Thoughts on Catching Fire

First a little disclaimer went to see Catching Fire a couple of days after having been to see 12 Years a Slave, you can't help but compare even though the two are entirely different genres.  Nevertheless after the powerful moving film which is 12 Years it's difficult not to make comparisons, even unfair ones.

I went to see the first Hunger Games film without having read the books, knowing only the broad outlines gleaned here and there.  The film was dynamic, the story was well laid out, its simplicity was appealing and suited the unfolding events.In the second film  Jennifer Lawrence is still incendiary as the main character Katniss Everdeen the oh so reluctant "revolutionary".  The plot takes off from the film with Katniss back in her district living in better digs as befits her role of champion.  Ditto for her fake game boyfriend Peeta.  Throughout the film she will continue to oscillate, feelings wise, between him and her District boyfriend Gale. She tries reassuring Gale by telling him "it was all a game" she did what she had to do to survive.  Here's the irony by allowing Peeta and herself to survive she has become the powerful if unknowing leader of a potential rebellion a title which she fervently doesn't want and doesn't really understand.

The first part of the film is very slow with repeated televised appearances of the most famous couple the Games has ever produced. There are also visits to the various districts to honor the fallen tribunes.  This ostensibly to please the masses and make them forget about their miserable lives under an intrusive ever present totalitarian dictatorship headed by the oily and ubiquitous President Snow played with some relish (of the pay check variety ) by Donald Sutherland.

President Snow is perturbed at the idea that Katniss especially is inspiring the masses in ways he had not anticipated, he wants to be the ultimate manipulator of the games and its aftermath.  I had a problem with this basic premise.  The author Suzanne Collins probably does a much better job of delineating how suffocating the lives of most people under this dictatorship must be and what a breath of fresh air Katniss certainly must have been.  It's difficult to see that playing out in the film.  There are a few gestures of futile acts of rebellion such as the three finger salute to the mouth and the hand holding by tributes past winners who will now be pitted against each other in a novel twist on the old game.  Current leitmotif, the games never end, either in one's head or in reality. They are always there for the one percent's enjoyment.  The three finger salute is too reminiscent of the Nazi salute to be totally effective even though in this case the salute is an act of defiance rather than obedience.  Nevertheless the salute coupled with the heavily borrowed decor straight out of Nazi propaganda films was enough to turn me off thus not achieving its intended purpose at least not for me.

One hour into the film the action does get under way with the games although I never felt that Katniss was in mortal danger knowing another two film episode (a la Twilight) will soon be coming to a Cineplex near you. The idea that the masses are unwilling to rise up because they lack cohesive leadership is lightly  touched upon in the film with the mockingbird being the ultimate symbol of the rebellion were it to emerge under the leadership of an extremely reluctant Katniss.  In so far as spectacle is concerned the film delivers on a minor scale with special effects that don't overwhelm the story.  I loved the wedding dress segment, truly beautiful and the makeup and costumes are still fabulous.  Most of the same players are back with the addition of Philip Seymour Hoffman, always delightful, although frankly he could probably play this role in his sleep since it doesn't demand too much of him.  This is mostly Lawrence's film and there's no doubt she will set the box office on fire with this second installment.  For my part a lukewarm endorsement I would give it a 6.