Catching Fire

Katniss is back and she does not disappoint!  Jennifer Lawrence has given us a female heroine we can get behind. She is, to borrow a line from Catching Fire, our mockingjay. 

After devouring the Suzanne Collins novels, I was excited to learn the books were being adapted for the big screen. After The Hunger Games, I was pleased with what I felt was a faithful and entertaining adaptation.  Though The Hunger Games was a solid movie, Lionsgate, the film's production company, brought in a new director and two new screenwriters for the sequel.  And it paid off in spades!! Francis Lawrence, who has done some suspect work in the past (Constantine anyone?), did a fantastic job with Catching Fire!

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is better than its predecessor. Filmed in IMAX, it is truly an immersive experience that pulls you into the gritty action with fierce intimacy and keeps you engaged with a beautifully shot and brilliantly produced juggernaut. This film is far more emotionally compelling and less clunky than the first, and delivers as one of the best I've seen this year.

At almost 2 1/2 hours, Catching Fire still feels like it was shortened in order to accommodate theater audiences.  Massively entertaining, this film could have easily been 3 hours in length and probably would have been better for it.  Though done well, there is simply too much going on in the original story to efficiently put it on the screen.  Kudos to Lawrence (Francis, not Jennifer) who does an amazing job in telling the story in a way that feels complete.

As you all know, however, the story is far from complete.  With two films yet to go, we are only half way through Katniss's epic story. Fans of the story will be pleased with the ending of Catching Fire. Those of you who are coming to the party late may need a little help understanding what's going on, so let me encourage you to go back and read the books.

Bottom Line: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is great.  I really enjoyed it!! If you can, pay the extra cash to see it IMAX.   Parents beware, however. The movie is rated PG-13 for a reason. Though the film does not contain large amounts of language or gore, the subject matter is simply too disturbing for young children who will not understand the social and political themes that serve as the story's foundation.