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“Catching Fire” will ignite with it’s intense action and solid storytelling

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By Isaac Piecuch ’14| Staff Writer

“The Hunger Games” is a phenomenon, and will forever be held in the same vein as movies like “Twilight”. But unlike some of its soulless counterparts, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” is a movie with real substance, a gripping tale of dystopian drama that, while imperfect, is a great continuation of the Hunger Games franchise.

Continuing where “The Hunger Games” left off, “Catching Fire” is set directly after the events of the first film. Katniss and Peeta, the film’s heroes, are about to embark on a “Victor’s Tour,” before a series of events draw them into the growing tension surrounding Panem, the film’s futuristic, dystopian world.

The set design is fantastic, with interesting, varied, and beautiful locals featured throughout the movie. Also, the costume design is impeccable. The outfits of the Capital are appropriately outrageous, and the world is mirrored by the clothing its inhabitants wear.

Jennifer Lawrence is fantastic, proving why she is one of the world’s hottest young actresses.She kicks butt like few ladies of cinema can, and awes audiences with her grit. Jaws will drop when watching Katniss prove her skill with a bow, and Lawrence nails it.

The performances are great across the board. Newcomer Finnick, played by Sam Claflin, has a magnetic charisma, and seems to be more than a pretty face. Woody Harrelson is an awesome Haymitch, developing his character to be more than a simple drunk. Donald Sutherland is an exceptionally evil and creepy president Snow, and is immediately dislikable while not appearing cartoonish. Finally, Stanley Tucci is mesmerizing during his limited screen; his Caesar is so slimy, dripping with insincere charisma.

Still, Katniss can be a hard hero to root for. She doesn’t feel particularly heroic, and she’s not even intentionally noble; she is thrust into a role of importance. While that makes her relatable, she can also be a bit dislikable. She is frustratingly stubborn and at times dull. Furthermore, it feels like she lacks compassion towards the men that love her; she plays with Gale’s and Peeta’s hearts, stringing them along but not committing.

Furthermore, though the movie does well to escape it, there is a creeping sense of “teeny-bopper” to this movie. The love triangle between Katniss, Gale, and Peeta is made a major point of tension, and there was an excess of one-liners. Still, this is a solid film. Entertaining and complex, it’s a great continuation of the “Hunger Games” craze that exceeds the expectations of the average teen movie.

It’d be easy for a movie like “Catching Fire” to fall into the realms of adolescent pop cinema. While the film’s love triangle can be exhausting at times, it maintains it’s mature and dark tones. It’s inevitable that this movie will be “Catching Fire” throughout the nation; fortunately, this is one blaze that should be allowed to spread.

Grade: B+

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