Catching Fire

On Thursday, I went to see Catching Fire!!!! It was awesome, but first, I had a delightful dinner party with friends.

I'm going to be lazy and not name people. Although I will say, I totally whipped Jenni's hubby in a game of wits! It was fun, I haven't been able to banter like that for a long long time.

And now:

My Thoughts:

-    I enjoyed Hunger Games, but I loved Catching Fire. It was much better! They improved so much, including the monkey camera! It was more accurate, and OH the emotions! 

-    The casting was perfect!! All the new characters introduced were perfect for their roles. Finnick and Joanna were spot on awesome! 

-    The whole movie was intense and thrilling. There were parts where I was shaking. 

-    The ending is a HUGE cliffhanger! Luckily I was prepared because I've read the books. For those of you who haven't read them (shame on you), you are are going to be mad!

-    Jennifer Lawrence IS Katniss!! She is an amazing actor. Her emotions are so raw and real. I don't know how she does it. 

-    I really loved how they portrayed Prim. She is maturing, growing, and getting her own strength.

-    My only complaint was the kissing. Katniss was giving out kisses to Gale and Peeta like it was nothing. She might as well hand out some kissing to Finnick, Beetee, and Haymitch while she was at it. 

-    Overall, it was brilliant! Go see it! Watch The Hunger Games first though. 

Previous movie in the trilogy

(click on image to see my thoughts)

Catching Fire

Goodreads Synopsis:    Sparks are igniting, flames are spreading and the Capitol wants revenge. 

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before...and surprising readers at every turn.

My Thoughts:

-    Peeta is almost the perfect man.  The way he always steps in to compensate for Katniss's lack of words or deeds, is amazing!  I totally agree with Haymitch when he says Katniss couldn't do any worse and that she doesn't really deserve someone so good.  

-    Even though this is the second time I'm reading this, it is still gripping and full of surprises.  

-    I wonder what is happening outside the arena.  I would love a companion book where we get to see Haymitch's perspective.  How do the mentors all watch and get sponsors and send things to the tributes?  

-    This is by far the worst cliffhanger ending ever!!!!!  

-    I'm never going to be able to think a rose smells good.  I hate President Snow that much!

-    The Hunger Games was mostly action and thrill, but Catching Fire is more emotional for me.  I go through so many different emotions when I read this:  sadness, anger, lots of anger, hope, shock, distress, etc.  It is so moving!

-    Haymitch you JERK!!