Action Packed and Dramatic

Rating: 9/10 (4 December 2013)

Avid fans of The Hunger Games Trilogy would know that while Collins' book series is mainly focused on the gut wrenching action that takes place in the brutal live televised event known as The Hunger Games, there are more subtle dramatic elements incorporated into the books as well. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is an excellent representation of this. The film is both action packed and emotionally raw, it offers the intensity of heart racing action but also offers moments that tug on the heart strings. Both elements combine splendidly to create a truly remarkable film. As expected, most of the action of the film takes place in the clock-shaped arena. The audience are practically forced on the edge of their seats as they watch the poor 're-reaped' past victors avoid poisonous fog, kill frightening mutt baboons and evade being murdered by other tributes. The scenes are both terrifying and intense, yet for some strange, unknown reason it is almost impossible to take your eyes off of the screen (even for a second). Katniss, Finnick and Peeta are a trio that display wicked fighting skills and that are the cause of most of the gritty action contained in the film. The film is also able to highlight the emotional struggles that Katniss Everdeen faces following her shared victory of the 74th annual Hunger Games. Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen) shows audiences why she has won a Golden Globe and an Oscar, the girl is literally on fire and isn't gong to let anything get in her way! In this film, Katniss a girl whose mind bursts with fear and unease, she is an emotional wreck. The audience really witness this when Katniss delivers a elegy to the fallen tributes of District 11 (Thresh and Rue). Lawrence's performance in this scene is so powerful that she makes the audience feel her grief and misery at the death of her friend and ally Rue. Let's not forget the romance factor, in the film Katniss is tossing and turning between Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) and Gale Hawthrone (Liam Hemsworth, however, there is only one truly romantic scene in the entirety of the film, that is the sweet scene where Peeta attempts to convince Katniss that she needs to live instead of him. Peeta then proceeds to say that nobody needs him, Katniss' response is "I do, I need you." Then the two share a lengthy and passionate kiss. All in all the film is good, perhaps one of the only downer was Cinna (Lenny Kravitz). In the book, Cinna is a charismatic, energetic character, however, in the film he is dull and uninteresting (but why? We all know Lenny Kravitz is full of energy and excitement). Just go see the film and judge for yourself, me? Well I'm going to spend a long year waiting in agony for the third film.