The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Review

Reviewing HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE which stars Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutchinson, Woody Harrelson and a whole lot more. Honestly, the cast grew exponentially here.  That alone is a testament to how a better movie this is compared to the first one (which wasn't so bad if I can say so myself). 

Spoilers abound so read with caution if you haven't seen the movie or read the book by Suzanne Collins. 

Catching Fire definitely caught fire for a lot of changes. Thematically, the shape and scope grows larger. Hunger Games focused on an oblique social commentary about the rich and the poor and the power of media. There's a weird love story that's underdeveloped too. This time as that classic Beatles' song goes "You say you want a revolution". Theme shifts from social commentary to a slow and steady thread on revolutionary tales what with lead Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) igniting people's animosity and loathing on the current Panem government.

I love the casting for this new movie as much as the improvement on the original cast. Lawrence and Hutchinson has grown comfortably into the roles of Katniss and Peeta respectively. You can feel the affection and the awkwardness with every scene they're in. A particularly 'kilig' or sweet moment here that hammers down the point was the beach scene where the two officially seal the deal before their team enact their plan to reach the lightning tree. 

Even guys like Haymitch and Gale get more meat in terms of characterization. And let's not forget some of the new guys, the new victors that appear in Catching Fire like Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason. Boy those guys were pretty interesting in a visual and character-driven context. In fact, I'm vouching as early as now to have Sam Claflin to play Aquaman if ever Warner starts casting for Aquaman in the Justice League movie. Seriously, the guy was field testing Finnick for a bigger role in a Justice League movie. Other notables in terms of casting here are Cinna played once again by Lenny Kravitz and Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee. Too bad for the former though. 

Visually, the movie just got a facelift. While Hunger Games showed people in studios and stadiums, Catching Fire increased it ten fold with bigger sets and grander widescreen shots. Even the parties went from big to huge. You do however feel that the dome/ arena where the quarter quell was held was smaller than expected.

I loved the costume. Effey's were easily one of the more 'out there' while the victors/ tributes' suits were effing awesome.

The final shot/ scene was also one of the more memorable second movie endings I've seen in recent years. I'd have to agree with what a friend stated, this was definitely the Empire Strikes Back to the franchise. Didn't miss a bit in delivering a true cliffhanger. 

Oh and if you didn't think I'm going to miss out on this - CATCHING FIRE still has similarities with Battle Royale 2. And I'm perfectly OK with it. 

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The Countdown Begins for Catching Fire's First Trailer

Hunger Games fans unite as the countdown officially begins for the release of the first full trailer for the movie The Hunger Games: Catching Fire starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson.

20th Century Fox's Epic Review

Here's a review for 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios' EPIC featuring the voices of Amanda Seyfried, Josh Hutcherson, Beyonce Knowles, Colin Farell and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. Showing May 24.

This is a non-spoiler review, so just go ahead and read on...

Beyonce as the Voice of Queen Tara in the Animated Film 'Epic'

From the creators of the "Ice Age" and "Rio" series, "Epic" follows a teenager MK (voiced by Amanda Seyfried) who is transported into a secret forest world then embroiled in a battle between good and evil and has to protect a special flower pod to save the forest where Queen Tara (Beyonce) reigns protected by the Leafmen.

“Epic’s” world, which unites the familiar and the fantastic, is a forest unlike any we’ve seen before: tiny seeds look like boulders; rocks are the size of spiky mountains; flowers are gigantic and complex; and a butterfly is a nothing short of a flying tapestry.

Beyonce loved voicing Queen Tara in the new children's movie "Epic" — at least once she stopped crying. Queen B has gone from pop royalty to screen royalty, becoming the forest queen in an animated movie that she hopes her 15-month-old daughter Blue Ivy will be proud of one day.

New Poster for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Here's the new poster for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire featuring Jennifer Lawrence who reprises her role as Katniss Everdeen.

Synopsis:

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.

Amanda Seyfried and Josh Hutcherson in an "Epic" 3D Journey

The 3D animated adventure “Epic” will take audiences on an amazing and magical journey through a secret world of hilarious creatures, visually spectacular locations and incredible aerial battles. The ground-breaking, photo-real animation from the creators of “Ice Age” and “Rio” will make audiences wonder if this hidden world might really exist…perhaps even in their own backyard.

“Epic’ is introduced through the eyes of Mary Katherine (she prefers M.K.) voiced by Amanda Seyfried, a smart, spirited and headstrong 17-year-old who finds herself on the journey of a lifetime. After returning to her childhood home to connect with her estranged father, Professor Bomba, M.K. loses patience with his endless stories of unseen people who live in the woods. But when she is magically transported into the Leafmen’s world, she gains a new perspective. To find her way home, M.K. must do more than believe in this world; she’ll have to help save it.

New Teaser for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Katniss Everdeen is a symbol... Here's the teaser trailer for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Watch it after the cut...

Blue Sky Studios Breaks New Grounds in the Animated Spectacle 'Epic'

Prepare to be hurtled along in a journey to the fantastical, spectacular world of “Epic” from Blue Sky Studios, the studio that brought to life the most beloved and successful motion pictures “Ice Age” and “Rio.”

Filmmaker Chris Wedge helms the upcoming larger-than-life “Epic” based on the beloved children’s book “The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs” by William Joyce which introduced Samurai-like warriors, the Leafmen– and a war being waged in our own backyards between the forces of life and the forces of decay.

Hunger Games: Catching Fire First Look

Entertainment Weekly has shared the cover for their upcoming issue featuring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen and newcomer Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair in "Catching Fire".

Noticeably absent in this cover is Katniss' main squeeze Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). I'm not going to claim that I know anything Catching Fire or the other books that Suzanne Collins has written so I'm just playing it by ear.

With Peeta absent from the new games, are we seeing a new love affair happening? Will Katniss out-tramp Bella Swan in this trilogy? I dunno. If you ask me, she'd have been better off with her friend Gale Hawthorne.