‘I want you guys to forget everything you think you know about the games. Last year was child’s play. This year, you’re dealing with all experienced killers.’
The high anticipated sequel to The Hunger Games from 2012 was, for those of you that read the book, very tame (just to get that more accessible rating), but the story and message still came across. Even though I did feel it could have been executed in a better way. I read the first book before I saw the movie and then read Catching Fire and The Mockingjay. The first reviews and critiques were all very positive which left me with high expectations. I was really looking forward how Katniss was going to get herself through this installment.
Catching Fire is set after The Hunger Games ends. Katniss and Peeta are going on a victory tour to attend to all the districts that lost their young tributes in the games. It gives the two victors a peek into their world; the atmosphere in the rest of Panem. Small gestures and actions that point to resistance and rebellion are slain with, out of proportion force. At the same time you can feel the power of the capitol beginning to show cracks. When Katniss realizes she’s being thrown back into the horrific world of the Hunger Games, when she thought to be done with them for good, she decides for herself what the outcome of these games are going to be. She never figured that the people in her surroundings have a whole other plan for her and for the stifled world they live in.
I liked the second book the most of the three and I liked this movie a lot better than the first movie. But with the book still fresh in my memory, it simply does not live up. Other ‘details’ are just shortly touched upon and then let go, while they are of bigger importance to the story especially looking into the future to the last part of this trilogy. This movie looks great! It is very true to its source material. The cast fits it characters to a t. To cast Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen is the best decision the casting director made. Disgust raises when being confronted about how the capitol controls its people, the contradictions between the different districts and the Capitol is an interesting metaphor for life in this reality world in 2013.
The director Francis Lawrence (no relation to Jennifer as far as I know) is known for directing I am Legend and Water for Elephants. Just like David Fincher he has roots in the directing of music videos, And he’s currently making the last part of The Hunger Games trilogy Mockingjay part 1 and 2.