Movie Review

CATCHING FIRE AND WHAT ABOUT MOCKING JAY?

I love the Hunger Games series, so the Friday it came out I went with my room mate who knew nothing about it.  He is an international student from Vietnam.  He kept asking questions during the movie but it did not take away from the thrill of Catching Fire. 

Peeta and Katniss grow noticeably closer as they bond over nightmares associated with the PTSD of they experience because of last Hunger Games.  Katniss is seeing things, feeling guilty over not saving Rue. Peeta tries to keep her together during their promotional tour where they are supposed to pretend they are in “love” to appease the Capitol, and President Snow. 

Katniss is in a trap she does not know how to get out of, and finally President Snow gives in to what he wanted ever since he saw Katniss and springs his card: a quarter quell games where former victors are pooled in from all 12 districts to be picked for the next Hunger Games.  Katniss and Peeta try to pull a stunt to stop the Games, but it ultimately does not work; their effort was hilarious in its factor to shock the Capitol.

Peeta and Katniss prepare for the Hunger Games, and Katniss’s on point shooting in the training centre gets her a whole bunch of admirers; along with alliance invitations.

The games are a psychological and animalistic bloodbath.  Katniss and Peeta grow even closer during these Games, and it is nice to see because I think Gale cannot understand Katniss more than Peeta at this point.  Gale has not been through the life altering experience of the Hunger Games with her, and Peeta has.  Peeta has already proved he would die for Katniss so it is no contest.  Nothing is as it seems in this movie, even where someone may be an enemy they are allies in disguise, and friends’ turns into enemies with the betrayal of omission and half-truths. 

The first movie did not immediately make me want to read the series, it was Catching Fire, the second one that did. 

I have read Mocking Jay, and all I have to say is that with the first two books I knew it wasn't going to be a pretty ending and I was right.  I know for a fact that if the director for the last movie does it right I think the last movie would deserve even an Oscar nomination.

I give Catching Fire 4 out of 5 stars.