In case you haven’t figured out what that big mass of humanity standing outside your local movie theater is, it’s the line for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. But is this sequel worth the wait? From the perspective of someone who isn’t familiar with the source material and had some trepidation about a flick that was fast-tracked and completed in a mere 18 months, it’s a remarkable accomplishment. A few minor criticisms aside, it’s a film that will entertain both serious and casual fans alike.
Having survived the previous year’s competition, tributes Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) find themselves prepping for a victory tour. Now famous, Katniss discovers that she has become a hero and symbol for a resistance movement mounting against both the government and the games themselves. Of course, this doesn’t sit well with President Snow (Donald Sutherland). He drafts Katniss and Peeta into a special edition of the games that pits several previous tournament winners against one another, hoping to tarnish her image and quell the growing protests. Strategizing with Snow to achieve his goal is clever new Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman).
The film is bolstered by a strong cast. Lawrence is once again an engaging lead, and the Katniss character is developed in more interesting ways. Once a simple girl, she must now deal with crippling post-traumatic stress, the media spotlight and manage an emotionally awkward and strained relationship with Peeta. In fact, the “victory tour” that comprises much of the first half ends up being the film’s most unique aspect. It’s fascinating to see the lead characters struggle to maintain their phony public personas, whilst the antagonists discuss the games as a means to control the masses and theorize how to manipulate the tributes to their benefit.
There are a few new wrinkles added to the games themselves, including a new environment. Several dangerous natural (an unnatural) phenomena keep the players on edge while they form alliances and conspire. The strategizing is certainly fun to watch, although the reluctance of many of the tributes to participate results in a tournament that doesn’t build or climax as dynamically as in the first film. Ultimately there is a reason for their motivations that is revealed late in the picture. Still, while it is occurring, the big event doesn’t feel quite as fresh or jarring the second time around.
Another very minor issue (and one that can’t really be helped) is the multi-film plot structure. It plays like a mere chapter of a larger tale, or a lengthy episode of an old-fashioned serial. As such, there isn’t a traditional close to the story and many plot elements are introduced that don’t pay off (at least in this chapter). For example, significant time is spent introducing a villainous commander, who ultimately doesn’t play a part in the last hour. Obviously, this character will return in a future sequel, but it can be frustrating for casual watchers to see people introduced and then wonder what happened to them. And on a side note, the costume designers might want to rethink dressing their military leader and his troops in white, armor-plated, spandex-like material. It is not a threatening uniform.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire may possess a few imperfections from an outsider’s perspective, but on the whole this is very compelling entertainment. The cast is excellent, the story and action is engaging and there is more thought put into the issues and themes raised than anticipated. Considering the fact that this is an adaptation of a “young adult” series of books, one can’t help but be impressed.