The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

I can´t say i have many young favourite female actors. There are some really good ones out there, but some are even better. Just like Jennifer Lawrence, have you seen her performance in Winters Bone or Silver Linings Playbook ? She also did House At The End Of The Street, she must have regret that choice, awful movie. When i watched the first motion picture of Hunger Games, i had not read the book by author Suzanne Collins. But still people were saying i should check the movie adaption out, and i did. The first movie adaption was well made, and of course Jennifer Lawrence did a great performance as Katniss Everdeen, who fight in The Hunger Games for survival. You could probably say The Hunger Games is a mild, and more kind survival story than one of my personal favourite movies, Battle Royal. Now, this japanese classic is very brutal, and tragic, but so powerful you will not forget it. So here we are with the sequel to The Hunger Games, simply called Catching Fire. The same cast is here as last time, but also with some new faces, like Philip Seymore Hoffman. Is the second movie adaption of The Hunger Games more improved than last time, or is this sequel just as blend as Donald Trump´s hair piece ?

Katniss Everdeen ( Jennifer Lawrence ) and Peeta Mellark ( Josh Hutcherson ) survived the 74th Hunger Games. Katniss and Peeta return home to District 12, to try and deal with everything that they both have experienced, and how they should move on with their lives. Suddenly President Snow ( Donal Sutherland ) visit their home, explain that Katniss have inspired rebels, after her actions in The Hunger Games. To fix this problem, President Snow order Katniss to go the upcoming victory tour, and tell the people how they should behave. Peeta is also coming along on this victory tour in District 11, and both of them are told to hold a speech. When Katniss suddenly change her speech, chaos breaks loose. Soldiers beat down citizens, only because they show a signal of peace. Effie Trinket ( Elizabeth Banks ) is not happy about the situation, so she needs Haymitch Abernathy ( Woody Harrelson ) to help her on this victory tour. To keep the fans calm, Katniss make fake statement , that Katniss and Peeta make a public engagement. This is arranged at the Snow mansion, as he congratulate the couple. As Katniss return home to District 12, Peacekeepers show up, to torture Gale Hawthorne ( Liam Hemsworth ), because he attacked Head Peacekeeper Romulus Thread ( Patrick St. Esprit ). When Gale is whipped in public, Katniss and Peeta are announced to return to the 75th Hunger Games. But this time, the battle is bigger, with more players, more danger than ever.

The first motion picture of The Hunger Games was alright, especially for Jennifer Lawrence. If she would not have been Katniss Everdeem, i don´t think i would be very interested in her character. Here in the sequel, she does an even better performance than last time, and she really make this character feel more alive on screen. The storyline is better this time, with more depth, and with a much darker tone. My biggest problem is the length, 2 hours and 30 minutes, almost 15 minutes longer than the first movie. Even if i enjoy the story ( for the most part ), it is way too long, and that is a shame. Because The Hunger Games: Cathcing Fire is actually better than the first motion picture, how often does that happen ? The battle scenes are really well made, and you can tell director Francis Lawrence have taken this story seriously, and try to make the Hunger Games feel majestic and powerful. If you enjoyed the first part of The Hunger Games, you are in for a treat with this sequel. Way too long, but still worth a look, especially if you enjoy a strong performance of Jennifer Lawrence. I wonder if i can get a bow like hers, hunting look so much more fun with a weapon like that, or to make sure Jehovas Witnesses don´t knock on my door.

Rating: DDD