Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Francis Lawrence, 146 mins, Action Sci-fi.
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Woody Harrelson, Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Although the original had its flaws, not least amongst them the stench of a stalker who has been riffling through the garbage of “Battle Royale” in an attempt to steal their identity, the original Hunger Games was insanely popular and profitable enough to be labeled “The next Harry Potter” by studio execs…mainly for its cashcow abilities, but also because the book series has a loyal fan base. Nevertheless, the film was able to crossover and woo a new crowd as well.

It may seem a little twisted to bring out a fight-to-the-death movie for the Christmas period, but the film has the ability to empower its youthful cast with independence and cunning, and it doesn’t whimper in making them bloodthirsty and surivalistic; qualities that we all subconsciously revel in. The last game saw a double-win, and this time around the rules have been bent even further, with the bow-wielding mastermind Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and muscly wimp Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), being thrown back into the fray.

What the last film really lacked was a worthy antagonist for Katniss to face up against, with her rival kids being too clichéd to truly fear, and even if they were better characters, they got as much screen-time as the lovesick Gale (Liam Hemsworth). That dead-end love triangle is unfortunately squeezed back into the narrative, like a square block being hammered into a triangular hole, but it can be swept aside without too much annoyance, as Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Heavensbee, this tournaments Game Master, drips with maliciousness and really adds venom to the proceedings.

Woody Harrelson is also back as Haymitch, and although he may now be more of a mentor than an alcoholic, it is difficult to take anything he says seriously when he wears suits Willy Wonka would turn his nose up at. It seems strange that Hoffman got off so lightly with the ridiculous wardrobe, but then again, ruffles and wigs haven’t really been terrifying since the French revolution