A Vast Improvement

Rating: 10/10 (23 November 2013)

This... this exceeded my expectations.
Before going to this film I was not aware that there was a different director for this film.
Francis Lawrence, I applaud you.
I read all the Hunger Games books in a week because they were so fantastic. I thought the first movie was pretty good. Maybe a 7. But I didn't think it really held true to the book too much. I went to see Catching Fire because I wanted to see the book redone in movie form as it was with the first. I wasn't expecting the masterpiece that I saw.
Francis Lawrence has taken our beloved Hunger Games, and completely perfected it. It's as if he took it page by page. It was such a perfect rendition of the book. The shaky cameras that battered the first movie were gone. Jennifer Lawrence once again did an unbelievable job with her acting. I'm a guy, and I am not afraid to admit I teared up during the Rue speech and the scene on the beach with Peeta. It was so emotional and realistic and beautiful. Katniss' emotional struggle between the rebellion and Peeta and Gale almost felt like I was experiencing them. It felt like it truly mattered to me.
Throughout the movie I had tunnel vision on the screen. I couldn't pull my eyes off this movie. It had become my new reality. On a smaller note, the action and effects were fantastic.
I sincerely hope that Francis Lawrence is directing the last film.
I could go on and on about why this movie is amazing. I can tell you a lot of extremely hard work and care went into this film. So instead of reading this review, you should be grabbing your car keys and heading out the door to see it yourself.
And may the odds, be ever in your favor.