The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Don't Judge by the Books...

Rating: 7/10 (1 December 2013)

Literal by any means though - otherwise the film adaptation would never measure up to the standard expectation based on Suzanne Collins originally written series of The Hunger Games books. For a start I think the plot of the first film was a bit wee understated due to lack clarity on the history of the formation of Panem (which previously known as North America). Some audiences especially from the group of non-followers of Suzanne Collins were bound to be riddled by the question, 'Why did the Capitol come out with the idea of the Hunger Games at first place..? There was a tiny loophole in the prelude of the first film I just thought it could have been better to navigate with some opening scene of nuclear holocaust launched by Capitol to destroy the District 13 entire population due their rebellion against Capitol. At that point, I was left to wonder, it seems that the dir. Gary Ross merely count on the popularity of Suzanne Collins' books to do the job for viewers' comprehension on history details outlining the remarkable turnover reign from North America to Panem; and also under the regimentation on food ration by the federal government of Capitol, the Districts population are thrust into massive level of hunger. But sadly, all of these vivid imagery can only be reached out through the perspective of the books.
'Against all the odds in the 2nd film follows Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) who leads a glamorous life and gains popularity on both Capitol and the Districts. But soon she is about to learn that the remarkable shift in her life proves always comes with a price. During her touring with her fellow victor, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson, there are signs of rebellion brewing across the Districts that inadvertently attributes President Snow to see Katniss as a potential threat who will rally people from Districts to rebel against the Capitol.
Soon Katniss is thrown into an ultimate showdown against other victors from the past Hunger Games. But this time around, the 75th Annual Hunger Games which is also known as 'Quarter Quell' turns outs to be underlying conspiracy by Snow to destroy Katniss Everdeen - once and for all.' Overall the 2nd film of The Hunger Games converged at the angle outlining our protagonist, Katniss Everdeen on her road of her spiritual exploration followed with her determination on which path she will be undertaking, to become the ally of the supremo Capitol; or the rebellious group from all over the Districts? There were a couple of few hits in the plots particularly the idea of 'Tik Tok' and Cabin in the Woods traps- alike in the arena were pretty amazing. I've got my emotional struck at certain scenes particularly when Katniss witnessing an old man gunned down in cold blood by a 'peacemaker' (a Capitol soldier) during the time when she mourned the deceased Rue at District 11.
Plot aside, I find the dystopian set somehow appeared more like a contemporary metropolitan, not the surreal futuristic which supposed to be, the one with flying automobiles which could be seen in the sci-fi backdrops of Fifth Element and Total Recall Remake by Len Wiseman.
Choreography disposition was fairly smooth despite few gasps in between. The most fascinating moment in term of action sequences would be Katniss using her archery skills at training center, taking down all the holograms! Nonetheless, it could have been better if such combat expertise being fully translated into Katniss' fight with a horde of 'Afterearth'-alike carnivorous baboons.
Jennifer Lawrence undeniably the 'Girl on Fire', she earned that and no other girl can steal that title from her. But sadly her thunders in my opinion, was not being equally shared to her two male sidekicks, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth who played Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne respectively. (Sorry..not that I'm sexist, it just that I couldn't shake off the film adaptation just don't do the justice for this duo compared to the original characteristics as in Suzanne Collins books) Peeta Mellark in the book is an exceptional intelligent boy beyond his age, exuberant as the way he sees thing lightly and positive, not as portrayed by Josh in film adaptation (no hardfeelings to Josh's fans, Josh was more like a broody and a little whiny type). There goes to his rival as well, Gale Hawthorne who was supposed to be a strikingly bold and savvy fighter/hunter in the Suzanne Collins' version. I'm sorry to say that despite with lots of publicities, I just don't see that burning spirits unleashed out by Liam Hemsworth (or perhaps Liam should be taking on Peeta Mellark just as what he auditioned before for that role) In a nutshell, The Hunger Games is a decent film adaptation, but still a milestone from the original imagery as in Suzanne Collins' Panem world. Bad investment advice..? Set your expectation a bit wee lower then you'll see it differently!