MOVIE REVIEW: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

GENRE: Sci-fi adventure

RUNNING TIME: 2 hours, 26 minutes

STARRING: Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook), Josh Hutcherson (Epic), Liam Hemsworth (Paranoia), Woody Harrelson (Now You See Me), Elizabeth Banks (Pitch Perfect), Lenny Kravitz (The Butler)

DIRECTED BY: Francis Lawrence (I am Legend)

RATING:

Currently screening at Ster-Kinekor Northgate.

PLOT: After winning the 74th Hunger Games Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) inspires an uprising and rebellion in the districts. At the same time, Katniss and fellow victor Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) must go on a victory tour across the districts. Before the tour begins and in response to the rebellion, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) threatens to kill the families of Katniss, Peeta and Gale (Liam Hemsworth). In order to save her loved ones Katniss must rectify the results of her actions, and convince the districts her actions were not out of rebellion but rather out of love for Peeta. During the tour Katniss’s attempts to placate the districts fail. President Snow, on the advice of the new games director Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman), resorts to violent means to discourage the rebellion.

THE GOOD: The film boasts an all-star cast that delivers a splendid performance. Elizabeth Banks as the colourful Effie adds layers of emotion and humour, and Lawrence’s performance lights up the screen. The story absorbs the audience from the very beginning, there is a never a dull moment.

THE BAD: The only disappointment is that the movie ends on a cliff-hanger, making the ending unsatisfactory. It is made for a continuation and in a movie that is not acceptable as one has to wait for at least a year for the next installment.

VERDICT: Despite the dissatisfaction with the ending, this movie keeps one glued to the screen at every minute of the action and drama. The acting and direction is superb. It is a captivating story and it promises an even greater story in the next chapter of the Hunger Games series. Everyone should give themselves the gift of “catching fire” with The Hunger Games this festive season. It is worth the time and the ticket price, making it an enjoyable experience all round.

Special thanks to Ster-Kinekor Northgate for making the review possible.