After my year and a half of waiting after The Hunger Games ended, the highly anticipated second installment has sparked onto the screen. That's right, Catching Fire has had a hell of an opening week. With an opening of a solid $158 million and raving reviews flooding in from critics and die hard fans, it's safe to say this franchise has finally sound some solid footing. Now, in its first week alone I have seen Catching Fire a total of four times. I went to the 8 P.M. showing, of course, and over the course of Thanksgiving break I found myself being constantly lured back into the theatre to see it again. There are plenty of reasons why, too.
In this film, everything is stepped up a couple notches. I'd like to start with the acting. The first name that comes to my mind is Jennifer Lawrence, who was also the best performance in the first film, but there's a couple reasons why she steals scenes in this movie. Lawrence has a new challenge this time around, having to show a lot of PTSD and anxiety and fear while also wearing a mask of bravery for her family and nation. Lawrence's character, Katniss, has a lot of complex character qualities that would be difficult to translate from the book to the screen, yet Lawrence does it flawlessly. Other standouts include Jena Malone as Johanna Mason, an unpredictable and unforgiving tribute reaped back into the Games, and Elizabeth Banks as Effie. But in all honesty, every single cast member was incredible and everybody brought their character to life.
The cinematography was simply amazing and added to the fantastic world building Catching Fire brought to the screen. The costumes, makeup, and set design all need to be complimented heavily as well, because without that the characters would never have reached the effect they had without them.
I could rave about all the amazing things Catching Fire did right, but the list would go on and on. But overall, it's a solid entry in the heartbreaking Hunger Games series that is packed with emotions and brings out the themes of family and corruption in governments. This franchise has the ability to do something not many young adult franchises have the capability of doing: making a political statement while creating a brutal and honest story about war and rebellion and the effects it has on family and society. This franchise is not happy or filled with love and friends like many teen series nowadays, but it has the opportunity to make a stronger impact rather than the same old sappy love stories we see every day. A+
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