Review: “Hunger Games: Catching Fire”

Review by Carizma Barrera, Campus Editor
Photo courtesy

I’m a firm believer that the book is always better than the movie adaptation. However, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” has changed my mind. The performances in the second installment of “The Hunger Games” trilogy are powerful and convincing.

The movie takes place during the 75th annual Hunger Games also known as the Quarter Quell. Every 25 years, winners of all the past games are brought together to battle to the death in a sort of all-stars contest.

Katniss Everdeen played by Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark played by Josh Hutcherson, start the movie with a cold, distant relationship, although it was their budding romance that led to their unprecedented dual win at last year’s hunger games.  By the closing credits, However, I’m convinced they’re truly in love again.

Katniss’ little sister Prim proves to be stronger than anyone ever could have imagined and ultimately assures Katniss that regardless of what happens, their mother will be OK.

Katniss’ childhood friend and would-be love interest Gale plays a larger role in this movie than he did in the previous film, and new characters are introduced. It is a constant struggle for Katniss to figure out whom she should trust, and who the real enemy is.

The Quarter Quell games are especially brutal. While in the arena, Katniss hears Prim’s voice calling for help over and over, but Katniss cannot find her.  The anguishing sound actually comes from a Jabber Jay, a bird genetically altered to mock humans.  President Snow and the head Gamemaker realize the most effective way to hurt the tributes, and most importantly Katniss, is not by inflicting physical pain, but rather by hurting their families while the tributes are powerless to help them.

This scene is pivotal to the plot because the audience can see Katniss’ hatred for the games and those who inflict this cruel form punishment.

The last ten minutes of the movie are nail biting, intense and exhilarating. While the movie mostly sticks to the book, there are some slight variations, but all of them are positive and doesn’t leave the audience asking questions.  The movie ends in a cliffhanger which sets the tone for the third movie.

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” has something for everybody — with a love story, an action packed theme and comedic elements.  The movie successfully retells the story from the first movie without seeming repetitive. Therefore “Catching Fire” is able to stand alone and is much more than a sequel.