The film continues the story of the first by fast-forwarding one year. Katniss and Peeta are now celebrities and are being wheeled out by the powers that be to tour the 12 Districts and play nice for the crowds. But when both of them find it impossible to maintain the twin charades of being madly in love and supporting the president's (Donald Sutherland) regime, the powers that be come to realise that they're more dangerous than they're worth. When the new Hunger Games are announced for this year, Katniss and Peeta soon discover that they will have to fight for their lives once more.
Once again I found this to be a very powerful film and an even more powerful story. It's a story about a character of great strength and nobility who has become a symbol of hope for ordinary people. In spite of this, Katniss is determined to reject what she has become, but finds it impossible to reject what she means to the people around her. All she wants to do is the right thing, and it's that dedication to righteousness that gives her strength. She never went into the Hunger Games with any intention to change the world or lead a revolution, just to sacrifice herself so that her little sister could live. The simple act of being noble, righteous and incorruptible on a national stage is enough to upset the apple cart of a totalitarian dictatorship, the act of defiance and refusal to be bought out by the man is what the state fears the most.
A good hour at the end of the film is taken up by the new Hunger Games event. It's the least interesting part of the film as even though its a different set up and different things happen, a lot of it is very similar to the first film. It's the stuff towards the start of the film that I enjoyed the best, where we see what is going on in the provinces as people look to Katniss as a paragon of hope. She gives a speech to the residents of District 11 on the sadness she felt when their daughter died in her arms a year ago, it's a speech that starts a riot that's brutally put down by faceless guards. It's a scene that put tears in my eyes, showing how people will respond on an emotional level to each other regardless of their differences, and that the things that lead to revolution can never be predicted.
Again there are some nice science fiction touches and good special effects. The crazy monkeys might be a bit much, but the burning dresses are impressive. Burning dress, 'girl on fire', are these intentional nods towards Joan of arc? The metaphors for what Katniss' character represents are one thing, but it would be over-simplifying the story to say that it's all about her. It's all about what she inspires others to do. It's about showing teenage girls an image of themselves that isn't defined by body image and boys, rather defined by nobility, quiet strength and moral courage.
Unfortunately the film's ending was even more flat than the last one. Things just sort of stop when they look like they're building to a crescendo. I guess that's typical 'middle film' syndrome, and I'm afraid there's going to be more of that with the final booking being distilled into two parts. I just hope that the story doesn't lose itself trying to turn Katniss into some sort of badass warrior type. Given the look in her eye in the film's final shot I'm worried that might happen: "Katniss Everdeen is here to kick ass and chew gum - and she's all outa gum..." Hopefully not.
Hunger Games: Catching Fire isn't the greatest film in the world, it's not even the best film in this franchise. But as a series these films mean so much more. They act as a counter-point to the Twlight series (shame on Mark Kermode by the way for continuing to insist that Hunger Games could only exist because of some sort of trail that was blazed by Twlight - utter bollocks), one that young girls and boys can enjoy just as much as a fast-approaching-35-years-old grumpy amateur film reviewer. Don't believe me? Well believe the large group of boisterous teenage lads who sat behind us in the cinema last night. Even they shut up through the emotionally charged bits. Now that's power.
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