Welcome to French Toast Sunday’s new feature that is all about YOUR opinions. Talk It Out is designed to generate group discussion on specific movies, general topics and other burning questions plaguing the movie world. We want movie fans to unite and bring with them whatever it is they want to say. Keep reading to join in our discussion topic.
For many movie goers, the Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire was the most anticipated film of this year. After the success of the first film and book series, fans were more than eager to return to the dystopian future surrounding reluctant hero Katniss Everdeen. It appears the the second installment has pleased both audiences and critics. Over the weekend, Catching Fire scored a “fresh” rating on the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes with the consensus stating “Smart, smoothly directed, and enriched with a deeper exploration of the franchise’s thought-provoking themes, Catching Fire proves a thoroughly compelling second installment in the Hunger Games series.” Moreover, the movie set box office records bringing in over $158 million in its opening weekend.
In case you missed it, below you can see the film’s trailer and synopsis:
“THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE is directed by Francis Lawrence, from a screenplay by Simon Beaufoy and Michael DeBruyn, based upon the novel “Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins and produced by Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik. The novel is the second in a trilogy that has over 50 million copies in print in the U.S. alone. THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE opens on November 22, 2013. Lionsgate presents a Color Force/Lionsgate production.”
I went to see the film alongside FTSer Jess on opening weekend in preparation for an upcoming Lambcast podcast episode about the movie that we were both scheduled to record. Both of us really enjoyed it and agreed about most of it’s positive assets.
Catching Fire does what few sequels do successfully by taking it’s bigger budget and distributing the cash flow to all the right places. The production value and effects work are operating on a higher level and almost every singular performance in the film feels much more well rounded. Director Francis Lawrence keeps the movie’s longer run time strictly a statistic as he manages to pull the movie along at a comfortable and exciting pace. All in all, the movie provided a stimulating experience that I greatly missed from many of this summer’s bigger blockbusters.
Have you seen the film yet or do you want to see it? How does it compare the the first Hunger Games film? What were your favorite or least favorite parts of the film? Did you read the book series? How does it compare? Feel free to let us know what you think or even leave a link to your review in the comments if you have already reviewed it on your personal blog.
