The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Caught this one in theaters with a friend who is really passionate about The Hunger Games series. It’s been at least 10 years since I last saw this film. I had written off a lot of franchise movies I had seen in my teen years as profit seeking hacks — but this one holds up surprisingly well.

Despite the really long run time and introducing so many new characters, the whole film stayed impressively tight and focused. The costumes absolutely slayed. Many very good actors gave strong and memorable performances. A little trippy to think about the fact that Josh and JLaw were much younger than I am now when they filmed this. Also unrelated, I just realized tonight Joanna is played by Jena Malone, after 10+ years of thinking that was Amy Adams ☠️

This series gave teenage me the biggest crush on Josh Hutcherson that never really went away. Today I wonder if that gave anyone who watched this story unrealistic expectations on love. Peeta’s love for Katniss is truly unconditional. Usually that’s cliché, but existential situations like the Hunger Games make them believable. Where are you going to find that in real life when things aren't as glorious as volunteering as tribute to go through a cannibalistic death match, but you have to share a mortgage and house chores together?