The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

2013, 12, Directed by Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Sam Claflin

Behind every good franchise is a sequel to remember; a second outing superior to its original, seguing comfortably into the third (or fourth, fifth et al.) instalments, cramming in more than before, but balancing the load to a manageable degree. Let’s not be misled in believing all sequels are good… hell, more fail than achieve the goal of continuing the success of its predecessor (with many not even warranting a second outing in the first instance.) But before this becomes an essay on the sequel, and how Toy Story 2 is probably the best the world has seen, let’s revert things back to the franchise in question: The Hunger Games.

Based on Suzanne Collins’ trilogy of teen lit, The Hunger Games was an unprecedented smash when it landed in 2011, translating the Battle Royale-esque plotline to screen with fervour and furthering the rise of then-rising star (now superstar) Jennifer Lawrence. In her first role since her Silver Linings Playbook Oscar win, sequel Catching Fire starts pretty much where we ended up with heroine Katniss Everdeen a winner of the Games in the eyes of Panem (alongside Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta,) an influential sign of rebellion in the eyes of the lower Districts and a problem that must be dealt with in the eyes of President Snow (Donald Sutherland.) From the intrusive opening shot of Everdeen, we’re squarely behind her every move from start to an equally as intrusive closing shot. From her secret hunting rendezvous’ with childhood would-be sweetheart Gale (Liam Hemsworth) to her victory tour induced makeover courtesy of affluent ‘team’ leader Effie Trinkett (Elizabeth Banks,) Lawrence carries near every moment of this entire film.

Gary Ross’ predecessor provided a mere glimpse into the world of Panem and the inhabitants of the impoverished District 12, but its Francis Lawrence’s privilege to provide his audience with an expansive viewpoint of this snapshot of Panem, a place rocked by Everdeen and the two fingers she so openly raised to President Snow and the Capitol at its climax. It’s the unwilling acceptance of the fact that openly embracing her actions will more than likely end with a bullet to the head (shown with striking effect in a brilliantly-edited scene where the two victors visit the District inhabited by the devastated family of Rue, the young companion of Katniss’ in the Games.) Missteps present themselves through the the odd line that may cause the eye to roll – pretty much exclusive to the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta and Gale – and save for a few scenes, Katniss’ mother and sister – the safety of whom she’s so desperate to preserve – barely feature.

Yet the secret to this adaptation is a well-juggled structure, with many of the book’s plot points featured but with convenience to the running time; Lawrence is the viewpoint of the audience – her shock is our shock, her emotion is our emotion. Not only this, but an eclectic off-beat cast clearly having the most fun they’ve had (scene-stealer Banks, Stanley Tucci as flamboyant TV host Ceasar Flickerman, Woody Harrelson as sozzled mentor Haymitch;) such is their success that it’s almost chilling when characters like these face the facts and fleetingly show their knowledge that times in Panem are changing…

It’s when the exceptionally imagined final hour occurs (the less said the better) that Catching Fire burns (I had to) up the rulebook and establishes itself as a breathless equel to remember; thus elevating this franchise to a status head and shoulders above the rest.

4/5

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The Hunger Games

2012, 12, Directed by Gary Ross
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci

Teenagers placed in peril amongst a dangerous world unfamiliar to our own, with possible love triangles and bursts of action to boot. It would be no effort to dismiss The Hunger Games as the new Twilight on the block with the wave of the hands and an eye-roll. That would be a grave mistake.

Adapted from Suzanne Collins’ mega-selling trilogy opener of the same name (the author of which shares co-screenwriting duties, eliminating sub-plots enjoyable for reading in your back garden, but best left omitted on screen for the sake of your bladder), Gary Ross directs his depiction of District 12, one of many that comprise a dystopian North America after a rebellion gone wrong – albeit one at the lower end of the food chain, if you will. With immediacy, we are informed of the context of this world and how said rebellion brought about the titular Hunger Games, an annual event whereby two teenagers from each District are hand-picked to combat each other in an arena until one ‘lucky’ survivor remains – and it just so happens that this event is a television viewing phenomenon all the world round; Big Brother meets Battle Royale.

Katniss Everdeen is with who we are led through this experience with, slumming it out in her under-privileged District, killing squirrels in exchange for a single slice of bread. Winter’s Bone 2? Strangely not far off the mark, due to the ideal casting of up-and-coming superstar Jennifer Lawrence. She is our eyes, our ears. It becomes near impossible to ponder any other young actress (she’s 20) who it would be as little effort to endure 142 minutes with. Whatever Lawrence conveys, the audience feel its full effect, meaning that Katniss will linger in the memory once you’ve left the multiplex. This isn’t to say that there are not a few more aces in the pack: Stanley Tucci as the facially-tweaked pristine host of festivities, Caesar Flickerman), does his best smarmy, yet somehow charming grin ensuring you want to shake his hand and punch his face in equal measure; Elizabeth Banks proving she has strings to her bow as Effie Trinket, the fame obsessed ‘celebrity’ who gets to pick the tributes’ names out at the Reaping; and Woody Harrelson as drunken, obnoxious previous District 12 winner, Haymitch. All do oddball very well, and when this is combined with Gary Ross’ off-kilter shaky camerawork, the entire product feels largely offbeat. In terms of making The Hunger Games stand out from the crowd, Ross nails it.

Structured in such a way that the running time flies by (a few other films could benefit from this achievement) this invariably leads to some would-be classic moments feeling rushed, scrambled and not nearly as emotive as they should be. Granted, for a film that includes 24 teenagers fighting to the death, time cannot be delegated in forming an attachment with each one – especially when Katniss is our decided heroine. But delegation should have occurred more effectively with Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta Mellark, Katniss’ fellow District 12 tribute. His true intentions provide much speculation in the book, but seem to have been somewhat misplaced in the translation to screen making it difficult to form any opinion on the guy.

In any other case, these squabbles would hinder the enjoyment of the film. But here we have a blistering opener and a successful introduction to the universe of Panem. The beauty of The Hunger Games’ potential stems from the way in which a widespread appeal combines with questions that arise being relevant to today’s society. Rather than being conducted in an obvious manner, instead it will leave thoughts strong in your mind afterwards.

The Hunger Games will leave you peckish for more.

 3.5/5

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