• ALL
  • NEWS
    • GAY MOVIE/ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
    • GAY FILM TRAILERS
    • GENERAL MOVIE NEWS & TRAILERS
  • GAY SHORTS & SERIES
  • REVIEWS
    • GAY FILM REVIEWS
    • CINEMA REVIEWS
    • DVD & BLU-RAY REVIEWS
  • BGPS BLOG
  • COMPS
  • ABOUT
    • Contact Us
    • Join The Team
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Gays On Film – A Short History

Big Gay Picture Show

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema and more

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema & more

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Blu-ray)

March 16, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Sam Claflin, Liam Hemsworth, Donald Sutherland
Director: Francis Lawrence
Running Time: 146 mins
Certificate: 12
Release Date: March 17th 2014

With the first Hunger Games, many remarked that it was surprisingly violent for a young adult film. The second isn’t quite as violent, but it’s is surprisingly dark and gritty. Many wondered whether swapping director Gary Ross for Francis Lawrence would result in a more mainstream, Hollywood-ised tale, but instead it’s rather gone the other way, with a film that doesn’t pull its punches over the darkness and pain at its heart, or try to make its hero less flawed than she is.

The film picks up shortly after the end of the first movie. Hunger Games victors Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) are back in District 12 and about to embark on their enforced Victory Tour. However all is not well in Panem and the way Katniss won has sparked rebellion in the Districts, many of which are starting to challenge the supremacy of the Capitol. As a result President Snow (Donald Sutherland) makes it clear to Katniss that he expects her to help qualm this. However she increasingly finds this is out of her hands.

Snow’s other main plan to squash the hope in the Districts have that they could take on the might on the Capitol is the 75th Hunger Games, where he announces that the contestants will be previous champions. This means that Katniss and Peeta must go back into the arena along with many well-known and powerful former winners – as well as those long past their prime. Snow believes that once people see Katniss forced to kill and then killed herself they will no longer view her as a source of hope Katniss herself is only concerned that Peeta will survive, but the other champions have a different and perhaps unexpected plan.

As with the book, Catching Fire has a pretty long setup before they get back into the arena. That could have resulted in it being a little dull, but the movie smartly concentrates on laying out exactly what is at stake and how all the different pieces affect this. It also ensures we know the brutality of the Capitol isn’t theoretical or restricted to the Hunger Games, and nor is it just about the misery of Katniss and those close to her. The first half of the movie is surprisingly powerful and often moving, expanding the scope of The Hunger Games and pulling you into deep into its world.

It also ensures that even when the special effects erupt (and there are quite a lot of them) and it becomes closer to what you would normally expect from a sci-fi action flick, there’s a level of grit that stays with it, whether Katniss and co. are taking on genetically altered monkeys or outrunning killer gas. It’s a good thing as without it the ending might have seemed a bit of a mess. There’s no time to explain things in the way the book could, which results in it all being a little confusing. It doesn’t matter too much as while the mechanics are slightly all over the place the gist and meaning is fully in place.

It all works extremely well and while many were surprised by how good the first film was, it’s even more surprising that the sequel is even better. Much of the credit has to go to whoever was in charge of casting, as Jennifer Lawrence is absolutely superb at the film’s heart, aided by a very strong Josh Hutcherson and the wonderfully oily and dangerous Donald Sutherland. The numerous supporting characters are also given their moment to shine, such as Elizabeth Banks OTT Effie Trinket showing another side to herself, and Lenny Kravitz’s Cinna offering a couple of the movie’s most powerful moments. That’s not to mention Woody Harrelson’s Haymitch, who offers a bit of light relief and darkness all at once.

It’s a great film and Lionsgate has ensured that those going for the two-disc Blu-ray edition won’t be disappointed. The movie look awesome in HD, with the picture really bringing out the excess of the Capitol, the humidity and danger of the Jungle and even wonderful micro-expressions on Jennifer Lawrence’s face. That’s backed up by an extremely good surround sound mix.

There are also some decent special features, including an interesting filmmaker commentary and a few deleted scenes – some of which fans of the book may remember. The second disc includes a series of ‘making of…’ featurettes, which are all pretty good with plenty of interviews with the cast and crew. However while what’s included is good, particularly the talk about how they approached adapting the sequel, it’s difficult not to wish there was a little more of it.

It’s the film that’s the star here though, and that is excellent.

Overall Verdict: An excellent follow-up to a very good movie, which injects plenty of grit to ensure that what is essentially effects-heavy action sci-fi feels very human and surprisingly moving.

Special Features: Filmmaker Commentary,  Deleted Scenes,  ‘Making Of…’ Documentary

Reviewer: Tim Isaac

Wanna share?:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Flipboard
  • More
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Print
  • Pocket
  • WhatsApp
Overall Rating 9outof10

Related

Filed Under: DVD and BLU-RAY REVIEWS, FEATURED SLIDESHOW

Leave a Reply (if comment does not appear immediately, it may have been held for moderation)Cancel reply

Search this site:

We're Needy, Be Our Friend

RSSTwitterFacebookStumbleUponMySpace

E-maily Stuff

Get the latest in our daily e-mail

Most Recent Posts

Young Hunter Trailer – First teen gay love takes a dark turn into blackmail

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Trailer – The hit gay, drag West End musical is coming to the screen

Iris Prize Festival LGBT+ International Short Films 2020 – Part 3 (Short Film Reviews)

Iris Prize Festival LGBT+ International Short Films 2020 – Part 2 (Short Film Reviews)

Iris Prize Festival LGBT+ International Short Films 2020 – Part 1 (Short Film Reviews)

The Scottish Queer International Film Festival 2020 Has Opened, & It’s Online Across The UK

The Iris Prize LGBT Short Film Festival Returns Next Week, & It’s Online & Free!

An Apology From Big Gay Picture Show

Win The Miseducation of Cameron Post DVD & Book!

Seventeen Trailer – The vagaries of teen romance erupt in the lesbian-themed film

My Best Friend Trailer – Gay romance flickers between two teen boys

New Sauvage Trailer – The gay prostitute movie that divided Cannes is coming soon

We're Needy, Be Our Friend

RSSTwitterFacebook

E-maily Stuff

Get all the latest from BGPS in our daily e-mail

Blogroll

  • Blinkbox – Gay & Lesbian
  • DoorQ
  • Movie Muser
  • Peccadillo Pictures
  • Peccapics Blog
  • TLA Gay (UK)
  • TLA Releasing (UK)
  • TQS Magazine

Copyright © 2023 Muser Media · Powered by WordPress & Genesis Framework · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're OK with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Read More Accept Reject
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT