The Girl On Fire Burns On

Rating: 10/10 (25 November 2013)

Let me just start off by saying that I am a HUGE fan of the books, especially Catching Fire. That said, I had high expectations going into the theater, and this movie did not disappoint. One of the things I love about this movie is how true it is to the book. Although obviously not everything from the book made it to the big screen, the scenes that were included made sense and incorporated anything that needed to be incorporated. The screenwriters give you enough information to understand what is going on, but also allow you to figure out certain details for yourself, which is something I immensely enjoyed. The bigger budget and new director made a positive difference, as well.
I'll start off by talking about the visuals, especially the scenes in the Capitol. Everything in the Capitol looked so realistic, colorful, and over the top, just as described in the books. The images seemed to pop right off the screen! The stark contrast between the districts and the Capitol were masterfully done, with the colors of the Capitol shocking you after the grays of the districts. I also have to give big kudos to the costume designer. The costumes were amazing, from the simple clothes in the districts to the extravagant costumes of the Capitol. Everything worn by Katniss and Peeta, especially on the victory tour, tells a story, and all the costumes were expertly done with great attention to detail.
However great the visuals and aesthetics were in Catching Fire, what really made this movie amazing for me was the acting. This movie is perfectly casted. The returning supporting actors add more depth to their characters. Elizabeth Banks molds Effie into someone more human, and you can really see how much she has come to care about Peeta and Katniss. The new additions are even better. Sam Claflin provides a great portrayal of Finnick, and Jena Malone's performance as Johanna really blew me away. The lead actors also bring more to the table. Josh Hutcherson does a great job as Peeta, giving him more emotional depth than in the first film, and Liam Hemsworth plays a convincing Gale. But the real star of this film is Jennifer Lawrence.
Without Jennifer Lawrence, this movie would never be half as good. Katniss is a complex character, with many different levels, and Jennifer expertly brings them to life. Her face portrays everything Katniss is feeling, including both what she is showing the outside world, and what she feels inside. She brings Katniss to life in a way that I never thought possible, showing us every aspect of her character, no matter how small. She portrays Katniss' outward strength, but also her vulnerability and fear, something everyone can relate to. Both Lawrence and Hutcherson bring the complex and fascinating relationship of Peeta and Katniss to life in this film.
What every actor in this film has in common is that they all portray every aspect of their character, even the subtle things. In some cases, such as Jena Malone as Johanna, they make their character's feelings on the events of the movie blatantly clear. But in others, such as Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman, their eyes just barely hint on their true feelings of their situation and the world around them. Through Caesar's cheerful facade, you can still see that he is afraid of the events going on around him. It may be subtle, but it is there none the less.
Overall, this was a fantastic movie. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, eager for whatever was coming next. This is the kind of movie you just can't get out of your head for days, as you keep replaying the images and conversations in your mind. I will definitely be seeing this movie again! I'm so glad Francis Lawrence will be directing the next two, and I am so excited to see those as well!