OMG Catching Fire

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Saw it. Loved it. Was literally shaking leaving the theater. Incoherent vaguely spoilery thoughts under the cut.

I definitely thought it was better than the first movie, even despite the limitations of the book (being the middle of a trilogy, somewhat retreading the same ground as the first with another round of the Games, the abrupt cliffhanger ending).

Jennifer Lawrence is a FLAWLESS FUCKING GODDESS end of story.

Everyone else is perfect, even Josh Hutcherson, who could play a hobbit with no special effects seriously he is that short is he standing on a box in every scene with Katniss idk. I thought they did a better job with the layering of the fake relationship vs. the real one with Katniss and Peeta. As I mentioned in my review of The Hunger Games, I wasn't sure it came across that Katniss was faking for the cameras while Peeta thought it was real, but the awkwardness between them here and the cuteness of the favorite color scene get it across. Just in time for it all to get blurry again with their bonding during the Victory Tour and in the arena. :)

Liam Hemsworth does not have significantly more to do than the first film, but he gets beaten up really well? The Katniss/Gale of it all seemed sort of perfunctory - I mean, the emotional core is there, Katniss' fear for him and the desire to run away and the horror of his whipping, but as a ~romance, it's more like, "oh by the way here is your annual reminder that there is a love triangle in this story, and now back to your regularly scheduled flogging and murdering." Which... I am mostly fine with, lol, but it amuses me that Liam is the third billed star in these movies. Mockingjay is a LOT more Gale, though.

Sam Claflin nailed it as Finnick, although I had to laugh thinking of his interview where he said he wished he'd worked on the accent more, because it showed, lol. Jena Malone took a bit longer to grow on me, because I think she tries too hard to be edgy in real life, so being-edgy-as-Johanna came off a bit fake at first, but by the time they got into the arena, I was over it.

I vastly prefer Francis Lawrence as a director over Gary Ross. The shaky cam in the first film was bad, but even beyond that, I don't know why exactly, but it was just better. Maybe it's because things I imagined from the book were, for the most part, exactly as I pictured? Especially the arena, which they really needed to nail, given how crucial it is to the plot. There was a lot of dialogue that was lifted directly from the book, enough that I noticed it a lot even though I haven't read the book in at least a couple years. I also felt like the humor was back - the first movie was lacking the dry humor of the books, but this had more lighter moments - which is essential, considering it also has much, much darker moments, too.

I am kind of shocked they managed a PG-13 rating. Granted, they bleeped out Johanna's f-bombs, but like I am an adult who ALREADY READ THE BOOKS and I know what happens and I was still freaking the fuck out at the arena scenes. That shit was appropriately terrifying. JESUS H. CHRIST THE KILLER MONKEYS THO.

Really, the only thing I can think of from the books that was missing was the reveal about Haymitch and the second Quarter Quell. Not only does it go a ways toward explaining why Haymitch drinks, lol, it also plays up the parallel between him and Katniss and their habit of getting one over on the Capitol AND it foreshadows the force field in the arena.

Has anyone else seen it? Thoughts? Feels? Tell me!

Comments

[frayadjacent]

I LOVED IT TOO.

The visit to District 11 was my favorite part. Gah I was totally in tears. and I LOVED how it mirrored the District 11 scene from the first film: Katniss shows respect, love, and solidarity toward Rue, and by extension her district, and it helps inspire (further) revolt. (Though my headcanon is that the whistle/hand raise was not spontaneous but planned, partly to bring Katniss and peeta more into the fold.)

I was sooooo happy with everyone's performances, especially, of course, Jennifer Lawrence. (Between THG, Winter's Bone, and your linkspam I've become a bit of a Jennifer Lawrence fangirl.) I especially connected to peeta and effie far more than in the books. I totally agree with you about Gale and the triangle btw! I read afterward that they were really going to play up that aspect, but I didn't really think so?

I did sort of have the reverse reaction as you re: Finnick and Johanna. I remembered totally loving them in the books, and I pretty quickly adored Johanna. with finnick, I thought the actor did a great job, but I didn't adore him like I remember in the books? It could be that in the books I was responding to the gradual reveal of what he's really like, whereas now I already know. although I do remember him seeming much more vulnerable in the books. maybe I'm thinking of things from book 3?

in short: lots and lots of feels. it's nice to have someone to share them with; most of the response on my flist has been kinda meh.

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Oh yes, the District 11 scene was so awful (er, but in a good way?), with the families and the solidarity and then Katniss literally being dragged away while they executed the old man. I kind of wanted more from the other districts, but I suppose the movie was already long enough, and at least we got this before the whirlwind of the rest of the tour. And at least I know they'll be in a few different districts in the next film.

It could be that in the books I was responding to the gradual reveal of what he's really like, whereas now I already know. although I do remember him seeming much more vulnerable in the books. maybe I'm thinking of things from book 3?

Yeah, maybe? A lot of my love for Finnick is from Mockingjay. In CF I mostly love the sass, which he had enough of, haha.

I am sad for your flist, lol. Weirdly, I have heard both rave reviews and meh ones, but the meh reviews tend to be focused on things from the book (like... the plot, or the ending) that they weren't going to change.

[frayadjacent]

clearly I don't remember the books well enough and should re read them!

Good point about the "meh" stuff being as much about the book as the film. I'd say that's been the case on my flist as well, which is perking up re: catching fire, btw. though mostly people aren't saying too much about it either way. :(

[jae]

I saw it too! It's really not at all my sort of thing (I tend to find action movies boring and often annoying), but I ended up watching the first movie with my partner a few months back and really liked the social fabric of the world. Just as in that film, I felt much more in my element in the first half than in the second half, but it's very definitely a well-done film all around.

Jennifer Lawrence is SUCH a great actor, too. I can't wait to see where she goes from here. I'd love to see her on a cable television show, preferably something not-just-actiony.

-J

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Yay! Have you read the books? It's funny, even though the plot necessarily includes a lot of action sequences, what with the fight-to-the-death premise, I don't really think of the story as being primarily actiony. This one, especially, because a lot of the tension of the Quarter Quell is in the mental struggles (who to trust, figuring out the clock, the jabberjays, etc.).

I would watch Jennifer Lawrence in pretty much anything at this point, but she's probably too big for a TV show right now. Maybe once she's done playing Katniss.

[jae]

I haven't read the books. I might someday, but I'm in no hurry to--like I said, they really aren't quite my thing. I think you're right that the narrative isn't primarily about action, though, even in the films, and you can tell that by just how far you're into the story before the Games actually start in either of the two movies we've seen so far. Anybody who's just in it for the action is going to be bored stiff by the first halves of those two films!

-J

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Yeah, the world-building is a huge part of the books. I'm actually really glad so much of that made it into the movies. I'm sure it would be tempting to cut that part down and include more action sequences to appeal to the "blockbuster" audience.

[rebcake]

I haven't read the books, because: afraid. But Catching Fire: The Movie blew me away! It has all the things that I love: evil conspiracy, little guys standing up to power, awesome women (yes, I'm looking at Johanna, Mags, Prim, et al), and hot guys being all noble. Plus, I was crying all the way through the thing. I think I said, "Thank gawd!" aloud when the techie guy was surprisingly (to me) still alive at the end. Heh. People here in SF were clapping and cheering pretty much from the chariot scene onwards, which was nice. The look she gave Snow there was sooooo perfect. I didn't realize it would be quite such a cliffhanger, but I didn't mind because now there really is hope! *anticipates* I think this one will require repeat viewings. *\o/*

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LOL why afraid? I'd say if you can handle the movies, you can handle the books. Or... well, we'll see what they do with Mockingjay because that is easily the most devastating book. But for the first two, I think the movies are a pretty good representation.

I think this one will require repeat viewings.

Ohhh yes!

[ever_neutral]

EVERYTHING WHAT YOU SAID

So much better than the first one. The actual Games part was absolutely brutal and gruesome and I loved every second of it. I thought the first movie was really lacking in emotional intensity, but I DO NOT HAVE THIS COMPLAINT HERE.

I am pleasantly shocked by ALL OF THE KATNISS/PEETA FEELS this movie gave me, considering how ehhhhh THG movie was on every level. IMO they absolutely nailed the not-quite-romantic codependency of their dynamic in the Games, ESPECIALLY in (1) the scene where Peeta "died", and (2) the "no one needs me"/"I do" scene. 300% what I imagined reading the books. WELL DONE, MOVIE.

but as a ~romance, it's more like, "oh by the way here is your annual reminder that there is a love triangle in this story, and now back to your regularly scheduled flogging and murdering."

Heh, pretty much. I mean, they were fine, I've always liked their relationship, but yeah, that's about it.

lol @ the PG-13.

IN CONCLUSION: GR8.

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Yep, the first movie left me feeling kind of "meh" on a lot of things. I liked it, but it didn't ~blow my mind the way this one did.

IMO they absolutely nailed the not-quite-romantic codependency of their dynamic in the Games, ESPECIALLY in (1) the scene where Peeta "died", and (2) the "no one needs me"/"I do" scene.

YESSSSS. 100% Jennifer Lawrence, IMO. She is SO GOOD at playing that raw desperation without it necessarily being ~sexy, like, you can see why the Capitol audience would see it that way, but it's more driven by neediness and fear of being alone than love.

[rosaxx50]

Yup, everything you said. Not even going to bother c/p because I mean literally everything--Jennifer, Katniss/Peeta and Katniss/Gale, even my reactions to the Finnick & Johanna actors/actresses.

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LOL clearly you have A+ opinions!