Movie Review: Hunger Games: Catching Fire..sets the series ablaze

 
Before you start booking your tickets just basis that review title, I’d suggest you read the rest of the review for this one. Have you seen part 1 of this franchise? Incidentally, I also saw that only yesterday and here’s the catch – you can’t watch part two unless you’ve seen part one, and chances are you won’t like part one all that much – at least I didn’t

With a very weird premise to begin with and an ever so predictable build up, the first edition of Hunger Games was scarcely the firebolt I hoped it would be. If you enjoyed part 1 (for reasons best known to you), part 2 is a much better step up, no worries. If you’ve somehow sat through the first one (like I did) and are hoping for better things with the second edition – well, there’s good news on that front as well – part 2 is where things really heat up and definitely set the stage for a scorching finale

For one, the story is much more coherent. Part 1 makes you reluctantly accept the extremely odd premise that the series hinges on. Having accepted that this is how things are, the events of part 2 almost seem plausible and well crafted. In fact, the kind of turns the second edition makes, one almost gets the feeling that the origin story was barely to set the stage – the real stuff would unfold in this edition and the next ones

The ‘Games’ themselves have become a much more interesting and absorbing affair. Unlike the first edition there is plenty of action and Katniss Eberdeen is able to amply display her arrow shooting abilities this time round. The action is top notch and doesn’t come in fits and starts (as in the previous edition); there’s a sense of flow to the proceedings. Some scenes in particular, are exquisitely executed.

Even though, Katniss Eberdeen isn’t a very complex or deeply explored character (at least not yet), despite being the protagonist of the story, it is her portrayal by Jennifer Lawrence that really makes for an entertaining watch. Catching Fire gives her a few intense scenes but she is more than equal to the task. The other characters around her, both the old veterans as well as the new additions, do a very good job as well

Catching Fire is really an appropriate title for this movie. While the first one was quite lack luster and almost cast a dampener, this part really is where the spark ignites and shows the menacing flames that promise an explosive showdown at the finale. If you’ve been disappointed with what the series has shown you so far, I’d suggest you give this second edition a shot and only then make up your mind