Review of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) by Chris O — 04 Jul 2016

Compelling and powerful in many ways, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is not only the best film in the franchise, but a near flawless one in that.

With the 74th annual Hunger Games behind them, Katniss tries to live her life with the aftermath of the games. However, when the third Quarter Quell is put into place, not only is she thrust back into the games, but a bigger and darker revolution is taking place within Panem.

Okay, so I wasn't the biggest fan of the first film, as it not only paled in comparison to the novel, but it struggled in many ways. However, not only did I feel that this was the best Hunger Games film yet, but I actually thought it was an amazing film altogether. The way it was able to explore thought provoking themes and really deliver this amazing story not only shocked me, but I genuinely loved this movie in many ways.

First off, bravo to the director, Francis Lawrence. This film felt very smooth with its sequence of events and it didn't feel nearly as choppy as the first film did. From the first hour of setup to the finale, I was honestly hooked on the entire ride. Everything is just so intriguing and thought provoking, and when you're able to explore more into the ideas of revolution and hope, it really makes the film something else. I think one thing this sequel does amazing that other franchises often lack on is the fact that they make the universe so much deeper and they establish the world of Panem very well. I want to watch these characters interact and I want to see the tragedies within Panem, and it all just gets to you in different ways. It's entertaining and smart all at the same time.

The returning cast not only do a great job, but I think they all stepped up from the previous film. Jennifer Lawrence, again, shows why she's one of the top female talents in Hollywood. She's really established her name in cinema and there's no one better suited to play Katniss. The emotion and natural charisma she brings to this role makes her irreplaceable. Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson are both fantastic in their parts still, while the consistency of their personalities make them excellent supporting characters. New additions Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, and more, all bring so many different angles to the film and they're just more characters for us to cheer for. Everyone in this movie really did a fantastic job, from returning crew to new additions.

The screenplay of this movie was brilliantly written, making it eye opening for first viewers and even better for repeat viewings. Like I've stated multiple times, they aren't afraid to go deeper into their messages, as there really is a powerful and dark story to be told. It really does get you emotionally attached when you see the dire nature of the situation at hand and it engulfs you into its world. The dialogue was very smart and I felt like each character's dialogue was very unique for the characters themselves. Everyone gets an established personality and not only was the dialogue subtlety smart, but it was intriguing. When nothing is really happening or they're just in conversation, they still manage to keep you focused on the film and they somehow hold your attention for a blistering 2 hour 20 minute run time, which is an impressive feat.

The visuals were much more improved in this film also. When they get into the arena, the color pallet looks stunning, the environment feels real, the CGI looks modern, and everything is just visually pleasing. It's important that what you see and what you hear are top quality, even if the audience doesn't recognize it up front. This movie looked amazing and it surely brings a whole other level to the franchise.

In the end, this movie is so smart and emotionally powerful in many ways. The more I think about it, the more I realize that this movie didn't really do anything wrong. Yes, if you dig deep enough, there can be some glaring questions, but overall, I felt like this movie was executed perfectly. Its twists and turns manages to make this movie stand out, and I had goose bumps on more than one occasion. This is one of the deepest explorations of a YA novel that I've ever seen, and it truly deserves this rating. This isn't my favorite film of all time or anything, but in reality, it does deserve this rating.