The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
2013
****½
Director: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland
Francis Lawrence takes over the directing duties for the second book in the trilogy by Suzanne Collins. The good news is that Lawrence maintains the high standard set by Gary Ross in The Hunger Games, although the story picks up from the middle and ends without resolution. Following their defiant win, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark go on a victory tour which inspires acts of rebellion across the twelve districts. President Snow does not view this kindly, and decides that the 75th Hunger Games will be a contest between previous victors. The middle part in the series continues to develop the characters and the grim futuristic setting, which is wonderfully visualised. Katniss was a great heroine to begin with, and now she becomes increasingly conflicted about the choices she must make. Jennifer Lawrence plays this to perfection. This is a long film but so terrifically gripping that it never feels like one. Followed by Mockingjay - Part 1.
