The Hunger Games: Catching Fire 
Directed by Francis Lawrence
Distributed by Lionsgate
Based on Suzanne Collins’ best selling Hunger Games trilogy comes the sequel, Catching Fire. Katniss and Peeta are beginning their Victors’ Tour across the districts when they realize that the games are far from over for them.
Catching Fire, without a doubt, exceeds the first movie and will satisfy the fans who have been waiting for over a year to see its sequel. With the directing talents of Francis Lawrence and the exceptionally talented cast members, fans of the trilogy are in for a fantastic experience.
Equipped with a great score and gorgeously weird costumes, the background of the movie is both fitting and enticing for the audience. Katniss’ outfits in the Capitol are jaw dropping. Effie—the representative for the District 12 tributes—is dressed in costumes that give the Capitol a twisted appearance and representation.
The score furthers the intensity of the film and adds continuity to the trilogy. The camera work is also exceptionally well done. Rather than the shaky camera that was present in The Hunger Games, Catching Fire’s camera work is filled with steady close-ups, articulating the characters’ emotions and adding proper pace to scenes without leaving the audience feeling overwhelmed.
The best element to the movie is undoubtedly its cast. Catching Fire has returning favourites, new actors, and new characters added to the story. Crowd favourite Jennifer Lawrence gives a fantastic, emotional, yet strong performance in her role as heroine Katniss Everdeen.
Josh Hutcherson returns as Peeta. His and Jennifer Lawrence’s chemistry on screen is great and has improved since the first movie. A favourite returning character is the comedic performance given by Stanley Tucci. Playing the TV announcer and host to the Hunger Games, his exaggerated performance is perfect for the setting of the movie. Performances by Donald Sutherland and Woody Harrelson, as well, are fitting for the movie and gripping for the fans to see.
New characters include the replacement Hunger Games master, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, as well as many previous victors to the Hunger Games. Ladies, prepare to drool when introduced to the victor Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin). He offers up an excellent delivery of the fan-favourite character. Jena Malone’s performance as Johanna, the angry victor, is humourous, memorable, and effective. Overall, it was a fantastic cast.
Catching Fire will take audiences on an emotional roller coaster of tears, anger, and laughter. It is a far superior successor to The Hunger Games and a good adaptation of the novel. While the biggest faux pas is the lack of character development given to the secondary characters in the movie in comparison to the book, the movie is still definitely worth seeing in theatres numerous times. Catching Fire was worth the year-and-a-half wait.
