The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

For the remainder of the month, it will be incredibly difficult to review the rest of the “Hunger Games movies,” since the late Philip Seymour Hoffman is in the rest. I just have to pull myself together so that I can get through this month. Now we have come to “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” released in 2013.

Susan Wloszczyna started her review out by saying, “When a movie like "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" comes along, it makes my inner feminist-leaning 13-year-old stand up and cheer. Of course, the mere existence of a successful girl-powered franchise that does not revolve around potential suitors with supernatural powers is enough to keep her smiling.”

Wloszczyna went on to say, “The scene in "Catching Fire" that especially fired up my lingering adolescent alter-ego? When Jennifer Lawrence—essential as warrior heroine Katniss Everdeen in Round 2 of this young-adult lit-based enterprise, much in the same way that Vivien Leigh was indispensable in "Gone With the Wind"—suddenly twirls about in her would-be wedding dress during a TV interview meant to distract the downtrodden populace of Panem. What initially looks like a multi-tiered, white-frosted cage is engulfed in flames and transforms into a supple midnight-bluish winged symbol of subversion that emulates the Mockingjay, the mascot of a growing rebellion in the land. One gown represents female entrapment and expectations, the other human freedom and opportunity. Call it a Barbie-meets-Joan of Arc moment. And not every man can rock a lavender ponytail and a pompadour at the same time, but darn if Stanley Tucci’s fawning oil-slick of a TV host Caesar Flickerman—part Ryan Seacrest, part Siegfried and Roy—manages to pull it off. "Girl on Fire is so cheeky," he declares of Katniss with a half-smile, half-sneer when she performs her dress trick.”

Yes, fashion can be something used for good and a medium for revolution – at least in this dystopia, with its Fascist government led by the peacefully dangerous President Snow. Wloszczyna mentioned, “Here, gawd-awful gaudy too often passes for style. We are talking about you, Elizabeth Banks, in the guise of giddy government-instated cheerleader Effie Trinket, with bedazzled Oompa Loompa wigs and eyelashes that appear to be leaden lace cookies. (At least she is allowed to be a warmer presence this time around.)”

Katniss’s quick-change show is almost trumped by the look of Lawrence going completely Liv Taylor in “Cleopatra” with Roman-circus hair and makeup, riding in a chariot before a thunderous mob and later wearing another stunning bird-inspired wardrobe to a pre-Hunger Games gathering. Good thing that the hard-eyed Oscar winner is as skillful at silently suggesting the haunted mind of her ace archer as she is at showcasing these fantasy frocks. Otherwise, it would be even more obvious that – just like any other second entry in an ongoing franchise – “Catching Fire” is simply a placeholder. Also, it is particularly harsh experience given Katniss’s post-traumatic state of mind, as the plot simply picks up where the first movie left off and closes nowhere near to a satisfying climax.

The 2½-hour running time is split in two: First, we learn that Kitniss’s trick last time to overturn the rules of the games so that she and fake boyfriend Peeta Mellark would both survive as co-champions has made Penam’s less fortunate think they, too, can rise against their overlords. As the imaginary engaged couple go on tour to greet their fans, it becomes clear they see Katniss as an inspirational leader, a role she bit-by-bit grows to accept.

With an assist from the late Philip Seymour Hoffman as the too-smooth-to-be-true new gamesmaker Plutarch Heavensbee, Snow announces a special all-star edition of the 75^th-anniversary Hunger Games Quarter Quell. Former winners of previous games recruited from Panem’s 12 districts will be uneven against one another, and Katniss and Peeta must put their lives on the line again.

The last hour is dedicated to an Olympian death match in a mock tropical jungle. The fun, if there is any, begins with such visually interesting challenges as toxic mist, rabid baboons and a downpour of blood. Several welcome new battle participants come aboard. Just like Hoffman, such amazing talents as Jeffrey Wright, Amanda Plummer and Jena Malone are overqualified for their parts, but each delivers a clearly definite character that lightens the proceedings considerably. At least Malone as the super-cool Johanna gives Lawrence with a strong thwart to play against. The biggest and maybe only true laugh comes when Johanna takes her clothes off in an elevator to the appreciation of Peeta and the disregard of Katniss.

Director Francis Lawrence is confident enough to not go too heavy on the much-scorned hand-held camerawork used by his predecessor, Gary Ross. With a script by two Oscar-winning writers, Simon Beaufoy and Michael Arndt (credited as Michael deBruyn), the action and even the speeches move along quickly enough.

However, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” suffers from the same “something old, something borrowed” cliché that is the enemy of originality in too many Hollywood efforts recently. Wloszczyna noted, “It is difficult to enjoy a film when you are checking off all the sources it references—"Lost" and "Survivor" from television, Star Wars (what is with the Stormtrooper ripoffs?) and "The Running Man" from movies, and Roman and Greek myths.”

What makes the books and the films forceful is the way they define worries and pop-culture obsessions in our everyday lives: anger over politicians, fascination with celebrities, a growing displeased underclass, addiction to reality shows and video games, the reliability of important violent acts that control TV coverage, and hateful occurrences of bullying.

Of course, the one truly new invention – and the one that matters most – is Katniss herself. With every on-screen part, the poor girl from District 12 continues to complete her destiny as an inspiration and a rebel fighter. She is but one female, but she’s the perfect cure to the excess of male superheroes we have.

Also, talk about a making rebellion: this is the rare action blockbuster that dares to be made without 3D. Those who already need to wear glasses would rather spend the ticket quality on popcorn are happy for you, Katniss and crew.

I will say that this movie was better than the first one. If you liked the first movie, then you will definitely like this one better. Since this is the next book, it tells it very nicely, but once again, I can’t say how closely it follows the book, since I never read this series. I never heard of the “Hunger Games” series until my friend called saying, “Happy Hunger Games.” When I asked him what he was talking about, he mentioned about the books and said the movie was out. Then I saw the first movie in theaters, and I liked it. I never got to see this movie in theaters, but I saw it when it was released on DVD, and I liked it. It looked like a movie that I should have seen in theaters, but I missed that chance. However, I was happy when I saw the sequel once I got it as a rental from the library.

Just to let you know, exactly like how they did with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, they split the last book, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, into two parts. Stay tuned next week to find out how “Mockingjay Part 1” was.