Well they’ve climbed perhaps the biggest mountain and are now hurtling towards the finish line. Catching Fire is the lynchpin in the books written by Suzanne Collins where the subject matter gets even more mature and luckily for audiences the film version, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, is a solid enough flick to get us to the real craziness. I was on record as not really digging the first Hunger Games film so I’m happy to report those who might have been scared away should give this film a chance.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire takes place a few months after the end of the first film which saw our two loves, Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) refusing to kill the other in the games. Now living back in District 12 they’ve basically had minimal to do with each other and Katniss is cozying up to Gale a bit more. However, when they go on their victors tour they see the unrest their shocking choice has caused as the districts are beginning to revolt and curfews are being handed down. Seeking a way to quell this, President Snow installs curfews in every district and along with Gamesmaker Plutrach Heavensbee decides that the Quarter Quell will be all composed of previous victors. Once thrown in the arena they are faced with the most intense games ever put on where they fight for their lives alongside some new allies.
There are so many things to talk about with this movie but it is probably best to start with filmmaking. The main problem with the first film was the style and luckily the producers have brought in Francis Lawrence to helm this and the next two. He brings a much needed steady hand, and not just from his wonderful choice to eliminate the shaky cam. Lawrence’s direction is simply solid, hitting the beats he needs to and ramping up the intensity along the way.
Acting wise this film is a set above the previous. Jennifer Lawrence is as ever amazing (she’s got the one tear cry down to a science), but it’s her supporting cast that makes the movie. Josh Hutcherson manages to channel all of the sensitive leading man energy into his performance as Peeta. That character can often feel like a wet blanket, especially considering how passionate Gale seems to be, but Peeta is no less a viable suitor or character and we feel that way because of Josh. Liam Hemsworth gets probably his most showy outing as Gale in this film and he does really well with the harsh scenes and showing what happens when people have to grow up too quickly.
But I have to make time to mention Sam Claflin, an actor who I find to be more boring than a sheet of paper, and commend him for at least delivering a solid performance as Finnick. Anyone familiar with the text can tell you Finnick is a key character and Claflin has a lot riding on his shoulders. Much to my chagrin, and eternal elation, he manages to nail the few big scenes that Finnick needs to work and add in some character bits while they are in the games. Also giving good supporting work was Jena Malone as Joanne, who managed to challenge the righteous fury and ridiculous overtness that the character has.
Helping all of these actors along is a pretty solid script. Written by Oscar winners Simon Beaufoy and Michael Arndt, the script certainly had a tall task of not only condensing Suzanne Collins novel but also finding a way for the Quarter Quell to be exciting cinematically. For the most part the screenplay manages to do this, hitting the necessary beats it needs to while adding a bit of stylistic flourish here and there. Having now seen two Hunger Games films, I just find myself relieved when the big scenes happen and don’t fall flat (Joanna in the elevator and Finnick’s entrance in particular are great).
The issue with the script however is similar in nature to the problems Charlie Victor Romeo had. Book readers and non book readers are so keyed up for the actual games that the beginning portions just feel like extra long prologues. It’s this that really tilts the weight more towards the opening information as opposed to the machinations behind the scenes and during the games. There’s a lot of character beats I feel were left on the cutting room floor that could have really helped. Also, the ending, already abrupt in the book feels like a sledgehammer given that the Games don’t feel that long.
Grade: ***/**** (B)