JamesPicard
Since: Jun, 2012
03/20/2014 00:00:00
Glad to see I'm not the only one who thought the 'Girl on Fire' wasn't particularly impressive. It looked much better in this movie. Actually, pretty much everything in this movie is a step up from the original. Except for the monkeys. Those were just silly.
I'm a geek.
TomWithNoNumbers
Since: Dec, 2010
03/20/2014 00:00:00
I feel like they included it in this film because they realised it sucked the first time and wanted to get it right =D
I agree everything in Catching Fire is a step-up from the first, and that's really impressive because it's not like the first wasn't a good film in it's own merits. I loved the first but it seems worse now, just because we've got this on in comparison.
And I really didn't think Catching Fire was going to adapt well to film either
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They don't make films like this
So firstly the consumer advice, if you didn't like the first film, then the chances are this one won't change your mind. If you did like the first film then you're probably going to enjoy this one even more. If you haven't seen the first film, go and watch that one, the plot relies on people knowing and caring about the events in the first and doesn't waste time reestablishing those links. Finally, if you're not committed to seeing all the films do not watch this one. This is no conclusion, it's events building up and other events spiralling out of control.
That out of the way, I loved this film. They don't make blockbuster films so unconcerned with making the audience feel good. This is a story about the shallowness of celebrity culture, the dangers of living in the first world and remaining oblivious to what's outside of it and how people are affected going through the hardest situations. Finally, it's a film about waking up and taking action. But it remains absolutely committed to events progressing how they should progress instead of how they should go in stories. Katniss isn't a hero, she's not the brilliant leader of a revolution, but like so many revolutions before, in many ways it's not what matters. What matters is what people believe and that they have something to believe in to give them the hope that if they fight, it might not be for nothing.
With the intro out of the way Catching Fire ups the intensity. Suddenly the capital is having it's own heroes threatened and the people don't like it and aren't used to experiencing these feelings. Everyone dreads the games and they're fighting with the weapons they have as dirtily as they can. Katniss and Peeta are trying to maintain their facade as the world falls apart around them and rebellion and repression springs up around them. Everyone has motives and this time it's harder to tell what people are up to and what they're going to be doing next.
The acting is all incredible as it was before and the new guys don't disappoint. The effects have improved considerably (the fire scene doesn't suck this time). But Gale is still out of place, especially considering how the film mocks hollywood romances.
And most of all this is being aimed at teens and young adults. The difference is between this and Twilight and even the (very fun) superhero stuff is kind of crazy