The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - Short and Sweet

Back in March 2012, when I went to go see The Hunger Games, I was in the theater first-and-foremost as a fan of Suzanne Collins novel, but for Catching Fire, my attendance was equally, if not more so, influenced by the fact that I utterly adore Jennifer Lawrence.  The talented young actress was just rising to mainstream popularity during her first turn as Katniss Everdeen, but this time around, Lawrence would be returning to the arena as an unquestioned A-lister, one sure to draw a crowd beyond the expected literary fans.  Don’t get me wrong, I definitely still had high expectations for this adaptation of what is widely-considered the strongest entry in The Hunger Games book trilogy, and by all indicators, Lionsgate was prepared for this release to be a cinematic event.  With everything from Subway combo cups to specially-tailored viral marketing websites featuring the newest tributes of Panem, awareness and anticipation for Catching Fire was reaching a fever pitch.  If the original Hunger Games broke box office records when Lawrence wasn’t on the cover of magazines, was there really anything that could stop Lionsgate’s newest cash cow from battling for the title of biggest movie of 2013?

Surprise, surprise…Catching Fire represents a remarkably capable film, one which is bolstered by strong performances and gripping visuals; however, I cannot overlook the fact that the film does falter in a few key areas.  Jennifer Lawrence deftly embodies the role of the embattled heroine once again, but I did find some of the more dramatic elements of her performance lacking when compared to her previous displays of talent.   It was enjoyable to see the familiar faces return, but the scene stealers were the new additions to the cast, with the main standout being Jena Malone as the irreverent Johanna Mason.  Still, in comparing Catching Fire to the original Hunger Games, I just didn’t feel the same levels of awe or immersion, a weakness that combines with uneven pacing to lay significant blame at the feet of director Francis Lawrence.  In the end, though it wasn’t able to capture the same level of magic as its predecessor, Catching Fire will still please hardcore fans and anyone looking for an exciting science fiction adventure.    

Overall Recommendation: High

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - Full Review

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire  - (November 22^nd, 2013): PG-13

Distributor: Lionsgate

Opening Weekend Box Office: #1 with $158,074,286

Domestic Box Office Gross to-date: $337,794,484

Gross Revenue: $674,494,484

Production Budget: $130 million

Director: Francis Lawrence

Regardless of the tactics I mentioned earlier, in contrast to the first Hunger Games film, Lionsgate didn’t seem to be pursuing all that aggressive of a marketing campaign for the much-anticipated sequel, Catching Fire; but, then again, perhaps these perceived watered-down efforts were in fact a wise reaction to the nature of the franchise fan base.  It is well-established that Catching Fire is the strongest of the Suzanne Collins novels, so after Jennifer Lawrence silenced skeptics with her initial performance as Katniss in 2012, fans would be actively looking for the release date of this highly-anticipated project, and therefore the burden on Lionsgate’s marketing team lessens considerably.  And it certainly didn’t hurt that Lawrence herself has skyrocketed in popularity across numerous demographics, with her offbeat and down-to-earth personality being well-documented and helping to transform her into the perpetual crush of online communities and the parent-approved role model for young girls nationwide.  In fact, upon closer inspection it becomes clear that a majority of the promotions for the theatrical release revolved around Lawrence’s star power, revealing very little in terms of story for this second chapter and keeping the new faces that would be joining our heroine in her battle against the Capitol well-hidden (to be fair, there had been some hype concerning the casting of fan-favorite character Finnick Odair, but the momentum of that story paled in comparison to something like the “Batfleck” scandal).  Still, anyone who has read the book knew that audiences were in store for some great action sequences and narrative twists, so barring any major cinematic missteps, there was no reason to think that casual moviegoers wouldn’t respond to Catching Fire in the same manner as the hardcore fans.

Set shortly after the events of The Hunger Games, Catching Fire opens with District 12 victors Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) embarking on a victory tour across Panem, a PR stunt that is sanctioned by President Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland) and is intended to showcase the faux relationship between the victors as a distraction to the other districts.  Because Katniss’ actions in the last Hunger Games showed direct defiance of the Capitol and ruling government, the young warrior has become a figurehead for the growing rebellion, and Snow intends to eliminate her threat as soon as possible.  Once Katniss, Peeta, and their mentor Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) openly challenge a government “Peacekeeper” in defense of Katniss’ childhood friend and competing love interest, Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), Snow realizes that all former victors pose a problem to his regime and hatches a plan with the help on new Head Gamemaker, Plutarch Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman).  It is soon announced that this year’s Hunger Games, a specially-designated Quarter Quell, will draw its tributes from the existing pool of victors, meaning that Katniss will once again have to enter the battle arena and fight for her life, but this time against former champions like District 4’s Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin) and District 7’s Johanna Mason (Jena Malone).  With Peeta at her side as the male tribute from District 12, Katniss strategizes with her support team of Haymitch, Effie Tricket (Elizabeth Banks), and Cinna (Lenny Kravitz), hoping to find a way to once again survive the televised slaughter; but soon enough, a deeper plan reveals itself, indicating that President Snow’s scheme may have done nothing more than cemented the rebellion that he so strongly feared.

New arena, new tributes, and new examples of the oppressive Capitol, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire expands brilliantly on the world introduced during the first installment, and that increased scope spells big entertainment for casual moviegoers and loyal fans alike.  The brutal action sequences and scenarios described in the book translate almost flawlessly to the screen; not only is the training montage in the Capitol worth the price of admission alone, but the battle within the arena itself is so tense and imaginative that I was kept on the edge of my seat despite prior knowledge of what was going to occur.  And as I indicated in the “Short and Sweet” review, the new additions to the cast hold-up very well against the veterans, with Sam Claflin becoming instantaneously likable as Finnick and Jena Malone absolutely nailing the character of Johanna…my god, I cannot wait to see more of her in the sequel and future projects.  Beyond expansion, when it comes to improving upon its predecessor, I believe that Catching Fire also does a remarkably capable job of repainting and reemphasizing the merciless and oppressive tactics of the Capitol…I know that sounds like a tall order in a world where televised death matches between children are commonplace, but watch the “peacekeepers” run rampant across the districts and tell me that you don’t feel an even stronger jolt to join the rebellion.  Unfortunately, for all that Catching Fire got right, there are a few noticeable drawbacks that prevent immediate classification of this sequel as a superior installment.

As I was watching Catching Fire, I just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing this time around, and after further reflection it finally hit me that, during the changing of the directorial guard between original and sequel, some of the pacing and emotional depth we have come to expect from the series was noticeably lost.  For as much heart-pounding action as is present in the narrative, one would think that director Francis Lawrence could have done a little bit better with pacing to ensure that the same energy permeates throughout, but surprisingly, there are actually a few scenes directly bordering action sequences that feel boring: I never thought I would actually check my watch during the first few minutes of the arena battle…what a shame.  And yet another area where former director Gary Ross surpassed his successor is in conveying a certain depth of emotion; for instance, the death of Rue in the first film was heart-wrenching, but no element within Catching Fire comes close to matching those pathos levels, despite many opportunities that many fans will agree exist within the book.  Finally, and I cannot believe I am admitting this, but I had a problem with a few of Jennifer Lawrence’s depictions of emotion…don’t get me wrong, the girl is a fantastic actress (she has an Oscar proving it), but some of her crying and sadness conveyances are just awkward, and it is just strange to be thrown by such a menial shortcoming in someone who has proven to be far more talented.  Taking these factors into consideration certainly doesn’t irrevocably weaken the quality of Catching Fire, but they can absolutely throw some of the fans who were expecting an unmatched improvement over the original film.     

Well, God bless whoever had the foresight to acquire the film rights to the Suzanne Collins novels and the casting director who gave Jennifer Lawrence a screen test, because The Hunger Games film series has proven to be nothing short of a box office phenomenon.  Catching Fire opened to a jaw-dropping $158.1 million; not only is that the best opening ever for a November release, but it also represents the sixth-biggest opening on record and the third all-time debut of a 2D-only movie…sparkly vampires sure as hell can’t compete with “The Girl on Fire.”  Factor-in the repeat box office victory over the Thanksgiving weekend, and Catching Fire now boasts a worldwide gross of over $670 million…that makes Jennifer Lawrence the top-grossing action heroine in cinematic history (Angelina Jolie has to be pissed).  With Mockingjay, Parts 1 & 2 set to release in 2014 and 2015 respectively, Lionsgate is no-doubt salivating over the combined receipts of what will easily classify as their most critically and financially successful film series.  Even if you have never picked up the books, if you are at all curious about the world surrounding Panem and the 12 Districts, or just want to see what all the hype surrounding Jennifer Lawrence is about, you cannot go wrong with The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Overall Recommendation: High

Thor: The Dark World: Short and Sweet

Between the critical and commercial success of its Phase One Cinematic Universe and its ambitious plans for Phases Two and Three, few would deny the classification of Marvel as the reigning juggernaut among Hollywood studios.  With those immense levels of fan-backing and overall anticipation, it wasn’t going to be much of a challenge to fill theaters for another trip to Asgard with Thor: The Dark World.  And, it certainly didn’t hurt that this sequel boasted a significantly-amped level of star power when compared to its predecessor:  Chris Hemsworth has skyrocketed to the A-list since wielding the power of the Norse deity, while Tom Hiddleston’s flawless performance as the villainous Loki has generated the most likable cinematic antagonist since Heath Ledger’s Joker.  Sprinkle some clever marketing efforts and promises of a much deeper delve in comic book mythology, and this next entry in the Marvel Universe was primed to invigorate Phase Two…a responsibility that many feel Iron Man 3 fumbled.  It can be difficult to live up to lofty expectations, but in all that had been revealed prior to release, I doubted that even the most ardent of fans (myself included) would find much wrong with Thor: The Dark World.

It may have hesitated in building true momentum until the conclusion of the exposition-heavy first act, but make no mistake, Thor: The Dark World is a hugely entertaining superhero film that easily stands among the best in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Everything that made the original Thor so entertaining has been upgraded exponentially alongside the scope of the diegetic world: that makes way for gorgeous production design, exciting action sequences, and welcome character development.  And, not to take away from the rest of the cast, but it should come as no surprise that Tom Hiddleston once again steals the show as Loki, owning every second of his screen time.  Add-in cameos, post-credit scenes, and references to past films, and the only thing better than what Thor: The Dark World delivers is what this film promises for the future.  So, whether you are a casual fan or can name the Nine Realms of the Asgardian dimensions, audiences across all demographics will find something to enjoy in this thrill-ride.

Overall Recommendation: Very High

Thor: The Dark World - Full Review

Thor: The Dark World  - (November 8^th, 2013): PG-13

Distributor: Walt Disney Studios (Marvel Studios)

Opening Weekend Box Office: #1 with $85,737,841

Domestic Box Office Gross to-date: $193,711,187

Gross Revenue: $610,411,187

Production Budget: $170 million

Director: Alan Taylor

With the superhero movie Renaissance Era showing absolutely no signs of slowing down, San Diego’s Comic Con has become an invaluable trade show, gauging area, and marketing campaign launch platform; and while Fox and Warner Bros. wowed with the panel for X-Men: Days of Future Past and the announcement of a Batman/Superman crossover respectively, no one made as strong an impact as Thor: The Dark World. Tom Hiddleston’s appearance as Loki and performance in-character became a viral sensation, and between that promotional stunt and the utterly brilliant mock AT&T commercials of the villain arguing with children, it was clear that Marvel knew exactly how to leverage what is arguably their most popular character.  Another clear indicator of strong receipts for this newest superhero movie involved the interest of the female demographic: one shot of Chris Hemsworth shirtless in trailer guaranteed theater attendance from members of the fairer sex who had never touched a comic book (Paramount utilized Channing Tatum in a similar way to pique interest for 2009’s G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra).  Personally, I was most excited to see how Thor: The Dark World would tie back to the shared Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially since many were disappointed in Iron Man 3’s tie-ins, and ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. now offered an unprecedented chance to bridge film and television diegetic worlds.  So, ticket and 3D glasses in hand, thoroughly jealous of the children sporting winger-helmets and replica Mjolnirs, I was ready to enjoy Marvel’s newest juggernaut, one which was primed to set records and live up to its tremendous potential.

Thor: The Dark World begins with the legend of the Dark Elves of Svartalhheim, an ancient evil who sought to destroy the universe with a powerful weapon known as the Aether, only to be defeated and driven into exile by the Asgardians.  Jump to present-day Asgard, where Thor (Chris Hemsworth) learns that a rare alignment of the Nine Realms known as the Convergence has caused a temporal instability in the universe, one which has, by mere coincidence, infected Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) with the long-thought-lost Aether.  Seeking to help Jane, Thor transports Jane from Earth to Asgard for treatment, but their happy reunion is short-lived, as the activation of the Aether has awakened the Dark Elves and their malevolent leader Malekith (Christopher Eccleston), who launches a full and brutal assault on Asgard in a bid for his ancient weapon, claiming many lives in spite of the valiant efforts of heroes such as Heimdall (Idris Elba) and Lady Sif (Jaimie Alexander).  Enraged, Thor decides to pursue Malekith in spite of the protests of his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins), so he seeks help from the one individual with extensive knowledge of this hidden evil: his brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston); still imprisoned for his war crimes committed during the events of The Avengers, Loki accepts a tentative alliance due to a mutual thirst for vengeance.  Traveling across different realms, Thor and Loki will need help from every ally, whether that includes The Warriors Three or Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) and Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård), in order to stop Malekith before he gets to unleash a truly terrifying Apocalypse.

Given the depth of background and the vast mythology surrounding a character like Thor, one has to respect the commitment it took for filmmakers to delve deeper into comic mythos with The Dark World…expanding on the world first established in 2011 could easily have ended in disaster, but thankfully, the gamble paved the way for considerable entertainment.  The scope of this superhero film is utterly massive, and with the narrative transporting the viewer to so many different worlds and settings, the pacing and energy of the film remains creative and exciting, all while paving the way for stunning battles and visual effects.  And while Thor: The Dark World was entertaining enough with its closer look at the Asgardian Universe, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki helped push quality into the upper atmosphere; charismatic, humorous, and downright treacherous, Loki delivers his best performance in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and is imbued with a new depth and pathos that help cement the God of Mischief as one of cinema’s top villains.  In spite of all these accolades, hardcore fans have to be most excited about acknowledgement of the shared universe and the future that Marvel’s newest property teases, whether that involves brilliant cameos or hints towards new heroes and battles…don’t you dare leave before that mid-credits scene!  Combine all these elements, and Thor: The Dark World represents a successful, if slightly flawed, continuation of a complicated character, one which will please even the pickiest of fans.

Though the positives far outweigh the negatives, the flaws present in this sequel are hard to ignore or forgive in light of how many other complicated elements the movie actually got right.  For as much as I enjoyed Thor: The Dark World, I have to admit that the first act represents something of a chore to process; it was a necessary evil, as fans would have been up-in-arms had the narrative modified elements of a comic book backstory, but even they have to admit that the exposition of the Dark Elves and the Nine Realms represents an information dump that could easily have irreversibly soured the experience for casual viewers.  Also, for as deep as the narrative delved into comics mythos, I was disappointed to see the writers abandon effective utilization of Jaimie Alexander as Sif…the Asgardian warrior is an incredibly important love interest in the comics, and even though there were a few hits of this storyline in both the trailers and finished film, the story arc is abandoned and both inexplicably and shamefully ignored.  This omission is altogether more infuriating when you consider the phoned-in performance of Natalie Portman as Jane Foster: Portman is a fantastic actress, she is just not altogether memorable or engaging in this role of naïve damsel-in-distress, and screen time would have been much better utilized adding depth to stronger female characters like Sif, Frigga, or even Darcy.  Still, in spite of these errors, Thor: The Dark World is miles ahead of many entries within the Marvel studios film vault and is an exciting adventure that should not be missed.

Well, as even the most amateurish of box office analysts could have predicted, Thor: The Dark World hit theaters like a hammer (pun intended), striking literal and figurative gold with audiences to claim top debut with over $85 million.  Such numbers represent a 30% improvement over the God of Thunder’s first debut, and even though these kinds of receipts aren’t even close to those boasted by Tony Stark, they can be attributed to the lasting influence and popularity of The Avengers.  Week-to-week drop-off was expected to be steep due to the debut of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, but thanks to foreign receipts, Disney is already looking at a worldwide gross in excess of $600 million against a $170 million budget…not too shabby.  Looking forward, we still have plenty to anticipate on the horizon, whether that involves Captain America: The Winter Soldier in April, Guardians of the Galaxy in August, or the final-second hints of a major conflict struggle for power in Thor 3 and the post-credits tease that will likely cause big problems for S.H.I.E.L.D…rest assured that it’s a good time to be a comics fan.  So, in case it isn’t perfectly clear, do not hesitate to see Thor: The Dark World, as I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed in this display of no-holds-barred entertainment.

                      

Overall Recommendation: Very High