Hunger Games: Catching Fire Film Review

I was very excited to see Hunger Games: Catching Fire because I loved the first one so much. However, I was also worried that it would not be as good because it had so much to live up to.

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One of the highlights of The Hunger Games was, of course, Jennifer Lawrence. An epic heroine, the new Ripley. A survivor with a heart, sacrificing herself for her sister. Straight-talking and brave; Katniss might be one of the best female characters in a film ever. She is certainly one of the most inspirational. A role model even for real women.

Whilst watching Hunger Games: Catching Fire one thing struck me: that there may be people watching it thinking our society is not like this at all, but the Hunger Games does reflect our society, and more countries more than others. The gaps between the haves and the have nots, social injustice, oppression; the Hunger Games is more than thrilling entertainment, it is also a statement on the world we live in. An intelligent action film, well written with brilliant acting and something to say.

It is hard to not get caught up in the story, in the characters and their plight. It is hard to not keep going on about Lawrence as Katniss. The audience love her, the people love her: she is the girl whos purity and bravery sparks a revolution. I have to confess that I have not read the books, but I really want to. Josh Hutcherson (Peeta) and Liam Hemsworth (Gale) are both excellent as the men Katniss is caught between: her real love and her media love. Who will she end up with in the end?

Peeta and Katniss are celebrities but also icons. They empower the people and pay the price. Peeta, Katniss and Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) make an excellent team, bonded together through what can only be described post-traumatic-stress-disorder. Katniss wakes Peeta up by screaming as she wakes up from a nightmare, he comes into her room: ‘It’s okay’, he says, ‘I get them too.’ Even Effie (Elizabeth Banks), that vacuous idiot, can barely take the injustice, finds her conscious and her feelings.

Donald Sutherland is excellent as President Snow and Machiavellian media chief Philip Seymour Hoffman is brilliant and full of depth. I was also pleased with myself as I saw the twist before it happened. The film is relevant, gripping and worthy. In fact the only bad thing I have to say is that it ended far too quickly and I have no idea how I am going to wait an entire year for the next installment.

Five stars.

New Hunger Games Film Released Soon

The new Hunger Games film, Catching Fire is the most hotly anticipated film coming out this Autumn/Winter. Released on November 11, 2013, it is the sequel to the mega hit Hunger Games which grossed a staggering $687 million worldwide. To whet your appetite here are some posters, featuring the Oscar-winning lead actress Jennifer Lawrence.

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Are you excited?

The Hunger Games Live Reaping, Win Tickets To Premiere

THE O2 ARENA HOSTS A FAN SCREENING OF THE 15 CERTIFICATE VERSION OF THE HUNGER GAMES AND LIVE REAPING ON TOP OF THE O2!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN…. Monday 3rd September sees the release of the phenomenally successful film, The Hunger Games on 2-disc DVD, 2-disc Blu-Ray, TVOD and digital download formats

To open the celebrations, last night London’s O2 Arena played host to a very exciting event to celebrate the release of Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games this coming Monday. Fans were treated to an exclusive screening of the 15 certificate version of the movie, previously not screened in the UK, hosted by friends of Panem and top UK entertainment site Digital Spy. To let fans get even closer to the action and really fill the shoes of Katniss Everdeen the screening was hosted at Cineworld at the O2’s D-Box theatre so attendees could feel every heart-wrenching moment of the games!

As well as the chance for fans to see the 15 certificate of the hit film, 12 lucky competition winners, our very own Tributes, also had the amazing opportunity to ascend the O2 to take part in a live reaping on top of the Arena itself. Our winning tribute Ryan Crane from Leytonstone, London, received a pair of tickets to the World Premiere of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire for his bravery and courage in scaling the famous London structure! Our plucky winner said: “The event was brilliant, it was really windy when we got to the top and really dramatic. I’m so excited to be going to the world premier, it was so unexpected. I dorkily hugged the guy when I won, it was quite embarrassing!”

The Hunger Games super fans show their District respect at the exclusive screening of the 15 certificate version of the hit film at the O2 Arena last night. (picture of three fingered salute on top of the Arena)

 

FANS OF THE HUNGER GAMES URGED TO ‘CHECK-IN’ AT HMV STORES FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN BIG!
  • 12 HMV stores to host a ‘Live Reaping’ on Sunday 2nd September to celebrate the DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Download release of The Hunger Games.
  • Fans checking-in via Foursquare have a chance to win prizes and a pair of tickets to the UK premiere of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
  • Culminating in national ‘Capitol’ live reaping at 3pm

To celebrate the release of the phenomenally successful film, The Hunger Games on 2-disc DVD, 2-disc Blu-Ray, TVOD and digital download formats

In tribute to the science fiction blockbuster, twelve HMV stores around the UK and Ireland have been selected to act as special regional ‘districts’ on Sunday, 2nd September – the day before release.

Fans of The Hunger Games who visit one of the 12 participating stores on Sunday 2nd between 2pm and 3pm can check into the applicable HMV store’s Foursquare account. They will then be automatically entered into a regional ‘Reaping’ whereby two names or ‘Tributes’ from each District will be put forward for a very special Reaping taking place in ‘The Capitol’ the same day – at HMV’s Flagship Oxford Street store.

In the Oxford Street store, a ‘Capitol Representative’ will conduct a live Reaping after 3pm. They will select names from two fish bowls, just like in the film. The first name will be taken from a bowl holding the names of the 24 Regional District winners.  The second name will be taken from a bowl holding all the names of attendees at Oxford Street branch. These two lucky Tributes will each win a pair or tickets to UK premiere of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – the next instalment of the series.

Although only a select few can be chosen as Tributes to battle for the ultimate prize, 100 lucky attendees at each store will have the opportunity to purchase the HMV exclusive 3 disc double play steelbook a full day ahead of the national release. In additional the 24 regional tributes will each receive a The Hunger Games goody bag.

See list of participating stores, below.

Participating HMV ‘District’ stores:

1.    hmv Glasgow, 235 Buchanan Street
2.    hmv Edinburgh, 29 Princes Street
3.    hmv Newcastle, 59 Northumberland Street
4.    hmv Manchester, Trafford Centre
5.    hmv Birmingham, Bullring Centre
6.    hmv Leicester, 9/17 High Street
7.    hmv Norwich, 21 Gentlemans Walk
8.    hmv Cardiff, 53/57 Queen Street
9.    hmv Bristol, 24/26 Broadmead
10.  hmv Southampton, 56/58 Above Bar Street
11.  hmv Belfast, 3/6Donegall Arcade
12.  hmv Dublin, 65 Grafton Street
(13) Capitol City reaping: hmv 150 Oxford Street