The Movie: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks
Director: Francis Lawrence
Genre: Sci-fi adventure
Running time: 146 minutes
Now showing in 3D at Cinema Magic

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have just won the 74th Hunger Games. After their victory, they return home to District 12. On the day the duo is to start a victory tour of the country, Everdeen is visited by President Snow, who explains that she defied the Capitol by breaking the rules so that she and Peeta both survived the last Hunger Games.

Her actions have thus inspired rebellions in districts and she must now continue pretending to be in love with Peeta or her family will be killed along with Gale and Peeta’s families.

The first stop of the tour is in District 11, home of Katniss’ friend Rue, the 12-year-old who competed in the games. Peeta offers to read the speech from a script Effie provides them, but throws it away and voices his thoughts instead.

As they leave, a sorrowful Katniss delivers an inspiring speech that causes a man to whistle the tune Katniss used during the 74th Hunger Games to inform Rue she was safe, and provides the three-finger salute of District 12. Everyone follows the man until Peacekeepers shoot him dead, causing Katniss to scream in panic.

Movie critic Lisa Kennedy of Denver Post says, “Catching Fire delivers on the grim, roiling promises of the original. Lawrence and Hutcherson remain compelling as the District 12 denizens who continue to do a romantic minuet dictated by necessity but also authentic fondness.”