The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

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‘Catching Fire’ comes to life on the big screen

‘Catching Fire’ comes to life on the big screen
Catching-Fire-24.jpg
Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence star in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” in theaters Nov. 22. (Courtesy of flickeringmyth.com)

Film adaptations of best-selling book series tend to do well at the box office.

Just look at the mania caused by the franchises of “Harry Potter” and “Twilight.”

Books adapted into films tend to be wildly successful, and “The Hunger Games”franchise is no exception.

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” is the second installment in the film adaptation of the best-selling science-fiction novels by Suzanne Collins.

After the success of the first film, Lionsgate Entertainment’s “Catching Fire” is expected to seize the box office upon its Nov. 22 release.

The film’s prequel, “The Hunger Games,” netted $691,247,768 last year, a figure that was nearly 10 times its budget.

“Catching Fire’s” budget is $140 million, meaning the film has the potential to make a huge profit at the box office.

Returning to the dystopian post-apocalyptic world of Panem, the sequel picks up where the first film left off.

After the staggering end of the 74th Annual Hunger Games.

Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), the most recent Hunger Games victors, tour through the districts.

The Hunger Games is a televised annual event where one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 is selected from each district as a tribute to participate in a fight to the death.

Traditionally, there has only been one survivor, but Katniss and Peeta captivated audiences with a love story that ultimately allowed them both to survive.

As the couple travels on their victory tour, their win stirs rebellion in the people.

Tasting blood in the water, President Snow (Donald Sutherland), unhappy with the competitors outsmarting The Capitol, prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games, known as a Quarter Quell.

Instead of drawing from the general population, the tributes for this Hunger Games are picked among the victors, shaping up for a lethal show.

President Snow’s motives could have been predicted seeing as the word “quell” means “to put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by use of force.”

Judging from the promos, “Catching Fire” looks like a bloodier affair than its predecessor.

The added star power helps, too.

Since appearing in the first “Hunger Games” film, Lawrence has shot into stardom.

In addition to being a bonafide star, the actress is now an Oscar winner. Lawrence took home the Best Actress title at this year’s Academy Awards for her role in “Silver Linings Playbook.”

Joining the cast is Jena Malone, making her debut in the series as the salty Johanna Mason from District 3, as well as Sam Claflin as the beefcake Finnick Odair from District 4.

On Thursday, the film’s Facebook page debuted a sneak peek clip, which showed a dramatic scene where Katniss and Peeta seek help from their coach Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) after President Snow has confronted Katniss about his unhappiness with the uprisings in the districts.

“From now on your job is to be a distraction, so people forget what the real problems are,” Haymitch says in the clip, advising the winners to be a distraction from the country’s issues instead of bringing attention to them.

Catch the film when it hits theaters to see how Katniss and Peeta fare during their second round in the Hunger Games.

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