Movie: Catching Fire

The second installment in the Hunger Games franchise, Catching Fire is now playing in movie theatres across North America. Directed by Francis Lawrence, the movie is based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins.

Upon her return to District 12, Katniss Everdeen is stunned to learn that she has become a symbol of rebellion against the Capitol. She learns this from President Snow who unexpectedly visits her home in the Victor's Village. He tells her that she must convince people in the districts that she and Peeta Mellark are in deeply in love or their families will be in grave danger. He will not tolerate rebellion. Snow recognizes Katniss is a danger to the Capitol and he intends to have her eliminated.

However, when Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch and their entourage arrive at District 11, their first stop on their Victory Tour to the Capitol, people flash the three-fingered symbol of rebellion. This leads to some acts of resistance and a brutal response by the district's Peacekeepers. It is at this point that Haymitch and Peeta learn of Snow's ultimatum. They encourage Katniss to try to give Snow what he wants. Even after they announce their engagement,  Katniss and Peeta do not succeed in satisfying Snow and he decides to exact his revenge on Katniss.

Since the 75th Hunger Games is a Quarter Quell, President Snow decides that the tributes from all the districts will be reaped from the existing Hunger Games victors. In shock, Katniss cannot fathom having to go through another Hunger Games.  As it turns out many of the other victors feel the same way as they were promised by the Capitol that when they won, they would never have to face the games again. Katniss decides to confront Haymitch and make him promise that he will do whatever it takes to ensure that Peeta survives. At the reaping ceremony, Peeta steps in for Haymitch whose name is drawn and once again, all three find themselves heading to the Capitol to begin the Quarter Quell. At the Capitol Haymitch tells them that many of the tributes want to form an alliance with them. They decide to work with Finnick Odair and Mags from District 4, Wiress and Beetee from District 3and Johanna Mason from District 7.

President Snow now has a new Head Gamemaker, Heavensbee Plutarch, who suggests that the other tributes will turn on Katniss and kill her. But President Snow is in for a surprise. There are traitors lurking everywhere.

Discussion

As with the first movie, the second installment in the Hunger Games trilogy, Catching Fire was very well done - in some ways, even better than The Hunger Games. Again, the screen adaptation stays true to the novel and there are many new, well cast characters. Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, and Donald Sutherland all reprise the roles they had in the first movie. 

Jennifer Lawrence was able to capture the raw emotion one would expect Katniss Everdeen to be experiencing when she learns that she must once again face the games. She also effectively captures the growing conflict Katniss feels regarding Gale and Peeta: she has a friendship with Gale who loves her but he can never fully understand what she has experienced in the games, while Peeta loves her but Katniss seems "indifferent" as President Snow claims.

New characters in this movie include Johanna Mason, a deeply traumatized tribute from District 7, played with realistic volatility by Jena Malone. Movie fans of Pride and Prejudice will remember that she played the giddy, silly Lydia Bennett in the 2005 remake. Victor Tributes from District 3, Beetee Latier played by Jeffrey Wright and Wiress played by Amanda Plummer, daughter of Christopher Plummer, join Katniss in resisting the Capitol. There is Panem's new Head Gamemaker, Heavensbee Plutarch, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman who effectively captures the Gamemaker's subtle balancing act of pretending to be a faithful citizen of the Capitol when in fact he is a secret rebel. 

Catching Fire is well paced, with lots of special effects, some frightening scenes, and many exciting action sequences. The Hunger Game scenes are especially well done, with this Games being set up like a clock. The deaths of the tributes are off screen, but this doesn't diminish the sense of danger that Katniss, Peeta and Finnick experience as they struggle to stay alive. 

One aspect this movie adaptation offers over the books, is insight into the character of President Snow, portrayed by accomplished Canadian actor, Donald Sutherland. Since the author, Suzanne Collins has been involved in the movies' productions and is herself a screen writer, she is able to add further context in the movie adaptations. This is especially so when Peeta is electrocuted by the force field and is revived by Finnick Odair. Watching from the presidential palace is Snow with his young granddaughter, who states "Some day I want to love someone that much."  Katniss's love for Peeta, something until this point even she was not fully aware of, is apparent to even Snow's young granddaughter. Snow's attempt to destroy Katniss and Peeta isn't working as planned, as he believed Katniss did not love Peeta. However, he now realizes that forcing them together may not have worked as he planned.

Mockingjay, the final movie in the trilogy will be split into two movies, the first of which is due out in 2014.