"Remember who the enemy is."
Directed by Francis Lawrence
Produced by Nina Jacobson, Jon Killik
Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy, Michael deBruyn
Based on "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland
Music by James Newton Howard
Cinematography: Jo Willems
Edited by Alan Edward Bell
Production company: Color Force
Distributed by Lionsgate, StudioCanal, Universal Studios
Release date: 22 November 2013 (United States)
Running time: 146 minutes
Country: United States
Budget: $130–140 million
Box office: $865 million
"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is an action science fiction thriller film directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Simon Beaufoy, Michael deBruyn, based on "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins. It's the second installment of the "The Hunger Games" film series which follows Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark who return to the competitions which are Capitol's punishment for their disobedience.
Cast
- Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen
- Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark
- Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne
- Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy
- Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket
- Lenny Kravitz as Cinna
- Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee
- Donald Sutherland as President Coriolanus Snow
- Jeffrey Wright as Beetee Latier
- Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman
- Willow Shields as Primrose Everdeen
- Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair
- Jena Malone as Johanna Mason
- Lynn Cohen as Mags Flanagan
- Amanda Plummer as Wiress
- Meta Golding as Enobaria
- Bruno Gunn as Brutus
- Alan Ritchson as Gloss
- Stephanie Leigh Schlund as Cashmere
- Toby Jones as Claudius Templesmith
- Patrick St. Esprit as Romulus Thread
- Paula Malcomson as Mrs Everdeen
- Stef Dawson as Annie Cresta
- Nelson Ascencio as Flavius
- Bruce Bundy as Octavia
To my mind, the second part looks more exciting and capturing than the first one (which is a good beginning of the franchise anyway). Why? Lots of unexpected events and turns, more interesting characters and more cruel rules - in a word "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" shows really high stakes of this dystopia.
The members of the cast from the previous parted start to portray their personages in process: for example, Lawrence's Katniss has become braver, Hutcherson's Peeta - wiser. But as for the new faces, it's important to mention the following names: always splendid Philip Seymour Hoffman as two-faced Plutarch Heavensbee, Jeffrey Wright as ingenious Beetee Latier, Sam Claflin as charming and suspicious Finnick Odair, Jena Malone as eccentric Johanna Mason - all of them introduced the more spacious approach to the "The Hunger Games" universe and made viewers better understand the situation in Panem.
All in all, the second installment of the "The Hunger Games" film series turned out the best one in the franchise, in my opinion, as action, acting and the plot were even on the higher level than they had been in the first part - therefore everything is watched in one breath.
Advantages
- Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen
- Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy
- Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket
- Lenny Kravitz as Cinna
- Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman
- Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark
- Donald Sutherland as President Coriolanus Snow
- Jeffrey Wright as Beetee Latier
- Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman
- Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair
- Jena Malone as Johanna Mason
- Music
- Strong female characters
- No slushy love lines
- Not just a teenage film series
Disadvantages
- Many important moments from book are shown too quickly in the film - unsurprisingly but it disappoints a little.
"Strangenesses"
- What is the history of Panem? When has totalitarianism begun?
Clue Moments
- The Hunger Games
- President Snow's visit
- Rebellions across the districts
- Gale's punishment
- Death of Cinna
- Katniss' dress
- The alliance
- The clock
- A tree that is struck by lightning
- A shot into the arena forcefield
- The truth about Plutarch
- District 13
"The Hunger Games", the competition, is a show, first of all. Fake smiles, pretentious clothes, unreal feelings - that what people want to see from the large screen asking for "Bread and circuses", or "Panem et circenses". And they get them: severe gladiatorial combats, deaths, blood, killings. And only if people are interested in their future, in their lives, they will find the way not to enjoy this show, be better than that and become free one day.
The Quarter Quell is a special Hunger Games that occurs every 25 years. Each Quarter Quell includes a new twist to the rules, supposedly prescribed at the end of the Dark Days when the Hunger Games were first created. The rule changes serve as a reminder of some aspect of the rebellion. Officially, whoever came up with new rules assumed the Hunger Games would go on for centuries and wrote rule changes for many Quarter Quells. It is hypothesized in the series that the rules are made up at the time to serve the Capitol's purposes; no one outside the government really knows. The President selects the year number from a box of envelopes and announces the rule change live on television.
Soundtracks
- James Newton Howard - Katniss
- James Newton Howard - I Had To Do That
- James Newton Howard - We Have Visitors
- James Newton Howard - Just Friends
- James Newton Howard - Mockingjay Graffiti
- James Newton Howard - The Tour
- James Newton Howard - Daffodil Waltz
- James Newton Howard - Waltz In A (Op. 39, No. 15)
- James Newton Howard - Fireworks
- James Newton Howard - Horn Of Plenty
- James Newton Howard - Peacekeepers
- James Newton Howard - Prim
- James Newton Howard - A Quarter Quell
- James Newton Howard - Katniss Is Chosen
- James Newton Howard - Introducing The Tributes
- James Newton Howard - There's Always A Flaw
- James Newton Howard - Bow And Arrow
- James Newton Howard - We're A Team
- James Newton Howard - Let's Start
- James Newton Howard - The Games Begin
- James Newton Howard - Peeta's Heart Stops
- James Newton Howard - Treetops
- James Newton Howard - The Fog
- James Newton Howard - Monkey Mutts
- James Newton Howard - Jabberjays
- James Newton Howard - I Need You
- James Newton Howard - Broken Wire
- James Newton Howard - Arena Crumbles
- James Newton Howard - Good Morning Sweetheart
Quotations
* * *
Katniss Everdeen: I just wanted to say that I didn't know Thresh, I only spoke to him once. He could have killed me, but instead he showed me mercy. That's a debt I'll never be able to repay. I did know Rue. She wasn't just my ally, she was my friend. I see her in the flowers that grow in the meadow by my house. I hear her in the Mockingjay song. I see her in my sister Prim. She was too young, too gentle, and I couldn't save her. I'm sorry.
* * *
Plutarch Heavensbee: Now, Katniss, you have been our mission from the beginning. The plan was always to get you out. Half the tributes were in on it. This is the revolution, and you are the mockingjay.
* * *
Gale Hawthorne: People are looking to you, Katniss. You've given them an opportunity. They just have to be brave enough to take it.
* * *
Finnick Odair: Katniss... remember who the real enemy is.
* * *
Haymitch Abernathy: I want you guys to forget everything you think you know about the games. Last year was child's play. This year, you're dealing with all experienced killers.
* * *
Katniss Everdeen: Any last advice?Haymitch Abernathy: Stay alive.
* * *
Finnick Odair: Katniss.Katniss Everdeen: Hello, Finnick.
Finnick Odair: Do you want a sugar cube? I mean it's supposed to be for the horses, but... I mean who cares about them, right? They got years to eat sugar, whereas you and I... well, if we see something sweet we better grab it.
Katniss Everdeen: No thanks, but I would love to borrow that outfit someday.
Finnick Odair: You look pretty terrifying in that get up. What happened to the pretty little girl dresses?
Katniss Everdeen: I outgrew them.
Finnick Odair: You certainly did. Shame about this quell thing. Now you... you could have made out like a bandit in the Capitol. Jewels, money, anything you wanted.
Katniss Everdeen: Well, I don't like jewels and I have more money than I need, so... What did you do with all your wealth anyway?
Finnick Odair: I haven't dealt in anything as common as money in years.
Katniss Everdeen: Well, then, how do people pay for the pleasure of your company?
Finnick Odair: With secrets. What about you, Girl on Fire? Any secrets worth my time?
Katniss Everdeen: I'm an open book. Everybody always seems to know my secrets before I know them myself.
Finnick Odair: Unfortunately, I think that's true. I'm sorry you had to cancel your wedding. I know how devastating that must be for you. Have a good day.
[Peeta walks up to them]
Finnick Odair: [exiting] Peeta.
Peeta Mellark: Finnick. What'd he want?
Katniss Everdeen: To know all my secrets.
Peeta Mellark: Hm. Have to get in line.
* * *
Katniss Everdeen: You were dead. Your heart stopped.Peeta Mellark: It's okay. It's working now.
* * *
Katniss Everdeen: Nobody decent ever wins the games.Haymitch Abernathy: Nobody ever wins the games. Period. There are survivors. There's no winners.
* * *
Effie Trinket: Eyes bright, chins up, smiles on. I'm talking to you, Katniss.
* * *
President Snow: Fear does not work as long as there is hope.
* * *
Cinna: No waving and smiling this time. I want you to look straight ahead as if the audience and this whole event are beneath you.Katniss Everdeen: That should be easy.
* * *
[looking at the District 4 Male Tribute]Katniss Everdeen: Finnick Odair, right?
Haymitch Abernathy: Yes. He won the games at 14. Youngest ever. Extremely humble.
Katniss Everdeen: You're kidding.
Haymitch Abernathy: Yes, I'm kidding. He's a peacock, a total preener but he's the Capitol darling. They love him here. Charming, smart and very skilled at combat - especially in water.
* * *
Caesar Flickerman: Finnick, I understand that you have a message for somebody out there - a SPECIAL somebody.[chuckles]
Caesar Flickerman: Can we hear it?
Finnick Odair: My love, you have my heart for all eternity and, uh, if... if I die in that arena, my last thought will be of your lips.
* * *
Gale Hawthorne: Saw some turkeys on the way here. Crossed right in front of me like I wasn't even there.Katniss Everdeen: How rude of them.
* * *
Effie Trinket: We're a team, aren't we? And I'm so proud of my victors. So proud. You're so... Well, you both deserved so much better.Katniss Everdeen: Thank you, Effie.
Effie Trinket: I am truly sorry.
* * *
Finnick Odair: Well, I guess we're not holding hands anymore.Katniss Everdeen: You think that's funny?
Finnick Odair: Everytime that cannon goes off, it's music to my ears. I don't care about any of them.
Katniss Everdeen: Good to hear.
* * *
Haymitch Abernathy: She's gonna lose it when she finds out about the boy.Plutarch Heavensbee: She'll still cooperate, though.
Haymitch Abernathy: Without Peeta? There is no guarantee.
* * *
President Snow: She is preparing to fight.Plutarch Heavensbee: That's our girl.
* * *
President Snow: Whatever game you think you're playing, those out there are not playing it with you.
* * *
Young Girl: One day, I'm gonna volunteer, just like you did.
* * *
Katniss Everdeen: You understand, that what ever I do, it comes back to you and mom. I don't want you to get hurt.
* * *
Katniss Everdeen: I'm here to drink.Haymitch Abernathy: Oh. Finally, something I can help you with.
* * *
Plutarch Heavensbee: So how do you like the party?Katniss Everdeen: It's a little overwhelming.
Plutarch Heavensbee: It's appalling. Still, if you abandon your moral judgment, it can be fun.
* * *
Haymitch Abernathy: Katniss, when you're in the arena, remember who the real enemy is.
* * *
Plutarch Heavensbee: The more allies she betrays - the more friends she kills - the more she reveals her true self.
* * *
You may see the trailer here.
Plot: 8/10
Entertainment: 9/10
Acting: 8/10
Originality: 8/10
Music and Sound: 9/10
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