THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE DVD (2013)
SYNOPSIS: Academy Award® winner* Jennifer Lawrence returns as Katniss Everdeen in this thrilling second adventure from The Hunger Games saga. Against all odds, Katniss and fellow tribute Peeta have returned home after surviving the Hunger Games. Winning means they must leave loved ones behind and embark on a Victory Tour through the districts. Along the way, Katniss senses a rebellion simmering – one that she and Peeta may have sparked. At the end of the tour, President Snow announces a deadly 75th Hunger Games that could change Panem forever.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Chances are sequels won’t be as good as the original even the ultra-successful Harry Potter series has its fair share of criticisms. Without Gary Ross, writer and director of the first Hunger Games at the helm, Catching Fire has a high risk of veering off course, as it turned out, the second instalment is just as strong as its predecessor.
Returning home after emerging as winners, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) continues to struggle with life. President Snow (Donald Sutherland) largely aware of the duo’s successful attempt in manipulating the audience into believing their love affair announces a special anniversary version of Hunger Games in which past victors from each district has to participate. With new allies and deadlier traps in store, Katniss and Peeta realize there’s in addition more political conspiracy ahead of them.
Catching Fire continues to delve deep into mature themes and topics despite the heavy marketing of adrenalin action as a dangling carrot. In actual fact, the sequel spends far less duration in the games room and instead focuses most of the attention on Katniss’ current troubled mind state, her relationships with her sister and boyfriend, Gale (Liam Hemsworth) and the sometimes, shocking and PG13 violent disparity between the social classes.
It’s a franchise anchored not just by Lawrence’s performance that is undeniably the soul of the movie. Having the late Philip Seymour Hoffman onboard as Plutarch Heavensbee, the new gamemaker adds icing onto the cake. Together with series’ regulars, Stanley Tucci, Elizabeth Banks and the always-delightful Woody Harrelson and newcomer Jeffrey Wright as a fellow tribute, the assembled cast itself is a godsend.
While Francis Lawrence’s resume tends to be a bit spotty especially when his earlier Constantine and I Am Legend originally derived from book form but ended up as a less than stellar product. Lawrence handling of Catching Fire probably marks his first ever-measured ability in balancing storytelling and large-scale action sequences. Does the Hunger Games franchise actually deserve a two-part conclusion then? Given the strong production values behind Catching Fire, it certainly leaves you wanting for more Katniss Everdeen for sure.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Audio Commentary with Director Francis Lawrence and Producer Nina Jacobson is a relaxed and occasionally silent audio track offered by the two filmmakers. Expect the usual anecdotes nothing too spoilerish or interesting to make it a must-listen experience. 4 minutes of unsubstantial Deleted Scenes are also included in the extras.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
Offering a saturated and dark look, the DVD looks incredibly well transferred on TV though the sole inclusion of a 2.0 soundtrack is a misstep.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
