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Hunger Games: Catching Fire Film Review

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I was very excited to see Hunger Games: Catching Fire because I loved the first one so much. However, I was also worried that it would not be as good because it had so much to live up to.

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One of the highlights of The Hunger Games was, of course, Jennifer Lawrence. An epic heroine, the new Ripley. A survivor with a heart, sacrificing herself for her sister. Straight-talking and brave; Katniss might be one of the best female characters in a film ever. She is certainly one of the most inspirational. A role model even for real women.

Whilst watching Hunger Games: Catching Fire one thing struck me: that there may be people watching it thinking our society is not like this at all, but the Hunger Games does reflect our society, and more countries more than others. The gaps between the haves and the have nots, social injustice, oppression; the Hunger Games is more than thrilling entertainment, it is also a statement on the world we live in. An intelligent action film, well written with brilliant acting and something to say.

It is hard to not get caught up in the story, in the characters and their plight. It is hard to not keep going on about Lawrence as Katniss. The audience love her, the people love her: she is the girl whos purity and bravery sparks a revolution. I have to confess that I have not read the books, but I really want to. Josh Hutcherson (Peeta) and Liam Hemsworth (Gale) are both excellent as the men Katniss is caught between: her real love and her media love. Who will she end up with in the end?

Peeta and Katniss are celebrities but also icons. They empower the people and pay the price. Peeta, Katniss and Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) make an excellent team, bonded together through what can only be described post-traumatic-stress-disorder. Katniss wakes Peeta up by screaming as she wakes up from a nightmare, he comes into her room: ‘It’s okay’, he says, ‘I get them too.’ Even Effie (Elizabeth Banks), that vacuous idiot, can barely take the injustice, finds her conscious and her feelings.

Donald Sutherland is excellent as President Snow and Machiavellian media chief Philip Seymour Hoffman is brilliant and full of depth. I was also pleased with myself as I saw the twist before it happened. The film is relevant, gripping and worthy. In fact the only bad thing I have to say is that it ended far too quickly and I have no idea how I am going to wait an entire year for the next installment.

Five stars.

The Hunger Games Review

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Some have dismissed ‘The Hunger Games’ as another film for the teen masses. But this no ‘Twilight Saga’, nor is it a cheap copy of ‘Battle Royale’ as some have claimed. The film is fantastic and original. Its message is important. It is an absolute must watch for all (although I was a little surprised at the lowly 12A rating).

Set in the future, every year the Capitol randomly selects a boy and girl  from the surrounding twelve districts to fight to the death on live television in a tournament known as ‘The Hunger Games’. The games are a reminder of a rebellion the districts took part in against the Capitol 75 years earlier.

When I first read the summary I was worried the plot would be a little far fetched. I always want films to be believable. I shouldn’t have worried. The film takes itself seriously. At no point does it feel overly fantastical or unrealistic, in fact it does a very good job of feeling real. We should not forget that it is not so long ago in our history that these sorts of events existed, and people did fight each other to the death for others entertainment.

Unlike ‘Battle Royale’ there is a long build up to the actual tournament itself, and it is this which makes the film work so well.

The focus is on the horrific perversity of the whole event. Competitors are taken from the starving poverty of their districts to a world of opulence. As an extra dynamic to the contest the competitors are forced to try and gain sponsors in the lead up to the event by going on chat shows and doing well in test events. Sponsors help during the event will be vital if they want to have any chance of winning. The whole process is brilliantly sickening.

Unlike ‘Battle Royale’ most of the focus is on a single lead character ‘Katniss Everdeen’ who is played superbly by the brilliant Jennifer Lawrence. She is ably supported by a very strong cast.

All in all a superb film. Probably the film of the year and a must see. 9/10