HUNGRY FOR MORE
This second film in the series is excellent in every way
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
T HE 2012 blockbuster, directed by Gary Ross, was based on The Hunger Games, a novel written by Suzanne Collins. Now we have the second film in the series. The core cast remains, but there is a new director, Francis Lawrence.
He expects his audience to already be familiar with the story and characters. If you did not see the first film, you may have some difficulty keeping up.
This one picks up where the first film ended — with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), as the victors of the Hunger Games, being greeted with accolades by the rich and powerful.
President Snow (Donald Sutherland) decides to send the two on a journey through the impoverished districts, but things do not turn out as Snow intends. Everywhere they go, they encounter people infuriated by their poverty, gearing up for a revolt.
So Peeta and Katniss go back into the games with a variety of people, young and old, and a couple of sly spies, who are trying to disgrace Katniss for her attempts to persuade young people to aspire to something more than winning — especially when the win is based on how many people you have killed.
New characters include the master game-maker Plutarch Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), a power-hungry and controlling man.
Two other great supporting characters are Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci), the smarmy TV host of the games, whose job it is to make the rich and greedy, sitting in their opulent homes, watch young people die on TV; and Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks), who appears in the most extravagant and outlandish garments.
Even she, the most petty and trivial woman, gains new insight to the cruelty of the games.
Ultimately, this movie is impressive not just as a handsome, well-paced melodrama, but as a tale with insight into morality and courage.
It’s excellent in every way. The actors strike the right style and tone, in terms of costume and attitude, and the director allows the story to gather momentum until the final clash in the forest.
Imogene
You will either love Imogene (Kristen Wiig) or you won’t be able to bear her messy life. We learn that she moved to New York to become a playwright, but never really got it together. Now, with no money or selfconfidence, she returns to her family home, where she finds that her mother, Zelda (Annette Bening), has a sexy, tough boyfriend (Matt Dillon), who is 20 years her junior. Zelda has also let Imogene’s room to another young man, so the daughter must sleep in the basement. For Imogene, this is rock-bottom and she mopes about her lousy life — then eventually decides something has to be done. It’s a small-scale movie but worth a look for its stars.
Justin and the Knights of Valour
This fairly competent, medieval fantasy has obviously been positioned to feature in the upcoming holidays, when kids can enjoy this colourful romp. It tells the tale of Justin (voiced by Freddie Highmore), who wants to be a valorous knight, but his tedious father wants him to be a lawyer. Justin ignores that advice and sets off in search of fame as a knight. However, the reigning queen has no real interest in the arrogant knights and they immediately start planning a coup against the palace. The nefarious Sir Heraclio (Mark Strong) and his slimy accomplice Sota (Rupert Everett) plan to seize the throne, but Justin believes he, with a few friends, can stop these power-hungry interlopers.
As it follows a “Once upon a time…” format, the characters are not memorable. Really, the story of the poor boy who saves the embattled monarch is as tired as an old piece of chewing gum. The animation is interesting but the 3D technique is imperfect and at least half the film is full of confusing action and adolescent silliness.
Young kids will enjoy the colourful comedy but their long-suffering parents may not be too happy.