mystery never letting the audience know exactly what game he is playing. This being a sequel, we also get to spend some more time with the other victors prior to the arena, which helps add stakes to more characters besides Katniss and Peeta. The two most anticipated by diehard fans are the two everyone will remember leaving the theatre: Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair and Jena Malone as Johanna Mason. Claflin is endearingly cocky but strong and intelligent. Mason's Johanna adds a much needed dose of comic relief while also having a few standout moments of unhinged rebellion herself.
In The Hunger Games, the "arena" felt like a section in the backwoods of North Carolina the producers had rented for a few weeks. In Catching Fire, the arena is far more complex and interesting to look at. The production moved filming to Hawaii to capture the new tropical, lush arena and it pays off big time. Lawrence stages the action in a more coherent and exciting manner than Ross was able to pull off. There's also less cutaways to the gamemaker control room, which I thought was often times laughable in the first film. A deadly fog, screaming jabberyjays, an angry group of monkeys and more also aid in increasing the stakes higher than before. Not to mention, the entire 50 minute "game sequence" was shot in IMAX and it looks pretty damn impressive.
The one thing the film just can't quite execute is sadly one of the more integral moments – the ending. As someone who has read the books, I knew what was coming and I understand that this is the middle chapter so it's not really an ending as much as it is an ellipsis. Still, I do think they could have executed the "twist" with more panache than they did. It left me kind of miffed since everything that came before seemed to have come so effortlessly. It felt rushed and didn't have the impact I thought was necessary to leave the audience breathlessly wanting more. Not to mention, I didn't LOVE the slow, fire-burning logo to cap it off, either. A simple title-screen would have been just fine.
Taking this all under account, perhaps Catching Fire's biggest success is that it understands that this time around, the games and the victors aren't the real story. Where the first film peaked interest with its outlandish premise, Catching Fire grasps at the deeper roots of Katniss Everdeen's story. The story of a girl who takes a stand against something she feels is wrong, not for fame or for fortune, but because she thinks it's right. Unfortunately, with her decision the fame and fortune come anyway and Panem's perception and reaction to her can change at the drop of a hat or at the whistle of four simple notes. Every revolution begins with a spark and to Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games have become just that, games. Early in the film, President Snow whispers to Katniss "How would you like to be in a real war?" Katniss responds quickly with a stern "no." By the end of Catching Fire, Katniss has rebellion in her eyes and an uprising to ignite and leaves the audience with a determined glare confirming President Snow will rue the day he ever challenged "the girl on fire."
GRADE: A-
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
Directed By: Francis Lawrence
PG-13, 146 minutes
Additional Note: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay will be split into two parts. Part 1 will be released on November 21, 2014 and Part 2 on November 20, 2015. I *really* wish they weren't splitting it into two movies (the book is only 390 pages) but with this creative team, I think they just might be able to pull it off.
