Catches Fire and Blazes Afar.

Rating: 9/10 (14 January 2016)

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013): Dir: Francis Lawrence / Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Jeffrey Wright: Extraordinary followup to The Hunger Games. This one regards celebrity and reputation. Director Francis Lawrence hits hard immediately as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are celebrated celebrities due to their counter that allowed them both to survive the previous Hunger Games. President Snow resents this and decides that to avoid a rebellion by the districts then every past Hunger Games survivor is to compete in the next Hunger Games. Jennifer Lawrence is awesome as Katniss who is a figure of peace for the districts and the target for death for Snow. She defies the odds with bow in hand. Josh Hutcherson plays Peeta who must play off this forced romance for the public. Liam Hemsworth has more screen time but still unable to rise above being the district 12 boyfriend who is irritated with the whole Katniss / Peeta fiasco. Even getting severely flogged cannot render him beyond cardboard. Sam Claflin steals moments as an ally to Katniss. He starts out as an obnoxious portrait but eventually demonstrates his true colors especially when he loses a loved one during a poison fog. Jeffrey Wright and Jenna Malone play two mysterious gamers whom Katniss will have to decide whether to trust. The games itself springs savage monkeys, blood rain, mocking jays that screech the screams of loved ones. Spectacular special effects and electrifying costumes highlight our lust for celebrity and our yearning for someone else to make the difference. Score: 9 ½ / 10