Catching Fire

Rating: 8/10 (13 October 2014)

I think it's about time that we find a positive review on this site. One simply cannot expect a perfect book-adaptation. Face it, have you ever seen a perfect adaptation?
I believe this movie was fair. Granted, the first half does trail on, but if we think about it, what could we omit? Katniss' speech was important, as was Snow's threat, the training, the interviews, etc.
The movie is as true to the book as a movie can get. The dialogue may not be identical and I'm sure Francis Lawrence (director) did not have the book under his nose during every second of filming, but what more can you expect?
I have read a number of reviews who simply rain on Catching Fire's parade because they think that it's "slow and boring". If you read the book, you'll know exactly what it consists of. Not to mention, if the book was demolished and reassembled in a different manner for the sake of the movie, then we would have every book-reader on our backs. (So basically, nobody wins.)
To the film at hand, I think it was very good. The acting was enough too piece this adaptation together and the picture itself was impressive.
Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss) has successfully played a role of a frustrated girl who would do anything for things to go back to the way the way they were.
As much as I love Josh Hutcherson, I don't feel much for Peeta. He is portrayed very well, but I suppose there are times when he becomes such a burden for Katniss (as if she didn't have enough on her shoulders) that I struggle to feel for him. He needs to put his childhood crush aside and deal with the real problem. To be fair, he is looked down upon: the whole Capitol worships the Girl on Fire and this boy from district 12 who survived the last games. Katniss doesn't tell him everything, so he is left in the dark throughout most of the movie. This is not a criticism, it's just an opinion on the character.
Either way, this film has done the book justice. Most peoples were annoyed at the "cliff-hanger" at the end, but, as I've said before, that is how the book ends! I believe this one was better directed than the first, and I look forward to Mockingjay (which I believe can be done in one movie, I didn't enjoy the book as much as the first two, but let's see what these money-grabbing people can do)