The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Dec. 8th, 2013 09:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alobear It will say much about my opinion of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire that I have been to see it twice in the cinema. I went with my dad on a recent visit and then again yesterday with James and Dave. Yesterday was Hunger Games-tastic, since we started the afternoon with the first movie, then dinner, then the second. I think I actually enjoyed it even more the second time around - its impact certainly wasn't lessened, and I think I was closer to tears at a couple of moment than I was on the first outing. This may have had something to do with being somewhat emotionally primed by a pre-movie trailer that hit a little close to home, but doesn't, I think, take anything away from the main film itself.
Anyway, another stonkingly good adaptation of the book, with depth added by the scenes that take place away from Katniss (especially the machinations of President Snow, and the horrifically amusing facial expressions of Caesar Flickerman. I agree wholeheartedly with Empire, however, in that Philip Seymour Hoffman seemed to have forgotten both his costume and his charisma, which was disappointing, since I had greeted announcements of his casting with keen anticipation. Still, maybe he'll come into his own in film three...
I do not agree with Empire, however, that the first half of the film was a bit too much a slow build and that the masterstroke was the Games themselves. I actually thought the first half of the film was stronger than the second - the exploration of the emotional, financial, and lifestyle consequences of the first Games for the main characters was much more interesting to me than the running and fighting in the arena, though the capitol sections prior to the second Games were also really good, introducing the other victors and broadening the scope of the impending doom.
One of the things I liked bes about the books was that they didn't ignore the emotional fall-out of the characters' experiences, and this was touched on very effectively in the film in a couple of scenes demonstrating that Katniss is still very much haunted by the events of the first film. I loved these scenes, but thought more could have been made of them.
The arena was better than I expected, too, since the second half of the second book was my least favourite section of the trilogy - it just seemed too ridiculous for words and difficult to visualise. It was presented very effectively in the film, though, which was impressive - the threats of the island were very credible and the action sequences just as visceral as in the first film.
I came out of the cinema desperate to see the next film - I love the first half of the third book and, since they're splitting it into two films, the next segment should give me all my favourites bits. I just hope it lives up to the series so far.
Anyway, another stonkingly good adaptation of the book, with depth added by the scenes that take place away from Katniss (especially the machinations of President Snow, and the horrifically amusing facial expressions of Caesar Flickerman. I agree wholeheartedly with Empire, however, in that Philip Seymour Hoffman seemed to have forgotten both his costume and his charisma, which was disappointing, since I had greeted announcements of his casting with keen anticipation. Still, maybe he'll come into his own in film three...
I do not agree with Empire, however, that the first half of the film was a bit too much a slow build and that the masterstroke was the Games themselves. I actually thought the first half of the film was stronger than the second - the exploration of the emotional, financial, and lifestyle consequences of the first Games for the main characters was much more interesting to me than the running and fighting in the arena, though the capitol sections prior to the second Games were also really good, introducing the other victors and broadening the scope of the impending doom.
One of the things I liked bes about the books was that they didn't ignore the emotional fall-out of the characters' experiences, and this was touched on very effectively in the film in a couple of scenes demonstrating that Katniss is still very much haunted by the events of the first film. I loved these scenes, but thought more could have been made of them.
The arena was better than I expected, too, since the second half of the second book was my least favourite section of the trilogy - it just seemed too ridiculous for words and difficult to visualise. It was presented very effectively in the film, though, which was impressive - the threats of the island were very credible and the action sequences just as visceral as in the first film.
I came out of the cinema desperate to see the next film - I love the first half of the third book and, since they're splitting it into two films, the next segment should give me all my favourites bits. I just hope it lives up to the series so far.
