REEL TALK
duane bergeron
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Lionsgate, Rated PG-13 The 2013 Christmas film season now has its second bonafide smash hit. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is living up to expectations nationwide. The film took in $161 million in its opening weekend in the U.S., a record for November. The numbers are even bigger worldwide. Based on yet another series of bestselling books by Suzanne Collins, the Hunger Games is obviously the next teenbook-to-film success story. The Hunger Games was released in March 2012, with huge box office grosses. Catching Fire has exceeded that. Reports from other sources in the entertainment media indicate the film’s storyline is true to the original source material, so that should make the fanbase very happy. Though there is one more novel in the series, Mockingjay, the tactic is to make it a two-film adaptation. Doesn’t that sound familiar? Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) are undergoing the rigorous endeavor of touring all 13 Districts in Pan Em after winning the Hunger Games the previous year. It’s hard for Katniss to balance touring and her personal life, and she’s experiencing some confusion about her feelings for Peeta and Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth). Though Katniss does some hunting in her spare time, that doesn’t help her sort out her feelings. To make matters worse, Katniss receives a visit from President Snow (Donald Sutherland), informing her that due to her actions after the games, citizens in several of the districts are rebelling against his government. He warns Katniss to start “talking the party line,” or face
Games in which tributes who have won past editions are to be placed in the same arena to face off against each other. This means Peeta and Katniss have to fight for their lives once again, with Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) to help and coach them again. Snow hopes that this tactic will end Peeta’s and Katniss’ lives and give him a chance to end the uprising in Pan Em once and for all. This is a sequel that lives up to its title. The script and dialogue make the plot virtually leap out at you. The realism depicted here is extraordinary. How realistic is it? Not since the original Star Wars have I seen a totalitarian regime so realistically portrayed that it can evoke an emotional response from the audience. The performances by the cast also help make this fantasy world seem brutally real. The world of Pan Em looks and feels like a futuristic Nazi Germany. Catching Fire’s greatest strengths are its superb storytelling, and the performances of Lawrence, Hutcherson, Sutherland and the rest of the cast. This film tells its story with realism and excellence. It’s a superlative example of cinematic entertainment. Catching Fire will be one of the standout features of the Christmas season. When you’re not busy Christmas shopping, check out Catching Fire. severe consequences. Katniss complies. She and Peeta go out on another tour, but the acts of insurrection only increase. After getting back to District 12, Katniss is again trying to figure out her feelings when Snow decides he’s had enough. He declares the 75th Hunger Games to be a “Quarter Quell.” — a special edition of the Hunger
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December 5, 2013
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