Review of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) by Josh K — 08 Dec 2014

Upon the release of The Hunger Games, the film was met with great success, which immediately led to the studio planning to adapt the other two books into films, which were Catching Fire and Mockingjay. This second entry is far darker than the first, while also slowly leading into what the final installment will be about. Mockingjay is set to be adapted as a two-part film.

Following their success in the game, Katniss and Peeta are sent on a Victor's Tour, which has them visit the different districts and discuss the bravery of the other contestants from those districts. Katniss also witnesses signs of war from the districts, who want to see the fall of the Capital. President Snow also plans on dispatching Katniss, which leads to him causing the Quarter Quell, which will serve as an anniversary of the original game.

Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) takes over as director from Gary Ross and adds a darker and grittier tone to this film, while also having it be well thought out. Simon Beaufoy and Michael DeBruyn take over as screenwriters, adding further to the mythology of the books by Suzanne Collins, while also still honoring the first film.

The cast is well-rounded out, with Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth doing a fine job at leading the film. Lawrence still proves that she can depict the female warrior, while Hutcherson and Hemsworth wonderfully support her. Hemsworth has a slightly larger role in this film than he did in the first. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Jeffrey Wright and Amanda Plummer wonderfully add to the cast, while Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks once again manage to steal scenes that they are in. At times they seem like dueling characters. Donald Sutherland still proves that he can depict a villain and Stanley Tucci succeeds in doing the unexpected.

James Newton Howard's score is darker than the first, while the song by Coldplay, Atlas, is just marvelous.

The special effects, especially during the arena sequences, are outstanding.

While some may find this film to be a little repetitive from the first, with a few scenes being similar once again with the first, this film still manages to go in a different direction while director Lawrence also succeeds in having it have a perfect focus. The film's cliffhanger ending leads us open, while also wondering how the final entry will conclude this world.