THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

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3.5 stars
Imagine the concerns when The Hunger Games' writer, director and production team were replaced for its sequel, Catching Fire. Out were those who had created a well above average film from a much loved novel and turned Jennifer Lawrence (Winters Bone) into a star along the way. In were writer Simon Beaufoy (127 Hours) and director Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend). So the pedigree was there: one fine story teller, one fine visual artist. Regroup the cast and all the elements were in place. The good news is that they've not disappointed.

In fact, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is so compelling that I was genuinely surprised when applause rippled through the audience. Surely two hours and twenty minutes hadn't already passed? Yet they had. Familiarity with the back story helps – Panem, ruled by autocratic President Snow (Donald Sutherland), is on the brink of revolution. The Hunger Games, designed to enthral a ruling elite and sow fear in the worker's heartland, have created an unexpected beacon of hope in Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence). By forcing her and previous winners of The Games back into the arena, Snow hopes to quell unrest by eliminating a

The intriguing blend of a dystopian utopia is only part of Catching Fire's success. Lawrence carefully blends a digital world with a gritty, tangible immediacy and unlike films of a similar ilk, there is a lot to hold on to here that's familiar and real. Such as the torn relationships Katniss has with her boyfriend back home (Liam Hemsworth) and fellow contestant Peeta (Josh Hutcherson). Woody Harrelson's mentor brings a grizzled cynicism that's welcome without being intrusive while Stanley Tucci's hyper-emotive TV host is a scene-stealing masterclass in media manipulation. The games themselves are thrilling and offer much more than just series of noisy chase sequences. Coupled to the contestant's need to bond or die, issues of trust fill the the story with subplot and subtext.

The Hunger Games is a winning combination of Ben Hur, Logan's Run, Gladiator and The Truman Show that's given the welcome spin of a fiery, female protagonist. In many ways, it's a story of its time: one that has much to say about fear, love, control, media and government. But it's not over yet. In accordance with an unseemly fashion for cleaving books to plunder audience wallets anew (Harry Potter, Twilight, The Hobbit), The Hunger Games: Mockingjay will arrive in two parts with Francis Lawrence resigned for both. For rather like Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Catching Fire is a hand-over film that skilfully sets up a highly anticipated finale, and may yet prove to be the best in the series.

// COLIN FRASER

Previewed at Event Cineams, George St, Sydney, on November 18, 2013

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STUFF

CAST
Jennifer Lawrence
Josh Hutcherson
Woody Harrelson
Phillip Seymour Hoffman

DIRECTOR
Francis Lawrence

SCREENWRITER
Simon Beaufoy

COUNTRY
USA

CLASSIFICATION
M

RUNTIME
143 minutes

AUSTRALIAN
RELEASE DATE
November 21
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The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) on IMDb
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