Catchinghands.mp3 (Catching Fire Movie Review)
Kat and Ryley review the second installment in the Hunger Games series: Catching Fire. Is it the best of the whole series? Yeah.
Review Overview: Fun to watch, like the first one. Jena Malone's character is iconic.
Could have used more Tucci. Although it is a sequel, this movie can stand on its own in terms of entertainment.
This truly is the peak of the trilogy
Kat: 4/5
Ryley: 4/5
kat 0:09
Hello and welcome to Easy Bake takes the Podcast, the podcast where we read you the one star reviews of your favorite movies and more. I'm Kat
ryley 0:17
and I'm Ryley.
kat 0:19
And we are continuing our Hunger Games series. We are now on catching fire or as I like to call it, Hunger Games All Stars. So just quick background information before we get to our thoughts and opinions on this movie The Plot, "After arriving safely home from their unprecedented victory in the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peter Malark discover that they must do a quick turnaround and begin a victor's tour. As she and PETA travel throughout the districts Katniss senses a rebellion is stirring. However, President Snow proves that he is still very much in control when word comes with a cruel change in the rules for the upcoming 75th Hunger Games." And that rule change if you don't know is that all of the victors from all 12 districts have to participate in the quarter quell where the rules are different for fun, they all have to go back to the Hunger Games and rightfully they are all pissed. And this movie came out in 2013 and it has a two hour and 26 minute runtime. It is directed by Francis Lawrence no relation to Jennifer Lawrence. He directed I Am Legend and a lot of music videos like most of his work was music videos. Suzanne Collins did not help with the script on this one but the screenwriters for this one were Simon Beaufoy who wrote some Slumdog Millionaire and 127 hours, and Michael Arndt who wrote Toy Story 3, he's written other things I just picked my favorite one.
ryley 1:37
Yeah, it's a good one. It's probably actually my favorite of the toy stories.
kat 1:40
Me too. I'm not a big fan of Toy Story 2. I don't know why.
ryley 1:42
Sorry to interrupt, but I love that song. It was it. What's her name? She sings all those sad songs in the hours. It's not that song and then
kat 1:49
oh, Sara McLachlan?
ryley 1:50
Yeah, she sang that song and Toy Story too.
kat 1:52
I think so.
ryley 1:53
I think she is.
kat 1:53
Yes, I know which one you're talking about? Yeah, but yes, he wrote Toy Story three. He's, he's written other things. But I also saw a lot of articles that Toy Story three was what was mentioned whenever he was brought up in articles, so I'm gonna say Toy Story 3.
ryley 2:06
Yeah.
kat 2:07
The cast is generally the same. We have Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks and Donald Sutherland. But we have some new cast members, such as Sam Claflin who plays Finnick and he was in Snow White and the Huntsman. I'm pretty sure that's the one with Kristen Stewart as Snow White. And then Jenna Malone who plays Joanna and she's from Donnie Darko, which that's another movie that teenage Kat loved a lot. Philip Seymour Hoffman was Plutarck and he was actually the last movie he was in, like he's he was seen in was Mockingjay. Part Two.
ryley 2:41
Oh, really?
kat 2:42
Like that is the last movie listed on his IMDB.
ryley 2:45
That is so sad. I forgot he was in these movies. So when he came on screen was like, Oh my God.
kat 2:50
We have Lynn Cohen who plays mags, and she was in Munich, which is one of my favorite Spielberg movies. And if you haven't seen it, it's a really good movie. And then Jeffrey Wright plays Beetee and he was actually in the French dispatch, which I haven't seen yet, but
ryley 3:03
oh, that's a good movie. I like that. Yeah. Oh, yeah, he has his own storyline in French dispatch. He's really good at it.
kat 3:09
Okay, good. I didn't know how big of a character he was. But that's good.
ryley 3:11
he's very Yeah.
kat 3:12
And then some fun facts about this. The costume designer Trish Summerville was given pieces from Alexander McQueen's collection by the creative director Sarah Burton, which I think is really cool. Like they had fucking Alexander McQueen dresses and stuff for the, I think it was for the like opening thing, the chariot thing. Maybe it didn't specifically say. This is less of a fun fact that's like general and more of just one that pertains to me. The soundtrack had to have 14 year old cats favorite bands, The Lumineers and of monsters and man on the soundtrack.
ryley 3:46
Yes, I've watched the credits just to listen to those those two songs. I'm not even kidding.
kat 3:51
Gail song. Are you kidding me? That's such a good song.
ryley 3:53
A good song.
kat 3:54
Such a good song. And then something I thought was really funny and I think it's very rude of Wikipedia to put this on there. Apparently Ed Sheeran recorded three songs for the soundtrack and Lionsgate declined it. They were just like, No thank you.
ryley 4:06
I love that.
kat 4:08
There's like no, no.
ryley 4:09
I no- no hate towards Ed Sheeran. But that makes me so happy that they were like we're okay, we're good
kat 4:18
what happened with him to where the whole internet turned against him? Because the same thing happened with like Lin Manuel Miranda, where everyone was just like yeah, now we hate you. I'm sorry your're a meme. You're a meme.
ryley 4:28
I really do think that's just the behavior of the internet.
kat 4:33
Yes, they just decided
ryley 4:35
they just decide to hate someone for really no reason, any reason that I don't really don't know of.
kat 4:40
So this article I found is basically saying people have many reasons why they might hate him. But I think they say it's basically just because he's like, got that nice guy persona and people kind of hate that.
ryley 4:52
That's the thing. Yeah, people the internet will turn on people for doing literally nothing.
kat 4:57
I think they mean like he like the The cringy nice guy. I just thought it was funny that Lionsgate was like, No thank you, no thank you, Ed.
ryley 5:04
Yeah.
kat 5:04
We're good. But moving on what- what are your thoughts and opinions about catching fire?
ryley 5:10
I thought was really fun like the first one. I was really- every time Jennifer Lawrence has a nightmare, it's just I hate when people pretend to have nightmares in movies cuz they're never good. I just I it's a really hard thing to act.
kat 5:25
She's also playing with Peeta's feelings, the entire movie
ryley 5:28
She is, she's so manipulative. I think you can tell he does actually like her. And she's just so.
kat 5:34
He's always had a crush on her from afar. Like, that's how it was set up in the first movie. And to like, have him conf- genuinely confess his like, love for her in the first movie. And then something I did like, though, is that he like in the beginning, at least, like he kind of holds it against her. Like, he's not still hung up on her as much in the beginning, like he's like, yeah, I get it. It was fake. I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna sit around and chase you for the rest of my life. Like, I liked that aspect of it.
ryley 6:01
She flip flops really hard. And I don't know why. I don't know what brings her to go like, also like, she's like, Oh, he has to be the one that lives
kat 6:10
the way I think of it is like, he's the weaker one between the two of them. So like, and He's genuinely a nice person and he like is is he's good. Like he to her is like good.
Oh. Oka.
So he has to be the one that survived. Like, he deserves to survive more than her in like, her mind.
ryley 6:31
But I you know, I get that I get that for. I remember reading the book and the part where Peeta says, like cantona's Like, they're gonna have a baby. I don't know why I thought that was so funny. I was just like, What a play.
kat 6:45
And I was watching that part, like pop up. Did no one think like, Maybe we should get like a pull out some sort of pregnancy test.? Figure out if she is pregnant.
ryley 6:56
Well, it's also I feel like it's one of those things where like, he already said it. So it doesn't matter whether she is or not everyone else thinks she is. You and they're not gonna say she's lying. Or they're lying. I don't know. Could they? I don't I don't know. Maybe it's just one of those things where like, oh, they said it.
kat 7:12
They still make her go to the games even if they believe the him- believed him or not.
ryley 7:16
Exactly. They didn't care. Also, how do we know if there is pregnancy test in the future in the very dystopian future?
kat 7:25
Force fields
ryley 7:26
Maybe they forgot.
kat 7:27
They have force fields.
ryley 7:29
Maybe they forgot
kat 7:30
They have force fields. How would they not have a pregnancy test?
ryley 7:32
Maybe they forgot how to make them there. You know, like stuff in history is lost.
kat 7:39
You think they go back to the- do you think they went back to the method of peeing on some wheat?
ryley 7:43
Apparently it's that that terribly inaccurate.
kat 7:46
Yeah.
ryley 7:47
Which is very interesting. But here's my thing. Here's my other proof. Have you seen their photos, photos, photographs? In the movies? They're like 1800 style photographs are black and white.
kat 7:59
Listen, they're really only had they only had tin types left. Okay, leave them alone.
ryley 8:05
I'm just saying they could have I don't even know
kat 8:07
But yeah, it I think it's just like the aesthetic. Like I think they have they have a fucking pregnancy test. They probably have something where it just like, you know, those those thermometers where they just scan your forehead?
ryley 8:18
Oh, yeah.
kat 8:19
I feel like it's just like that. They're just like, what else? What else give anything else? What did you think of Josh Hutcherson is acting in this one?
ryley 8:25
Ah, he was good.
kat 8:26
He was better. Do you think that they've set up enough of a foundation for Katniss and Gale? For you to care about them getting together?
ryley 8:34
Not really. Because like, they're kind of friends. And then at the beginning of this video, he goes like, well do you love me? I'm like, where did that come from? Y'all weren't kissing in the one before. And then all of a sudden you're kissing now. There was not enough in between time for that to- for them to develop from like, flirty friends to like, full blown like, run away with me. I love you.
kat 8:57
My thing is I think in the books the love triangle thing is like way more stressed. Like it she- her relationship with Gail is talks about a lot more than- because in in the first movie, you just they just go straight into her getting reaped into the Hunger Games, like, and so that's my biggest thing with the movie is like, I don't care about Gale as much as they want me to. I'll just I'll get into my I'll get into my thoughts. And if if you have anything else just chime in.
ryley 9:28
Okay
kat 9:29
So something about her in this movie that I realized is the way that her character was written for this one, like she seems very unsure of herself. Whereas in the last one, it was like she seemed very calculated. But like in this one, it's like she knows what she's doing and she has a plan for things. But it feels like often everyone else is making moves to make her plans work and she is just kind of there to provide perspective.
ryley 10:00
Y-Yeah, it's like one of those things. And I would notice this in a lot of young adult books, to always feel is the character is like a puppet.
kat 10:09
And she's a literal one. She's a literal puppet and this one because she's being used as the symbol for a revolution that like, she's not against it, but she's not. She didn't want to be the person leading it.
ryley 10:24
She's in like, actual, like, She's the face of it. Like they literally call they literally say to her, you're the face of the revolution. But she's not doing- she didn't ask to and like, Yeah, she did some things to earn, earn that some she's a symbol at most.
kat 10:42
Which I think, which I think makes her a good like, poster child for the revolution. Like the face of it, because she's not- she's not doing things because she's calculated in trying to get back at presidents Snow she's doing things because she's pissed off for the people she loves. Not for the entire country. She's just trying to survive. And people are just watching her do that. So I don't know. It just it her character doesn't seem as strong as she should be. Like, I still think she's a million steps up from how most women are portrayed in these kind of movies for like, before this movie, like she's doing a lot. She is in a hero position. She is very strong, but I don't know, just seemed kind of weak in this movie. The other thing was, I do like that they kind of started transitioning it a little more to be more adult, I guess.
ryley 11:39
Oh, yeah, definitely
kat 11:41
Like it- they don't hold back whenever they are, like showing how bad it is. And that's something that I really like about the series is I know what points they're trying to make and it doesn't feel like preachy, when they're making them It feels like you are slowly realizing with the character, how fucked up this world that they live in is. And I think it's just I think it's just good storytelling.
ryley 12:05
I agree. Definitely. Because like, she makes moves, where it makes the, you know, the President look bad and makes the whole Hunger Games concept look bad, and there has to be consequences to it. And they do they have and definitely, and because like we've heard about district 13, and like how they tried to evoke revolt and the capital, like, completely destroyed it. That's just that's just say, but in this one, we actually get to see like, how that's a very big possibility that could happen to anyone, like this big step thing in this way. I mean, I got that old man, when they're on the tour, or district four
kat 12:44
Yeah, that like gets dragged away.
ryley 12:47
And he gets I mean, it's bad. It's, it's really, it's pretty violent. This movie was pretty violent
kat 12:51
This is so- this one's so much more violent than the last one. And to think that, like, the books are even more violent when it comes to those kinds of things, too. And it's just like, I'm glad they didn't hold back because I think that it's important to teach these kind of lessons and show that like, their abs- like absolute power, like this is dangerous. And like, in any capacity, not even like in like, even on a small scale. Like someone having absolute power at a situation can end like this, it can end very badly and it can become violent.
ryley 13:23
Oh, yeah, definitely. And in the books, they do go into more detail about the other tributes. And there are tributes have survived from other games, and they're getting to live the rest of their lives but at what cost so we get to see. Finnick has a whole backstory, and his is super dark, like, he's basically a prostitute for the capital, because like, he's a capital sweetheart, but they don't go into detail about like in the movie, at least, they do in the book about like, people pay for his time. There's morphine addicts, you know, because they're just trying to numb themselves like it is messed up. It's very dark.
kat 14:02
Katniss literally has PTSD, just when she's out hunting. Like they. I liked that too, that they are showing the reality of what it's like to put chil- like literal children in these situations. And like it has real repercussions like both Peeta and Katniss bond over the fact that they like have nightmares about the Hunger Games. It shows that some people who are in the Hunger Games and are coming back like the district one people who are very privileged, they even hate the fact that they have to come back even though like their district is most guaranteed to win most of the time like they are the most well trained for it.
ryley 14:42
But with this one, it's a brother and sister who have won. Question. So the quarter quels is it always that the troubIes come back?
kat 14:52
No, it has it's like every four years. They have like a special Hunger Games where there's something special and different about it. They've never in the history of The Hunger Games brought back the tributes to fight again. Not the tri- not the tribute to the victors the victors to fight again. So that's, that's why it's so like insane that they're doing it. Also President Snow's kind of a dumb ass for not, not seeing how this would make things worse.
ryley 15:22
It would make things so much worse. He loves drama. He loves drama.
kat 15:26
He does, but it's because Plutark is just playing.
ryley 15:30
Sorry, who?
kat 15:32
Philip Seymour Hoffman's character, his name is Plutarck
ryley 15:34
I never bothered to learn his name in that.
kat 15:35
The stupidest name.
ryley 15:36
His name was Philip Seymour Hoffman in that movie.
kat 15:39
Philip. He's playing him. Like spoiler alert. He's playing him. And he's like, how do you? You've gotten this fucking far, you've dealt with a revolution before. You've kept the people quiet for this long. And you don't see what this guy's clearly doing. Like?
ryley 15:58
Yeah, it's very, it's kind of ridiculous. But also, I cannot understand that actor when he speaks, the guy who plays President Snow.
kat 16:06
Donald Sutherland.
ryley 16:08
Is that Is that who that is?
kat 16:09
Kiefer Sutherland's dad.
ryley 16:11
Okay, I'm gonna do research and later because I know that name. I just didn't I I can't understand when he's on screen. I don't know. It's just because his character talks to quietly by to turn on the subtitles because I couldn't understand what he was saying.
kat 16:23
Kiefer Sutherland's from Stand by Me. He's the bully.
ryley 16:25
Oh, the big kid.
kat 16:26
Yeah.
ryley 16:27
Oh,
kat 16:28
His dad is president Snow.
ryley 16:30
His dad is president Snow, okay.
kat 16:32
I also love Joanna as a character but I just really love Jenna Malone. But I like that she's because the audio of her the reason that I thought of doing the Hunger Games because there's a TikTok audio, where it's literally the clip of her interviewing with Cesar where she's like, of course, I'm not sad. I'm fucking angry. Like, I survived. I went through this whole process and you're bringing me back to kill me again. And then she swears she says the F word.
ryley 16:54
Does she?
kat 16:55
Well they bleep it? Like she's like,
ryley 16:56
Oh, that's right.
kat 16:57
I like her character because she's the only one that's like not trying to guilt them into getting her out of it. She's just trying to show the people like, this shouldn't be fucking happening. Like this is fucked up and I'm gonna fight because I have to but like.
ryley 17:11
Well it's one of those things about her character that's really interesting. Because she she gets to really express what she's feeling which is like, just angry. It's not even sad. At this point. It's anger. Anger, and she even tells them, I don't have anyone else left to lose that I love. So I get to say what I want. Which I think is her character like, is very interesting. She gets to say what she wants. They can't hurt her.
kat 17:35
What are they gonna do? Kill her?
ryley 17:37
Yeah.
kat 17:38
Like, what? What else is there to do to her?
ryley 17:40
They're already threatening her with that. Why? But you know, they can't threaten her with Hey, your loved ones there.
She just sits there like, Oh, don't don't threaten me with a good time.
Yeah. That's funny. I love that.
kat 17:53
Yeah, that yeah, I just I think the the reason I liked this movie so much and the book itself is just because it it's shit hitting the fan but it's not the full on revolution yet. So it's like a good mixture between the two movies. And I think its-
ryley 18:08
it's great tension. It's a massive tension.
kat 18:12
Yeah, it builds tension really well. And I think the way that it I think Suzanne Collins is just a good writer.
ryley 18:18
Yeah, she knows how to build a good storyline.
kat 18:21
Not to compare this to Twilight, like I'm only doing this because we just did Twilight not too long ago. There's something about these stories where this is like the transition movie. This would be like the new moon and Eclipse movie, but it still can stand alone and be like a watchable movie on its own. Whereas like, you know, New Moon you're like, just you can watch a movie. Yeah, like if this is like a genuine like standalone. Like this is part of the story arc. It's not just-
ryley 18:49
It's important. Yeah,
kat 18:51
I just I don't know. I just I think I'm more of a fan of this series than I thought I was.
ryley 18:56
I'm surprised by how much I'm enjoying these movies. I think I was- I thought it was gonna be like, Oh, these are so bad, they're so corny. No, they're, they're generally interesting and entertaining.
kat 19:06
These ones. It's like, they're enjoyable. I don't know why. Because I've watched Harry Potter a fuck ton of times. I've rewatched the Twilight series, many times as well. I have never thought to go rewatch the Hunger Games.
ryley 19:18
Me neither.
kat 19:19
Ever. Like I think I've only seen each of these movies one time like when they came out and I went and watched them.
ryley 19:25
Yeah. I didn't give them enough credit.
kat 19:28
They were pretty fucking good. And I don't know if that's just because we were the right age when they came out, but like, I don't think if they were bad, we would be saying as many good things about it now
ryley 19:38
Oh. No, no, we'd be trashing them.
kat 19:42
I think that's all I have right now. Do you have anything else before we move on?
ryley 19:46
Nope.
kat 19:46
So let's get into the critical reviews. I couldn't find very many critical reviews. Something about this movie is it did way better critically. And the Hunger Games itself didn't do that bad critically, honestly, it was it was pretty well received. It was just that whakey camera that was really the main critique of it.
ryley 20:02
which they fix for this one.
kat 20:04
Oh yeah, they didn't do that at all.
ryley 20:06
No.
kat 20:06
But this one I had to like really, really search to find a good negative one. But most of them were very positive. So we'll start out with an a review from the Spool by Jonah Koslofsky, that was written 2021. And this writer is like our age, like they watched these movies when they were around our age too. So it's kind of like I guess they're rewatch- they rewatched it or something. But they mentioned that Michael Arndt's writing is really good for this, this story, and it pays off really well. As well as how Philip Seymour Hoffman plays his character and like underplays the dialogue at some points. And it really pays off to like, I think that they mentioned the difference between how he talks to Katniss and how he talks to President Snow and you can like tell that like he is trying to sneak something by somebody like
ryley 20:06
Yeah
kat 20:07
He plays it very well, and it pays off and that quote, "catching fire can't completely transcend its limitations," mostly as like it being a blockbuster. So there's some obligations that it has as a blockbuster movie that get in the way with like some engaging parts of the movie. And most of the cast is great, except Josh Hutcherson is the obvious weak link and then, quote, "in a decade full of $100 million stinkers catching fire isn't just the peak of its franchise, but a compelling work in its own right." So they kind of agree with what I was saying, like it can stand alone as its- its own thing. And it's not just some throwaway action movie.
ryley 21:32
Yeah. You were right. He- Hutcherson is really becoming the Taylor Lautner of the series.
kat 21:40
Oh, yeah.
ryley 21:40
Yeah
kat 21:41
He's just he's just another one of those where it's like, he did not act much after this.
ryley 21:46
Yeah, but that's okay.
kat 21:48
It's okay. I am Josh Hutcherson if you're out there.
ryley 21:51
It's okay.
kat 21:52
I had- It's okay. I had I had a huge crush on you when I watched this movie so it counted for something
ryley 21:56
I was being really mean to the last podcast I just want to say I'm sorry.
kat 22:00
Also, every- every Wikipedia page about each movie mentions the fact that Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth both had to dye their hair for the movie
ryley 22:11
Oh, did they?
kat 22:12
And that- Yeah, cuz- and so did Jennifer Lawrence like she's naturally blonde.
ryley 22:17
That's right. She is isn't she? Yeah, that's so odd.
kat 22:22
She just looks like a brunette.
ryley 22:23
She's looks good as a brunette. I just thought it was a natural hair color. What is Liam's natural hair.
kat 22:29
I think he's- he's also a blonde. And then Josh Hutcherson has like black hair in real life. And he has to like be blonde.
ryley 22:35
Okay, now remembering that because I'm a lot of people were like, oh, he could play like a like I- they were trying to compare him to someone like I think someone said Elvis one time. I think that was quickly shut down by- someone said Elvis one time we're reading that and going no,
kat 22:48
Oh, I'd have to disagree.
ryley 22:51
That's not that can't be a thing
kat 22:53
Immediately, no.
ryley 22:54
Immediately, no.
kat 22:57
Okay, so the next review. Do you have any other thoughts on that person's review?
ryley 23:01
No, I think they had a really good review though.
kat 23:04
Yeah, the next review from the Washington Free Beacon This is written by Sunny Bunch in 2013 and starts with quote, "lots of standing around and talking without much in the way of flair or excitement" and says that it suffers from being a rehash of the first movie and that the Capitol is too interesting looking for it to be the source of evil in the movie like it looks, too. It looks too cool for it to be the bad guys.
ryley 23:29
Oh, this Oh, you can tell this dude loves Elon Musk, then. You- I can already tell this dude loves Elon Musk.
kat 23:38
But something I do agree with them on is that Cesar has like way less screen time and they wanted more Tucci and I agree I always want more Tucci in any movie, the Tucc-ster
ryley 23:47
The Tucc-ster
kat 23:50
Stanley. Another thing that bunch was upset about was that you only get a glimpse of what the other districts look like. But also like, I think it would be cool to like see, like a fully fleshed out like, like how it's set up and how it's different from each other district. But at the same time, it's like, it's not about that.
ryley 24:11
It's really not I mean.
kat 24:13
No.
ryley 24:13
In the books, they describe what each one does, and I think it would help for context.
kat 24:18
Yes, it would, because I don't know what each
ryley 24:19
Just a five second, like they're coming into, because they tour. They can give it a good aerial view or like a good landscape of like.
kat 24:30
Yeah
ryley 24:30
Oh, you can tell they fish here or they do tech here, or they do something I don't know.
kat 24:37
You know, when movies when like someone's describing everything like you know the mean girls whenever they're describing like the lunch room and like who everybody is, like the jocks and the nerds or whatever. I just needed like a sequence, like a montage of Haymitch describing all the districts.
ryley 24:54
Honestly that would have worked very well. I would have been, I would have been as a person who read the books very satisfied with that.
kat 25:00
But the last thing that a bunch has to say is catching fire quote is "like its predecessor, thoroughly competent, but it lacks that special something to set it apart" end quote.
ryley 25:10
difference going on where it makes it its own movie. I don't- Yeah, they go in another ring, but it's under different contexts.
kat 25:18
I think they're just- I think that Bunch is just saying like, it's it's not terrible, but it doesn't. It can't keep up with other movies like it or but yeah, I don't I don't agree with that either.
ryley 25:28
Yeah
kat 25:28
But we can we can move on to the next one. Independent critic. Yeah, Richard Propes. 2013. This movie is proof that box office movies don't have to be dumbed down to be effective and entertaining. It's not better than the first one, but it's more grounded and settled. And quote, "both an exciting action flick and an intelligent, thought provoking and more passionate film." However, he is a little dissatisfied with the directing of Francis like Francis Lawrence's directing, specifically in scenes that should be more emotional, but they don't end up as emotional with his directing. He still thinks that Francis Lawrence expertly guides the film, and that Jennifer Lawrence again is like, very talented and very equipped to tell the story and that she tells Katniss' a story with a very like a commitment to the authenticity and truth of her character. And that it's a lot slower paced, because Francis Lawrence was willing to like let scenes thoughtfully linger. And it handles traditional, like YA elements really well, and that this one has a more emotionally resonant love triangle, which like, I don't fully agree, because the whole Gale thing we talked about earlier, but it's like it doesn't feel like Gail's important enough. He also understands why Mockingjay is being split into two parts and is excited for the next movies, and also mentioned that Jenna Malone is an underrated actress, which I agree, I think she's very talented and doesn't get as much recognition.
ryley 26:55
Well I agree. I think it's very good. I don't necessarily necessarily agree with the emotional parts. I mean, maybe it's just like, I don't care. I just want the did he read it by chance?
kat 27:08
It just said that it was a positive review some- because sometimes he'll give it a grade sometimes he won't. I couldn't. I couldn't find one on this one. Also agree with you on the fact that like the emotional scenes, I just, I don't think I care as much now about those scenes. But if I were to like reread the books and r- watch these again, I considered like trying to read catching fire again before we watched this, but that that's a lot of work. We can move on to the next critical review, which is from Confessions from a Geek Mind, written by Kelechi Ehenuli and was written in 2014. Starting with quote, "filled with fantastic performances, great visual effects and a story that surpasses the first film in every department" end quote. It appeals to sci fi fans and it has the ability to make a point, and it deepens the mystery and adventure that was missing from the first film. And that Jennifer Lawrence's performance is a big strength for the movie. They also mentioned that she grows as an actress and every role she plays and she's just constantly getting better. And she embodies Katniss is emotional vulnerability while still being able to show that she's a strong character. But her One annoyance and this is something I kind of agreed with was that Katniss like I said earlier like she you know, she I said she kind of appeared unsure of herself. This critic believes that she appears a little more indecisive than she should be.
ryley 27:13
Yeah
kat 27:16
Also mentions that Hunger Games is in like Harry Potter's League. It is way in a way different league than movies like divergent or Percy Jackson or Twilight like they are not in the same league as Hunger Games and like Harry Potter, which I think I would agree with, like, I think it's not preachy about the point it's trying to make, and it's just genuinely good st- storytelling and filmmaking. And then the last thing was that this- this critic is also very excited for Mockingjay. And I think this movie did a really good job at making you want to watch the next one.
ryley 29:05
Oh, yeah, definitely.
kat 29:06
Because like, cuz you said you started watching Mockingjay
ryley 29:09
Yeah I already did.
kat 29:11
Was it? Was it because you were excited to see what happens next?
ryley 29:14
Yeah, where are they going?
kat 29:16
You want to? I wonder I've read the books but where are they?
ryley 29:18
Yeah I don't remember? I remember partially, the last book does get foggy.
kat 29:26
I think I read it, but I don't think I
ryley 29:28
Liked it?
kat 29:30
It was not my favorite book out of the three. But the last review that we have is from Eclipse magazine and is written by Michelle Alexandria. In 2013. Alexandria couldn't get past how bleak and gray everything was in this movie, and the primary issue that they had was it felt like it was stuck in a holding pattern, such as like Katniss soaks up everything around her without giving anything back and she's not very proactive character, and Josh Hutcherson brings nothing to the table and that he always looks lost and doesn't emote much, but the supporting cast is more interesting. They called this movie a survivor rip off like the reality TV show survivor.
ryley 30:09
Okay.
kat 30:10
And then so the series could be summed up in two films and it didn't need to be made into four. I think this critic also just had a problem in general with like every film being turned into a trilogy or a quadrilogy. And that there's not enough material to justify the amount of films that are being made. And but they end their review with quote, "I don't hate the film series. I just wish they'd get on with the story already and that Katniss was more proactive" end quote.
ryley 30:35
okay, I agree with those last two things. I can't imagine there's so much information where it couldn't be put into two movies, or into one movie.
kat 30:44
Yeah, I definitely think that it could have been at least two movies. I think it could be two like the entire story. I think they could have managed to make it two movies.
ryley 30:53
Yeah, I think three should have been enough. Three should have been enough.
kat 30:56
Three would have been fine. Like each book getting its own movie would have been fine. But I understand. You know, like, it's the same with any series like they have to split that last one into two.
ryley 31:06
Yeah
kat 31:07
It just- it's going to happen regardless.
ryley 31:09
Exactly.
kat 31:10
Yeah.
ryley 31:10
Corporate wants those two movies.
kat 31:13
and in protest of that we are Ryley has decided to combine the last two into one episode.
ryley 31:19
I are- I got Jennifer I'm waiting on Liam. Woody. I don't know how to get in contact with Woody.
kat 31:26
No, I meant like when we record the review of it, you're gonna put it into-
ryley 31:30
I thought you said I was going to make I was going to recreate the last two movies, but as one and I had to get back all the actors. I'm going to direct it. I have to reread the books. I don't know what's going on.
kat 31:44
Do you have any other thoughts based on what the critics have said so far?
ryley 31:47
I know they've all been pretty on point.
kat 31:51
Yeah.
ryley 31:52
Especially- even the last one like which was a little bit more negative. They still had some decent points.
kat 31:57
Yeah, I think the most negative one was the the very- the second one we read that was like calling it a rehash of the first movie.
ryley 32:04
Oh, yeah. I didn't like that. Well, you said the capital was too cool looking to be evil. No, no, you were falling into the hands of capitalism.
kat 32:14
That comment and then not being able to get past how gray and bleak everything is. It's almost like depressing ass shit is happening. We're- whenever it's gray and bleak.
ryley 32:23
And it makes me sad and I don't like that. I'm like that's part of the movie.
kat 32:26
This movies forcing me to feel things.
ryley 32:28
Yeah, exactly. It's like that's the thing. It'd be kind of weird if it was sunshine and rainbows and she was looking you know, like no.
kat 32:39
We can we can move on now to the audience reviews. Again, I got a lot of these from letterboxd because-
ryley 32:46
Love Letterboxd.
kat 32:47
Love Letterboxd. This first one is a five star review. That's that was literally written yesterday. That day being March 17 2022. It starts with "Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my fucking God. A truly remarkable film. Everyone says that this is the best of the trilogy, and I never understood it until now. Oh my god. I mean, this was just amazing. Jennifer Lawrence absolutely shines in this one of her best performances to date, the cinematography, the screenplay, the slow burn between Katniss and Peeta, the fucking ending, it just keeps getting better and better."
ryley 33:20
I agree. They're not right.
kat 33:21
That was a five star.
ryley 33:23
Yeah
kat 33:23
By the way if I didn't say that.
ryley 33:24
I get it.
kat 33:25
It is my favorite movie in the trilogy.
ryley 33:26
oh my fuckinh god.
kat 33:27
So the next one is a four star review from 2018 From April Fool's Day of 2018. So maybe they're joking.
ryley 33:33
Yeah, maybe.
kat 33:36
But they say "okay, but the best moment in the whole franchise and the one that leaves you the most fucked up, sorry, Rue, sorry, Prim, is when Katniss watches Lenny Kravitz get mauled as the tube traps are lifting her up to one of the most audacious arenas the game has ever seen. The camera twirling around, her the countdown beginning so ominously overhead, the sounds of waves crashing as Jennifer Lawrence expertly maneuvers from pure horror and distraught into determination to save Peeta, diving into what would become the most fucked up game of CBS's survivor to date. This movie is the peak of YA dystopia changed my mind."
ryley 34:16
Again, no, they're not wrong. But it is April Fool's. So maybe they
kat 34:19
But I believe that they do. I believe them.
ryley 34:21
Yeah, forgot the Sena, does he die? I guess he does.
kat 34:27
He's not in he's not in the next one. So I'm assuming so.
ryley 34:33
Yeah.
kat 34:33
For me, that's another thing where I'm like, this movie is not like- the movie and the books are not trying to like, ease you into this world. They're literally like they will do anything to keep you from revolting, like they will do anything to keep you down kind of thing. Bith this next one I- I heavily agree with. It's from 2019 and "it says Gail and Katniss shippers can suck my dick."
ryley 34:59
Yep. That's really funny.
kat 35:03
Okay. All you kale shippers out there.
ryley 35:06
Yeah
kat 35:06
Can suck my fucking dick. Gale sucks.
ryley 35:10
Oh God.
kat 35:12
Okay. This next one is a half star from letterbox, and it was written in 2014 "poorly made propaganda. It features a nonsense and poorly structured plot, a joke of a character, immoral ideas and some truly awful acting. If women are supposed to look up to Katniss, then they're doomed to never take any action and simply allow things to happen to them as they swoon over the men in their lives. She is one of the poorest female role models and it is Bella swans fault that the bar has been set this low. I am disgusted at how popular this series is." Okay, the first movie, she is only doing things for herself and to make sure she stays alive to get back to her family.
ryley 35:52
Yeah, it's for her family. It's for her sister Prem, mostly too.
kat 35:56
This one I'm not gonna lie they do- They do. Like I feel like she gets dumbed down a little bit in this one.
ryley 36:02
Yeah, she does.
kat 36:03
I don't think she's a terrible role model.
And she's still
She's still a badass.
ryley 36:08
She's still a badass. Her family is still like, she's still like, making sure her family is safe and stuff. It just, it just gets more complicated in this movie. And also, it's okay, it does- this- it doesn't have to be the most realistic thing in the world. She's still a badass, she's still kicking ass. A love triangle makes it fun.
kat 36:28
And you know what, you know what the description of her character sounds like, you know, like somebody who just like, they have the skill, they have the ability, but they're just kind of a lucky hero, where like, someone's always there to help them like they just kind of fumble into success. Sounds like every male main character in like movies like this.
ryley 36:46
Because he usually has support from other characters that help them.
kat 36:49
It's almost like working as a team is okay.
ryley 36:52
Yeah.
kat 36:53
Yeah.
ryley 36:53
Let's move on from that one. That one was kind of annoying.
kat 36:56
That was the only like, really, I tried. I tried not to find the super misogynistic ones. But like,
ryley 37:02
I feel like that one was just kind of just being annoying.
kat 37:05
I think that was one of those ones where it's like the wrong take on feminism. Like, it's just.
ryley 37:10
yeah, it was the wrong feminist take.
kat 37:12
It's like, it's, it's what a lot of people think that feminism is where it's like, women can only be like, the best version of themselves and like the most strong and independent version of themselves who like, can get everything done by themselves and have to like, you know, like that that idea. Like, I don't remember which wave of feminism. I think it was like a second wave or something like that. I don't know.
ryley 37:12
Or women could do anything a man could do and more. And it's like, I'm still a person. I still need help. Sometimes. That's okay.
kat 37:25
How about we accept the idea that everyone is a human being that is allowed to express their human beingness in any way they want?
ryley 37:48
Yeah
kat 37:48
Like it that's that's what feminism is, like, just let people make decisions that are good for themselves and that don't harm other people. I won't go into my whole diatribe about it. The next one is an IMDB one. So one at a time from IMDb from 2013. And it is titled "unwatchable nonsense as stupid as can be." "This elaborate mess of a movie couldn't be more boring and silly. The premise is astoundingly dumb, far worse than the original and a non existent plot you can see coming from a mile away. The acting is wooden, the emotions fake and the direction dull. I would say this is for kids, if not for the whole murder aspect. But you would have to be a child to like it. It comes off so hammy and unreal. I think I was about to fall asleep about 10 times. Please don't make a third one. This is what we can expect from a generation of writers who have seen have no sense of real drama, The Harry Potter and Twilight crowd who flocked to this garbage like a moth to a flame and come out raving about it."
ryley 38:48
Yeah, they sound- here's the thing, they said please don't make a third one. How about they make a third one and you just don't go see it because you obviously don't like them. And it's as simple as that.
kat 38:57
You've agency as a human being.
ryley 38:59
You don't have to see every movie that comes out. Or or talk about every movie that comes out.
kat 39:05
And when I was reading the book, I didn't see this shit coming. I didn't think that Katniss was going to like, try to break the dome open. Okay but this next one's a letterboxd one. It's a four star one. It's from 2017 and it just says "it's 2017 and my sexual orientation is still Finnick drinking water from the spile for the first time."
ryley 39:27
No comment.
kat 39:31
the obsession that was created around around Sam Claflin after these movies like
ryley 39:38
I remembered.
kat 39:40
That is the one like look at the sexy man and this book.
ryley 39:44
That's a funny he's bit about that book. It's like you can't even see what it looks like. It's just how he's written.
kat 39:49
You're like, Damn, he loves old ladies and cares about people who need his help. What a good person.
ryley 39:55
He is. He's a great character.
kat 39:57
Katniss drinks in this movie, and I think she's only like 17 or something like that she's not drinking age in the movie, which I think is interesting that they like,
ryley 40:06
They still like included that.
kat 40:07
yeah, they included that she drinks. Just I mean, Haymitch has a character existing in this series is
Yeah as an alcoholic.
Interesting too. The district 11 dude like, is introduced to Katniss. He's like don't let him hang out in your in your hotel room he'll drink all your liquor.
ryley 40:22
Well, to me it's so funny because because cameras are like, all these tributes are crazy goes he's not he's pretty cool. I just laughed really hard.
kat 40:30
I love that he defended all of them. Because I mean, he's the one that brought up the fact that they've all been friends for years because, you know, they haven't had to fight each other before they just trauma bonded.
ryley 40:30
Yeah
kat 40:32
Because they all had to do the fucking hunger games.
ryley 40:43
Yeah.
kat 40:44
And so every time Katniss is like, oh, that person seems sketchy. That person seems weird. He's like, no, they're actually really really nice people but okay.
ryley 40:52
Yeah. And like they never thought they were they would have to ever go back so it was like exactly like to like beef with each other.
kat 40:59
But we'll move on to another IMDb review from 2014 One out of 10, and it is titled "Twilight games." It starts with "I really don't see how this movie has a good rating to begin with. I guess the studios are like the capitol in the movie. They probably paid off the critics. I was lucky enough to wait till it was available to rent. I really enjoyed the first Hunger Games because it felt like the novel 1984. Catching Fire switched more to a twilight love issue between Peeta and Gale. First Katieness wants to run off with Gale but he refuses because he wants to join the revolution. Then she starts falling in love with Peeta during the games. Whoo hoo, another Twilight. Jennifer Lawrence's performance was terrible during the whole movie, it seems like she cannot display the right facial emotion." I get "I was getting annoyed the entire time she tried to make a sad face. Josh Hutcherson on the other hand displayed great acting, and did pretty good with the terrible script" the kid is brought. "The kid has a bright acting career ahead of him after the Twilight games." They could not have made a more false take.
ryley 41:59
That should tell you about their opinion about this movie. It's wrong. Good.
kat 42:03
I'm so sorry. You were just blatantly wrong.
ryley 42:06
Blatantly wrong, and it just it shows your taste. It shows your tastes, and its not good.
kat 42:15
So they continue. "During the games, we don't have a chance to have a connection with the other tributes at all. I just keep finding myself thinking oh, the old lady died or Oh guy two died from an arrow shot. At the end, Peeta just disappeared out of nowhere. We never find out why he ran away but that he was caught by the President. Wow, the writers waste all" the time "This movie time with worthless scenes but they can't add this in." It's almost like they're making another one.
ryley 42:40
Oh yeah, it's almost like you're gonna find out what happened. And then in the next two movies that they're making.
kat 42:46
"If you're looking for a Hunger Games like the first one, then you're going to be disappointed if you're a 12 year old girl who enjoys wanting to know if Katyness is going to be with Peeta or Gale then this movie is for you. But you'll have to wait for the third one to find out Twilight games makes for a great movie to fall asleep to though." How can you just stare the point right in the eyes and then just ignore it?
ryley 43:08
It's just they proved that their opinions invalid by saying what's his name? Josh?
kat 43:13
Josh Hutcherson is the most talented person in this movie.
ryley 43:15
Oh, he's gonna have a career after this.
kat 43:18
I don't think the love triangle is as emphasized as people are making it seem in these movies.
ryley 43:24
And that's the only thing you can compare it to Twilight is that they both have love triangles, but they're very different. They're not the same. I just kind of hate that they're still like comparing it to Twilight and like they're not. They're not the same at all.
kat 43:36
Katniss could still beat Bella swans ass
ryley 43:39
Yeah, she could.
kat 43:41
Even in vampire form.
ryley 43:42
Yeah.
kat 43:42
I know I said that last time, but I still stand by it.
ryley 43:46
Oh, yeah.
kat 43:46
Because like, what is she going to do like forcefield brain defend herself against arrows. No, that's not gonna happen.
ryley 43:52
No, you can't do that. I don't think you can legally do that.
kat 43:56
No, it's against the rules actually. Okay, so this next one, letterboxd five stars 2019. And I agree with it because it's kind of the point I made at the very beginning. "Ru Paul's drag race all stars for the straights." So this is the last negative one. And it is from IMDB. One out of 10 2015 titled "Is Lady Gaga. The costume designer on this crap."
ryley 44:22
I love the costumes. I said this in the last one. I love the costumes.
kat 44:26
Yeah, these ones Well, I think the costumes and this one too they're like they look better.
ryley 44:31
Yeah, like there's there's more quality
kat 44:33
This person says "I really really hate these movies. Sure this is a little better than the original. But still way too long. Nothing happens at all until 90 minutes into the movie. Why can't they make these movies shorter like an hour and 45 at the most? I don't know what I hate more the ridiculous costumes and makeup on all the rich. eight holes in the capital or the watered down violence to make it PG 13 I heard that the books are pretty violent. They are they are very they do they watered it down but like this is the movies are still pretty violent? Or how is it possible for the rich bastards to keep everyone poor and under control? And why is America divided in districts? This is in some post apocalyptic future that looks like Russia 30 years ago, where it's always winter, except in the capital. These things are never explained in the movies, possibly in the books that I will never read anyway. So" I do "I don't know if there's, there was a nuclear war, and I don't really care." The movies literally explain what happened.
ryley 44:33
Yeah.
kat 44:34
I know that they don't go into full depth into why they're split into districts. But like, why, why do you? Why are you asking so many questions?
ryley 45:36
You're asking a lot of questions that one the book does answer. So if you really do care, you can read probably, I'm sorry, the first 10 pages of The Hunger Games, it'll explain a lot of it to you. And also, they asked like, how can the capital keep- keep control? How do they keep them poor? I'm like, Well, have you seen capitalism?
kat 45:57
You literally compare them to Russia? You know, what the, you know what the answer is.
ryley 46:01
You know what the answer is. So like, I don't know what else to tell you.
kat 46:04
This. There's still more of this review. And I'll get back to it in a second. But I just want to say the comment about the ridiculous costumes and makeup on all the rich people. That's that's for a reason. Like, they look ridiculous on purpose.
ryley 46:16
Yeah, to show that they're rich, pompous.
kat 46:17
It's because they are the epitome, yeah, they're the epitome of indulgence.
ryley 46:21
Yes.
kat 46:22
Like they literally in the beginning, whenever they like are at the Capitol and they're like having that little party at the president's house or whatever. People at the Capitol who live in district one, literally drink things to make themselves throw up so they can eat more. Like they are. They are the epitome of like- a- like too much. Like they are excessive, and they are indulgent. That is the whole fucking point of the characters. Why would why would you want them to look like everybody else?
ryley 46:53
That's that's the thing. And that's, I don't know. I feel like this isn't worth the time to explain to someone.
kat 47:01
So our last review is from letterboxed, it is a five star review from 2020. "I think I should start by this before I say anything more. The Hunger Games influenced my time as a teenager more than any other science fiction dystopian story has. Sadly, I found out about many great and even better stories much, much later in my life. But this was the shit for me. And especially Catching Fire will always be a favorite of mine. It is without a doubt one of the best book to film adaptations that exists, it's pretty rare that a movie can hold up with its original material. But this is exactly how I imagined it while reading. This movie is in every way more than just" the film of a young adult-, "the film version of a young adult book, and even more, it's one of the best things that's come out of this genre. There is more of a story in here. The chemistry between the characters, and their development is just on point. And last but not least, it features Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of my favorite actors who nails every role he's in no matter what genre and what role he's heavenly missed. I will always have a" spot "soft spot for this movie. I wish the whole series would have been on this level." And I agree, I agree with everything they're saying. Like I think that Catching Fire really is the peak of this series in book and movie form.
ryley 48:21
Yeah, definitely. I just love reviews like these because like, I just love how people are so passionate. Ya know, there's the the passion that it brings in people and I love it. I think that's so cool.
kat 48:31
It's kind of like the the one that made us cry from Perks of being a wallflower. Like, it's just really important to hear, especially with movies that are aimed at a younger audience, because that just shows how effective they can be.
ryley 48:44
Yeah, definitely. And it makes me defensive about the ones who like try to tear it down. I'm like, No, it is good.
kat 48:50
I think I would give this one a five out of five. Now you know what, four and five. I'm not gonna go so hard with that. I'm gonna say four to five.
ryley 48:57
I'm just gonna go with four or five too
kat 48:58
Anything else? Anything else? any other opinions? Catch us next week when we do Mockingjay Part One and two. And we finish up the series. I'm just gonna say this now, we probably won't be doing another film series for a while because it is it is a lot. It is a lot of work. We'll be switching back to individual standalone movies after this series is over. But if you have any suggestions for movies we should watch you can let us know on our Instagram and our TikTok at Easy Bake takes our Instagram DMS are open so feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions or anything. And give the Hunger Games series a chance if you haven't before, watch catching fire. Watch the movies. Let us know what you think, if you're rewatching let us know if you've changed your mind on how you feel about these movies. And thank you so much for listening. My name is Kat.
ryley 49:53
And I'm Ryley.
kat 49:54
This has been Easy Bake Takes. Easy watching out there. Bye.
ryley 49:58
Bye.