by Gema Luna, Assistant Editor
It is said that once you win the Hunger Games you are done. There is no more reaping for you, no more starving for you or your family, no more worries for the rest of your life. At least that is what the winners of last year’s 74th Hunger Games Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook) “The Girl On Fire” and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson, Red Dawn) thought. But the love story that made them win the games might not have been seen as an act of selflessness, but an act of defiance against the Capitol. As they embark on their victory tour, they have to convince everybody that it wasn’t, that it was only an act of desperation by a silly little girl in love. A revolution is brewing, and Katniss is the spark of hope that the districts of Panem need to end the violent oppression and stronghold the Capitol has on them. As President Snow (Donald Sutherland, The Italian Job) feels like he is losing control of the districts he will do whatever it takes to regain it. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is the sequel to last year’s movie based on Suzanne Collins trilogy of books with the same name, and it comes to a theater near you on November 22nd.
The movie takes place a few months after their win, right before their victory tour begins. We find a PTSD suffering Katniss trying to figure out how to keep living the life she used to know and sorting out her feelings between Gale (Liam Hemsworth, The last song) and Peeta, her partner in the arena. However, as she prepares for the victory tour she receives a visit from President Snow where she is forced to convince the world- and him- of her love for Peeta. But with Peeta and her barely talking to each other, it is a request easier said than done. And with the 75th games afoot and with it the quarter quell, her life is in more danger than she realizes and the result of these games will change the future of Panem forever.
There is no doubt why Jennifer Lawrence is an Oscar winner, her performance as the rebel, bow and arrow swinging girl from the poorest district of this greatly created dystopian world is flawless. For the fan of the books she is Katniss embodied and her performance is what gives me hope that there is still a chance for the young adult genre to become great movies. But the brilliance doesn’t end there, the complete cast is magnificent: from Hutcherson to Woody Harrelson. Harrelson plays their drunkard mentor Haymitch Abernathy to magnificent perfection, adding a little bit of comedic relief to otherwise somber movie. And what is a great mentor without an incredible escort to the games, and in this case Elizabeth Banks (What to Expect When You’re Expecting) plays Effie Trinket the fashion forward and sometimes a little too much capitol escort. But the greatness in the cast does not end there, and the new members of it do not disappoint. Starting with Philip Seymour Hoffman who plays the new head gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee. Hoffman gives this intriguing character a beautiful depth that it demands.
Also new to the film is Director Francis Lawrence (I am Legend, Constantine) and Screenwriters Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) and Michael Arndt (Oblivion) who bring a new life and creativeness to the movie without jeopardizing the films integrity, as well as incredible depth and emotion to all the characters.
The movie takes you on a train ride of emotions that you do not want to stop even after being there for close to two and a half hours. There is action, drama and even some comedy in this sci-fi dystopian film, a perfect cocktail that creates an amazing and breathtaking motion picture.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is a must see movie of this winter, a movie that young, old, boy or girl will enjoy. It will keep you wanting more and counting the days till the next part of the film comes.
ComicsOnline gives The Hunger Games: Catching Fire 5 Mockingjays out of 5.
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