Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Directed by Francis Lawrence
FACT, Liverpool
On general release from 22nd November 2013

Reviewed by Colin Serjent

This is a disappointing sequel to The Hunger Games, released in 2012, but don't despair folks there are reckoned to be two more of this franchise to follow before too long.

The first of the sequence was entertaining and made relevant points about the overwhelming power and brainwashing effects of commercial television. They broadcast fights to the death between young people from different districts of a future age America, until only one survives, for the gratification of an avid audience.

The movie grossed a staggering £433million ($700million) at the box office.

But this follow up offered few new twists to the tale, and was at least thirty minutes or so too long. The action scenes in the forests seemed interminable.

The quaintly named Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) again takes centre stage, this time as a potential leader of a nascent revolution against the tyranny of a system led by President Snow, unconvincingly played by Donald Sutherland.

But Snow, in an effort to quell her fervour for an uprising, sets up a mega Hunger Games, in which all the previous winners have to compete against one another in a fight to the death.

Not having read the book - I guess it passed me by! - Catching Fire is believed to be the weakest volume of author Suzanne Collins' original trilogy. And does it show!

Director Francis Lawrence - no relation to Jennifer - does a workmanlike job with the film, but that's about the best praise I can give it.

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Sorry Comments Closed

Comment left by Megan on 29th December, 2013 at 13:59
I live the action and the theme in this movie. But what makes it great is the actors. Jennifer is my favorite actress. Josh is my favorite actor. I also like Liam, Sam , Jena, Lenny, and Woody. I really thought this movie was one if the best I've ever seen! I have posters all over my room. Great job,guys!