A Potpourri of Vestiges Review: The high-octane second installment in the Hunger Games film quadrilogy

Rating: 8/10 (20 April 2014)

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is the much-awaited sequel to the 2012 blockbuster, The Hunger Games, which was based on the second novel in Collins' acclaimed The Hunger Games trilogy—a young adult science fiction series set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic districts of Panem under the ruthless control of a totalitarian state called the Capitol. With several actors reprising their roles from the previous film, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has an ensemble star cast that includes the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Woody Harrelson.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is set on a much grander scale in comparison to its prequel. The plot picks up from where it was left in the first movie with Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, the tributes chosen from District 12, being declared as the joint winners of the 74th Hunger Games under dramatic circumstances. The shocking turn of events which saw the emergence of not one but two winners for the first time in the games' history seems to have infuriated President Coriolanus Snow who is adamant on teaching Katniss and her kin a painful lesson. What ensues is a whirlwind adventure of epic proportions that will shake the very foundations of the residents of Panem and the dictatorial regime that governs it.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire gives great attention to the technical detail. But, what makes it stand out is the meticulous manner in which it seems to tackle the emotional aspects which often seems to be lacking in such films. The credit for this must go to the director for eliciting worthy performances from almost all his actors and the screenwriters for adding a great level of maturity to the plot by the virtue of a multilayered narrative while keeping intact the thriller and mystery elements of the novel.
Speaking of movie's technical elements, it's imperative to talk about Alan Edward Bell's taut editing and Jo Willems' breathtaking cinematography. While Sutherland, Tucci, Hoffman, Harrelson and Wright are brilliant in their respective roles, it is Jennifer Lawrence who is absolutely mesmerizing to watch. It's an absolute delight to see her go from strength to strength, completely unfazed by her recently acquired super-stardom, continuing to deliver one strong performance after another with such aplomb that one usually associates with great thespians.
Overall, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire offers entertainment galore. It may not be great cinema but it's definitely much superior to the run-of- the-mill Hollywood productions that are all style and no substance. Catching Fire is a high octane extravaganza that also offers some food for thought for those who are willing to look beyond the obvious. Catching Fire serves as a powerful social commentary in that it highlights how the strong tend to oppress the weak when in absolute control of things. We have a real entertainment feast at our disposal and it's only prudent to savor it to the fullest. 8/10