Review: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Review: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Director: Francis Lawrence

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland

Running Time: 146 Minutes

Sequel is as sequel does, whether it be a novel or a cinematic adaptation of said novel. 2012's The Hunger Games made a star out of Jennifer Lawrence and also made a star of female-led action films in general. For most, it was a surprise hit; many cinema fans shrugged their shoulders and expected yet another Twilight-esque love story, for which they couldn't be blamed (I mean, have you seen the three leads?). 

However, it shocked and surprised with its brutal and violent depiction of a sickly and dystopian future in which incredibly poor families are forced to submit their children for a fight-to-the-death reality TV show as punishment for a once failed uprising against their cruel government.

Where the Harry Potter series failed to meet its novelised expectations, the team behind The Hunger Games seemed to have a determined outlook on what they wanted to achieve and how they wanted to achieve it, be it through horrific murdering witnessed via shaky-cam or the incredibly powerful themes of intimidation versus encouragement. Not even two years later, we're being treated to a sequel courtesy of new director Francis Lawrence, yet with the return of (now Oscar-winning) Jennifer Lawrence as lead heroin Katniss Everdeen.

Catching Fire gives us the usual sequel treatment though - following the unwritten rule of movie franchises, the second film in the series is moodier, darker and much, much better than its predecessor. Following their unexpected triumph in the 74th Annual Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta are in the midst of an obligatory victory tour around each of the districts. Yet Katniss can sense a rebellion brewing - and she is the icon on which a new revolution could be based

Needless to say, she's pretty annoyed because she doesn't want to be a celebrity; Peeta is pretty annoyed because he thought Katniss really was in love with him; President Snow is pretty annoyed because he really can't be bothered dealing with a rebellion; and all the poor low-lifes in Panem are pretty annoyed having to spend their entire lives mining and digging only to send their kids off to die in an arena for the entertainment of the wealthy.

So with everyone peeved to an entertaining extent, President Snow announces that for the 75th Hunger Games, previous winners of the tournament, including Katniss and Peeta, will be thrust back into the arena for another go. Because why the hell not? Faced with poisoned fog, hidden forcefields and actual adults (some of which are battle-hardened warriors) this time around, Katniss is severely out of her depth.

Jennifer Lawrence though, is not. Taking her Oscar win completely in her stride, Lawrence injects Katniss with a consistent sense of urgency for the people around her. There's no doubt she'll soon be overtaking the likes of Ripley and Hermione Granger as one of the most popular science fiction heroines of all time, whether it be for her emotional goodbyes to her family outside the battlefield or her action-packed stint within it.

Unfortunately the same can't be said for most of the supporting cast; Lenny Kravitz barely gets a look in this time around, while Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci and Elizabeth Banks lose their performances behind ten tons of pantomime clothing and fakery. 

Surprisingly, it's the scenes outside the arena that pack the most punch. Not often in a teen movie will you see a man executed in front of his entire village via a bullet to the head; nor will you usually see Liam Hemsworth violently whipped to the point of unconsciousness purely for saving the life of a small child. Catching Fire is never repulsive or brutal to the eye, but it leaves the worst moments to the imagination of the viewer - and sometimes that can be much worse.

Francis Lawrence's direction does make for some truly tense edge-of-your-seat moments though, like a frantic chase through the woods of the arena to escape poisonous fog or a stand off with frankly psychotic apes; for a while it seems like the action never lets up, and you'd be forgiven for checking your heart rate.

In the end though, this does feel like a simple stepping stone to something much greater and grander; the "Half-Blood Prince" to Mockingjay's "Deathly Hallows." Still, if the electric climax of Catching Fire is anything to go by, Mockingjay is going to absolutely bring the house down.

Summary

Proving that she's worthy of her Oscar glory, Jennifer Lawrence gives another incredible performance as cinema's most compelling female protagonist, while Francis Lawrence's frantic and energetic direction makes for some truly engrossing moments within what could have been an all-too-familiar story. Not every character hits the right buttons, but at the end of the day you'll be surprised at just how much you've come to care about the world in which Katniss is surviving. If this is a mere indicator of things to come, the odds are definitely in Mockingjay's favour.

9/10 - Brilliant

See it if you liked: Gamer (2009), The Hunger Games (2012), Thor: The Dark World (2013)