Catching Fire, the sequel to the movie The Hunger Games, was in theaters everywhere on November 22, 2013. Starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark, the movie is set six months after the last Hunger Games on the day of the Victory Tour. Catching Fire covers a wide range of genres, including adventure, science fiction, romance and action, so this movie draws in many different audiences.
Catching Fire begins as Peeta and Katniss return home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their families and close friends, embarking on a Victor’s Tour of the districts. Along the way, Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capital is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.
Even though there were many admirable qualities about the movie, something that really stood out was the costume design. In the Capital, the fashion is quite different. I think that they did a wonderful job of capturing the obscure style that the fans imagined while reading the books. Another costume design that I thought they did a wonderful job on was Katniss’s wedding dress. It was very beautiful, elegant and futuristic looking. It’s a dress that any girl would die for. I bet it will be inspiring many dress designers next season.
Another thing that caught my eye was how the screen writer stayed very close to the events and dialog from the book. The director also did a wonderful job directing the important events like Finnick and Peeta’s CPR scene (which all the fangirls enjoyed, when Katniss’s dress turns into a mockingjay, and the Peeta-Katniss beach scene. The director also did a wonderful job of getting rid of the ‘shaky camera.’ In The Hunger Games the camera was unusually shaky. It was very distracting and nauseating. In Catching Fire the camera didn’t shake which was a relief.
Overall, I loved the movie. It was so close to the book, which is every fangirl’s dream. In my opinion, this movie was so much better than the first. Changing the director from Gary Ross to Francis Lawrence, who is not related to Jennifer, was a good move on Suzanne Collins’ part. The casting was flawless. Sam Claflin is the perfect Finnick, and so was the acting. Lawrence, as always, knocked me off my feet. She never fails to be amazing in any movie she is in. Catching Fire is definitely the best Hunger Games movie. There is no doubt I will go see it a second time.
Waiting a year for Mockingjay Pt. 1, the third in the series, will be torture but when the movie comes out on November 21, 2014, I know I will be going to go see it.
