The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is the
sequel to Gary Ross's The Hunger Games,
both adaptations of Suzanne Collins's
books, The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. The Hunger
Games focuses on Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence)
who lives in Panem, a totalitarian nation which is divided into twelve
districts and the Capitol. Every year
two children (aged between 12 and 18, a boy and a girl) is selected at random
to take part in the Hunger Games which is considered to be entertainment for
the citizens of the Capitol but is also considered as retribution for the civil
war between the districts and the Capitol that happened decades before. Each of the tributes, those chosen from the
districts, are forced to fight one another until only one child survives;
Katniss's 12 year old sister, Prim (Willow
Shields) is selected but Katniss volunteers in her place. Peeta Mellark (Hutcherson), who goes to school with Katniss, is selected as the
male tribute; Katniss finds out during the pre-Games interviews that Peeta has
been in love with her for years (though she thinks it's a stunt) and eventually
Haymitch Abernathy (Harrelson),
their mentor, tells her that if she plays the part as a lovesick girl, she or
Peeta could win. In the arena, Katniss
and Peeta are eventually able to play their parts as star-crossed lovers when a
new rule is announced that if the final two tributes are from the same district
at the end of the Games, they both can win, which works to their advantage as
they gain attention from the citizens of the Capitol. Eventually, Katniss and Peeta are the only
ones left in the arena and think they can go home until the new rule is
revoked. As Katniss doesn't want to kill
Peeta and vice versa, Katniss hands Peeta some poisonous berries to commit
suicide with, though they both know the Capitol would rather have two victors
that they can use to manipulate the masses than no victors so Katniss and Peeta
are announced as victors of the 74th Hunger Games. As they are both crowned at the end of the
film, it is clear that President Snow (Sutherland)
isn't happy and Katniss has inadvertently gained an extremely powerful enemy in
the Capitol. On the train home, the
truth about Katniss not returning Peeta's feelings causes a rift to form
between them, even though they both know they have to continue playing their
role as star-crossed lovers.
Rating: 10
Recommended To: Anyone - loads of action, romance thrown in, and a little sad
Favourite Characters: Peeta - love him
Favourite Part: Peeta: It's not real.
Good Points: Katniss and Peeta; the allies; the focus on being a victor; the additions, alterations and exclusions from the books
Bad Points: Lack of other families
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire picks up roughly six months where The Hunger Games left off with Katniss and Peeta as the victors of the 74th Hunger Games but not talking because Katniss doesn't feel the same way about Peeta as he does for her. As mentioned previously, President Snow isn't happy because Katniss's stunt handing Peeta the berries which forced the hand of the gamemaker, Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley). After hunting in the woods with Gale (Hemsworth), Katniss returns home and finds Snow in her study who tells her that her actions in the arena have sparked a rebellion in the districts; Snow then tells her that she has to convince not only the people of Panem, but him, that her and Peeta are actually in love, not pretending so they can just survive. Katniss and Peeta go on the Victory Tour that celebrates the Hunger Games that the victor has taken part in and reminds the citizens of Panem that the Hunger Games is always there and looming; throughout the tour, there are signs that the people don't believe that Katniss and Peeta aren't really in love so Snow and the new Gamemaker, Plutarch Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), cook up a plan that means in the next Hunger Games, the 75th AKA the 3rd Quarter Quell, will reap the two tributes from each district will be selected from the existing pool of victors; inevitably, Katniss, the only female victor from District 12, and Peeta, who volunteers in Haymitch's place, are chosen and whisked away to the Capitol with Haymitch as their mentor again and Effie Trinket (Banks) as their escort.
Recommended To: Anyone - loads of action, romance thrown in, and a little sad
Favourite Characters: Peeta - love him
Favourite Part: Peeta: It's not real.
Good Points: Katniss and Peeta; the allies; the focus on being a victor; the additions, alterations and exclusions from the books
Bad Points: Lack of other families
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire picks up roughly six months where The Hunger Games left off with Katniss and Peeta as the victors of the 74th Hunger Games but not talking because Katniss doesn't feel the same way about Peeta as he does for her. As mentioned previously, President Snow isn't happy because Katniss's stunt handing Peeta the berries which forced the hand of the gamemaker, Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley). After hunting in the woods with Gale (Hemsworth), Katniss returns home and finds Snow in her study who tells her that her actions in the arena have sparked a rebellion in the districts; Snow then tells her that she has to convince not only the people of Panem, but him, that her and Peeta are actually in love, not pretending so they can just survive. Katniss and Peeta go on the Victory Tour that celebrates the Hunger Games that the victor has taken part in and reminds the citizens of Panem that the Hunger Games is always there and looming; throughout the tour, there are signs that the people don't believe that Katniss and Peeta aren't really in love so Snow and the new Gamemaker, Plutarch Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), cook up a plan that means in the next Hunger Games, the 75th AKA the 3rd Quarter Quell, will reap the two tributes from each district will be selected from the existing pool of victors; inevitably, Katniss, the only female victor from District 12, and Peeta, who volunteers in Haymitch's place, are chosen and whisked away to the Capitol with Haymitch as their mentor again and Effie Trinket (Banks) as their escort.
I adore a
number of things about this film, meaning it has entered my top films, just
like its predecessor, The Hunger Games. My absolute favourite point about this film
was the relationship between Katniss and Peeta; I just love the chemistry
between the young couple. They are
practically thrown together by this oppressive society because it can be
assumed that Peeta would never have told Katniss because she was always with
Gale; they're pushed even closer together when they agree, or Katniss at least
as Peeta's feelings are genuine, with Haymitch to pretend to be in love so to
get sponsors in the Capitol to like them so she performs for the camera. In this film, I loved how hurt Peeta clearly
is because Katniss lied to him during the Games so they are cold towards one
another but then when they are on the tour, they agree to become friends at
least, breaking the ice between them and therefore, allowing a relationship to
reform. This film also showed the
development of their relationship once they're in the Games as I could see
Katniss falling in love with Peeta over the course from when he was severely
hurt as she watched Finnick (Claflin)
desperately try to save him and this is where I think this was the moment she
fell for him properly; another moment I loved was Peeta showing the locket to
Katniss and the subsequent kiss as it was so sweet because it clearly showed
how she feels for him as it seems genuine.
I can't wait to see how they carry on the relationship in The Hunger
Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and 2 as
I want to see Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson's chemistry in the harder
parts of the relationship.
The allies
that Katniss and Peeta gained in the new Games, specifically Finnick, Joanna (Malone), and Mags (Lynn Cohen), were phenomenal and well-cast because they were the
book characters brought to life as Finnick was cocky yet incredibly sweet,
Joanna was angry yet funny, and Mag was amazing; as they were played well,
connections were formed between myself and the characters as they gained a
place in my heart. Claflin really
conveyed the many layers of Finnick well as initially, you see him as the smug
cocky Career victor as he flirts with Katniss but then as we, and Katniss, get
to know him through the film, we see a softer, caring side as he helps Mags (due
to her age). I think he even broke my
heart slightly as I watched him run after the Jabberjay because he heard
Annie's voice and I could feel his desperation and how tortured he was just
like you could feel Katniss's. I found
Joanna extremely funny which I saw as a mask because she was incredibly angry
at the Capitol for what they've done to her; from what I recall, she is the
only character to swear which made me laugh, the child that I am. I understood where Joanna was coming from and
I think that's why she made me laugh, because I identified with her and I would
act the same as her, lashing out. Mags,
though silent, was incredible as she was able to capture my heart just through
her actions especially when she sacrificed herself for her former tribute,
Finnick as the fog had caused him some paralysis and he was in excruciating
agony; it was incredibly heart-breaking and it broke me as I clutched onto my
mum's sleeve because from my point of view, Finnick lost part of his family.
While the
focus in The Hunger Games is
surviving the Games, the focus in this film is on Katniss and Peeta as victors
and how they are used by the Capitol and President Snow just like the second
book in The Hunger Games trilogy. Just as Haymitch says to Katniss, "This
isn't child's play anymore"; both she and Peeta have to grow up so to
protect those that they care about and their actions from their first Games
have consequences. I think it's
brilliant that this is the focus rather than a soppy love story which is why I
love this franchise as Katniss isn't looking for a boyfriend, she just wants to
live, and doesn't desperately cling on to one when she gets one; she just wants
to protect everyone she cares about to keep them out of harm's way in case of
the collateral damage and that includes Gale and Peeta, who are deemed
potential love interests for Katniss. Unfortunately
the media that spins off of this film, on social media and such, implies that
the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale is the focus because of
photographs that are released (personal note: this is one reason why one of my
friends refused to read the books or see the film) but I will forever argue
that the fight for survival is more important so don't dismiss this film because
you are tired of watching a love-sick girl choose between two boys.
As this
film is an adaptation of Suzanne Collins's book, Catching Fire, some things need to be cut from the book plot for a standard
2 to 3 hour film but there also needs to be additions and alterations to the
plot especially when the book is originally written in first person. I love some of the alterations, additions,
and deductions from the book in this film because it didn't detract from the
main plot of the story. The screenplay
writers, Simon Beaufoy and Michael deBruyn, took out part of the book when
Katniss was in the woods and sees two people from District 8 escaping to
District 13 following a bombing in their district; this deduction was replaced
with glimpses of signs of rebellion on screens on the train and this was more
effective as the original part wasn't particularly significant to the story,
apart from hinting that District 13 still exists, and the focus was kept on
Katniss and Peeta. I loved the small alteration
with Peeta being able to walk after he was hurt and Mags being carried by
Finnick all the time (instead of Katniss) because when she sacrifices herself, it
implies that she is doing it for Finnick instead of Katniss and Peeta as he can't
carry both Peeta and Mags; this worked well because it shows their connection
in another form. As the book is written
in the first person from Katniss's point of view, the film differs with
additional scenes between Plutarch Heavensbee and President Snow because it
shows how the other characters operate because then it shows the inner workings
of the Hunger Games which we wouldn't see from the books; just like in The Hunger Games, the audience see Snow
and the head gamemaker discussing Katniss which is great because it shows
something you don't see in the books which is interesting and stands out. While most people complain about the differences
between the book and the film, I love them because I find it fascinating to see
how someone interprets the same text I have read as I may read something
different such as emotions and how relationships are.
Ever since
I read the books I have loved Peeta and this love has grown with each book to
the first film and has grown exponentially after this film because he's still
in love with Katniss despite her lying to him so she can save his life as well
as her own. I found him to be amazing and
incredibly sweet because he still wanted to save Katniss after everything since
he believes that other people need her while no one needs him. It's heartbreaking that Peeta believes this
because it's clear at this point that Katniss needs his support, especially
after she pleads for Haymitch to save Peeta this time. Another reason that I love Peeta is that he complements
Katniss well because he is calm while she is hotheaded and he has faith in her
while she doesn't believe in herself at all; he's a support for her after she's
had to support her own family for years.
The only downside of this film for me was that Gale's family, and even Peeta's family, aren't seen (or brought up that much) while they are at least discussed in the book even if they don't appear; Katniss and Gale are the providers for their families so it can be assumed that they are close while Peeta's family didn't even support him as he entered the 74th Hunger Games so it can be assumed they aren't as close. In contrast, Katniss's family are extremely important as the reason Katniss became a victor because she volunteered in her twelve year old sister's place; Gale's family is supposed to be important to him in the book because he tries to keep his brother from getting extra food from the Capitol as he's protective much like Katniss. It would have been interesting if they had shown a contrast between Katniss's and Peeta's family life; however, it could be read from the film that this is shown when President Snow gives the announcement about the 3rd Quarter Quell that Katniss is close with her family while Peeta isn't because her family is sat with her while Peeta is alone.
The only downside of this film for me was that Gale's family, and even Peeta's family, aren't seen (or brought up that much) while they are at least discussed in the book even if they don't appear; Katniss and Gale are the providers for their families so it can be assumed that they are close while Peeta's family didn't even support him as he entered the 74th Hunger Games so it can be assumed they aren't as close. In contrast, Katniss's family are extremely important as the reason Katniss became a victor because she volunteered in her twelve year old sister's place; Gale's family is supposed to be important to him in the book because he tries to keep his brother from getting extra food from the Capitol as he's protective much like Katniss. It would have been interesting if they had shown a contrast between Katniss's and Peeta's family life; however, it could be read from the film that this is shown when President Snow gives the announcement about the 3rd Quarter Quell that Katniss is close with her family while Peeta isn't because her family is sat with her while Peeta is alone.
Peeta: It's not real.
This small
line as Katniss and Finnick are tortured by jabberjays who mimic their loved
ones yelling their names which distresses them both greatly as they are trapped
in the segment for an entire hour. I just
loved the look of desperation on Peeta's face as he watches someone he really
cares about, even loves, be tortured and he just wants to get to her to hold
her so he can comfort her because he knows that she can't handle hearing her
loved ones in pain which in turn hurts him.
As well as Peeta's face, I loved that it foreshadowed the game that is
played in Mockingjay when Peeta has
returned and is trying to determine what is real or not; while this part was
heartbreaking from my point of view, it made me smile a little bit just for a
moment.
I highly recommend this film; it's an excellent follow up to The Hunger Games and all of the cast play their characters extremely well. It is not for the faint hearted with the violent scenes that are depicted and it is very emotional as the deaths of many of the characters are more personal in comparison to those in The Hunger Games. I can't wait to see the next film because I want to see what everyone involved do with the final book, how they interpret the original text and how the relationships develop, especially Katniss's and Peeta's.
I highly recommend this film; it's an excellent follow up to The Hunger Games and all of the cast play their characters extremely well. It is not for the faint hearted with the violent scenes that are depicted and it is very emotional as the deaths of many of the characters are more personal in comparison to those in The Hunger Games. I can't wait to see the next film because I want to see what everyone involved do with the final book, how they interpret the original text and how the relationships develop, especially Katniss's and Peeta's.
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