Dystopian romance and totalitarian Olympics
It is extremely hard for me to review a film that I believe is simply a blatant rip off of other popular films and/or books.
What upsets me the most is that paid critics and fans of the book/or film, seem to key in on the fact that it's a controversial and an original story when in fact it clearly isn't.
If you want controversy, let me see some blood and some heads flying off of children's neck, if you want originality than you must separate yourself from a cinematic journey that looks like a cross between a Tim Burton and Terry Gilliam film.
If I can remove thoughts of piracy, story thievery and cinematic unoriginality out of my head and focus on subject A) The Hunger Games: Catching Fire for what it is, I will say that as a stand alone film it is decent and entertaining.
Again, I must try hard now not to somehow view Catching Fire as a rip off to the original Rollerball or The Running Man...but that is hard to do since I am a big fan of the originals.
I love me some Woody Harrelson but he felt slightly out of place throughout the film and somehow I doubt he has ever read the books...in a sober state at least.
Stanley Tucci and Philip Seymour Hoffman are fantastic actors, and even with a thin script and underwhelming dialogue, they manage to remain professionally good.
As for title character Katniss Everdeen., played by the young and marginally talented Jennifer Lawrence, I will say that Jennifer Lawrence simply doesn't command the screen as other young(er) actress have done in the past with such high profile roles. She doesn't disappoint, but doesn't steel the show either.
Their is clearly and effort to entertain the masses with big colorful and pleasant visual affects and a few action packed twist and turns throughout the film. I will not say that you will be at the edge of your seat while watching this, but you feel uneasy because we never quite get a good feeling that the good guys will come on top over the twisted and sinister game wardens...and this to me is the films saving grace.
The appeal to tweens is there with teenage love affairs which is pushed on to the audience in a way that feels unnecessary and dull.
Catching Fire is currently a box office hit, it appeals to the masses due to the popularity of its teen-focused books, the hype around Jennifer Lawrence and actually all supporting actors as well as the big budget it carries for it's special effects and it's action packed-love (sigh) themed storyline.
While the film is long, it may not appear so to fans who probably wish it would of lasted 4 hours instead of it's 2 and a half hours.
The script is awful but this is unnoticeable because honestly, Tucci, Harrelson, PSHoffman and Sutherland are just that good. They are working with a lemon of a script but can still produce lemonade.
The visuals are good but very a-la Tim Burton or Terry Gilliam.
Overall, as a stand alone film, it is palatable, but I can see that the romantic aspect of the movie could turn off many adults. As for fans of the books, I'm sure this may be the greatest film ever since ...Twilight.
If you are bored and looking for something decent to watch Catching Fire can do the trick, but please do not expect a cinematic marvel or a creatively original story.
A deterrent to watching this film may be that you should probably have watched the first film and then expect to sit through a total of 5 hours of movie watching.
As a stand alone film, not considering all the hype, I will give it a 6/10
