Catching Fire: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion (2)

by Kate Egan

Catching Fire, the New York Times bestseller by Suzanne Collins, is now a major motion picture -- and this is your guide to all of the movie's excitement, both in front of the camera and behind it. Go behind the scenes of the making of Catching Fire with exclusive materials, including back-stage photos and interviews. From the screenwriting process to the casting decisions, from the fantastic new sets and gorgeous costumes to the actors' performances and the director's vision, this is the definitive companion to the second Hunger Games film.

Genres: Nonfiction, Dystopia, Romance, Media Tie In, Film, Adventure, Teen

160 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2013

Reviews

[˙⋆✮ Anny ✮⋆˙ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this back in 2015 when I visited the Hunger Games exhibition in NYC. One of the best days of my life! This movie companion is great and definitely worth the money. There are many photos, even really big ones, and interesting infos on casting, developing the movie and behind the scenes of filming it. It really brings the world of Catching Fire to life and it has a special place on top of my THG shelf!

[Sabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that you just have to get because you love a series.











Official companions are always a pleasure to read by the fans as they contain interesting and fun behind the scenes notes and imagery. 3.5 stars.

[Austin J Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was amazing! My mother and I had just seen the movie this afternoon and it was awesome! It followed the story and left out some of the minor things but everything else was similar to what happened in the book. I enjoyed reading how the movie was made and I especially like the costumes and how they were able to design the new arena because it was spectacular in the movie! I would pay again to go see this movie because it is absolutely worth the price! Don't want to spoil it for other fans! GO SEE THIS MOVIE!

[Canette Arille · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Catching Fire is my fav vol of Hunger Games Trilogy. I really enjoying this book, and have it on my book shelve :)

[Jeann (Happy Indulgence) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!

The Catching Fire Official Illustrated Movie Companion is the great way to relive this highly anticipated movie and get behind the scenes insight into how it was put together. Featuring high quality illustrations and movie stills of Catching Fire during its filming, the companion is beautiful to look at and captures the movie perfectly. While I would have liked more insight from the stars – there are some quotes here and there about the production of the movie – the companion goes into depth about how the locations in Panem and the Cornucopia Arena were put together, and the costume and makeup for the actors. It helps you appreciate the thought process and the different elements that make up a movie, which perfectly contributed to its feeling and characterisation.

I liked how the fashion designer described her decisions behind putting together Katniss and Effie’s costume choices – Katniss wearing simple garments while in District 12 while she’s slightly more dressed up on the Victory Tour, and Effie’s playfulness, exaggerated character, but also slave to the Capitol comes through her fashion. Interestingly enough, for the first time I noticed the Avoxes, the slaves to the Capitol which apparently appeared in the movie. The casting of Johanna Mason and Plutarch was also interesting to know, as was actually using a real life estate for President’s Snow Mansion.

Perfect for fans of the series, The Catching Fire Movie Companion will both delight and offer insights to the best movie released in 2014.

Click here for my movie review of Catching Fire!

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved getting to know more about my favorite trilogy and all the behind the scenes stuff!

[Muhammad Edwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is an incredible story about a girl that doesn't want to be a hero, but finds herself in a position where she is forced to be." - Jennifer Lawrence

"When I can, I try to shoot as much as possible in real places, to keep things grounded." - Francis Lawrence

All it takes is one spark to start a fire. And once it's started, a fire can be unstoppable. As long as it has enough fuel, it will burn ever hotter and brighter until it is extinguished.

From a tribute to a victor, then from a victor to a rebel, then from a rebel to the face of a war.

There are 6 parts in this book.
Part 1: The Hunger Games Catches Fire
Part 2: Moving Forward
Part 3: Expanding the World of Panem
Part 4: Designing the Arena
Part 5: Creating Costumes, Designing Faces
Part 6: Looking Ahead

A perfect adaptation. Good to see some pre-production sketch. So proud that Indonesian Designer, Tex Saverio, is the designer of Katniss's Wedding Dress. I love the whole cast and crew to the moon and back.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved the insights to my favorite movie ❤️ i should have read this way sooner and i also need the bts book from the first movie

[Molly Bynum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually read the shooting script but there’s no book on here for that so I’m logging this instead. This movie is perfect

[FrontalNerdaty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great ‘behind the scenes’ look at the making of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Much like the first of these ‘masking of’ books author Kate Egan shows a passion and a good level of insight not often afforded to YA movies/ adaptations.
Whilst the first book was lacking in depth this book makes up for it. Aspects of the film are discussed with reasonable length and a variety of talent from the actors to the costume designers are interviewed to give a greater understand of what went in to making the movie.
The chapters on set design were a particular highlight as it shows that whilst the team could’ve relied on purely CGI to bring the arena to life, much more of it was built than the viewer would know.
There are a selection of pictures throughout that do a lot of the talking but the text itself is an easy to read companion.

Whilst it never truly goes in depth as to be a bit dry, this book like the novels and the film audience does not talk down to the reader. It’s just a shame they never released any Mockingjay books.

4/5.

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was good but for some reason I wasn't as excited as reading The Hunger Games Illustrated Movie Companion and I'm not sure why, since Catching Fire is my favorite book and movie of the series. Probably because I knew a lot of the stuff already, just not the subtle things they did with detailing. Maybe it felt kind of like a repeat of the first one, just more in depth if that makes any sense. At first when I was reading The Hunger Games Movie Companion, I wanted the Catching Fire one so bad since I thought it would be just as great. But now I'd rather have The Hunger Games Movie Companion after reading this. Not sure why either.

[Jackiex3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zur Zeit liebe ich es einfach solche Bücher zwischen durch zu lesen und mehr über die Filme zu erfahren oder die Verbindung zu Buch und Film! :)
Deswegen finde ich auch dieses Buch einfach nur top. Man erfährt eine Menge über Dinge, über die man sich eigentlich noch gar keine Gedanken gemacht hat, aber trotzdem so wichtig für die Umsetzung ist. Dazu liest man aber auch Sachen, die viele Fragen beantworten!
Viele Bilder zum Verständnis sind auch dabei.
Ich empfehle das Buch also nur weiter, wenn man die Filme von Panem mag und mehr über die Hintergründe erfahren möchte. :)

[Faith Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this for my wife as a Christmas gift & she loved it! It is well composed & contains tons of great behind the scenes info that fans will definitely appreciate.

The cover is very nice & the illustrations are great as well. The book itself is also put together very well.

Although the spine had minor damage upon arrival it did show up on time. The damage on the spine may very well have been the fault of the mail carrier so I cannot hold the seller accountable.

Over all a great buy & awesome addition to your Hunger Games collection

[Gregisdead121 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect for diehards.

A much appreciated peek into all the hardwork and effort that goes into the making of a blockbuster whilst being a time capsule for the phenomenon that gripped the world and teenagers every (and issued a volley of poor YA wannabes).
This has made ne appreciate Lawrence (the director) a lot more because of how his vision contrasted that of the first director of the first film by honning in on what made this book such a moment in Y.A literature.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved Catching Fire – it's a solid five stars from me! Suzanne Collins really nailed it.
The tension was palpable right from the off; I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. You really feel for Katniss and Peeta and what they go through. And Finnick? What a brilliant new character!
The Arena was mind-blowing, utterly terrifying, and that ending... blimey! Left me desperate for the next book.
All in all, a masterpiece and a definite must-read. Couldn't recommend it more highly!

[Chrisanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never read the original series (too violent for me), even though Suzanne Collins is a skilled author. Gregor the Overlander broke me enough that I knew this one would probably destroy me emotionally.

Never actually watched one of these films all the way either (also too violent for me). But I could watch the non- violent clips all day. The film's all around quality is, in my entirely biased and uneducated opinion, fairly good.

This book is fun but also so much wish fulfillment for the fans.

[auds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great companion to the film, I would’ve loved this as a kid when the movie came out. It’s been 11 years so I already knew everything in the book, but this provides a lot of insight on the behind the scenes of filmmaking, especially one of Catching Fire’s caliber.

[Erica Larsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very magazine-article vibes and quite surface-level, but a good lunch break read and especially while I'm back in my THG era. (And ESPECIALLY while I don't foresee myself rewatching 5 whole movies before the SoTR movie comes out this fall.... good refresher on movie canon.)

[mailen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot more words than I was expecting but I learnt a lot about the creation of this movie — like that it only took 89 days to shoot! Lots of insight into mainly the set designs/locations but also costumes and makeup and the hiring process of the new actors.

[Sophie Humphreys]

Read it in school because the class had finished most work for the year early. Really amazing book with a thick plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. Definitely recommend to 2000s teen dystopia lovers. If you liked Divergent and Maze Runner, you'll love this!

[piscesmilk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good dystopian that ends in justice.

[Natala Kłosowska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dobre bo to igrzyska lecz nie moja ulubiona część.

[BookLoversLife · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do wish this went into more detail but I'm happy with what I read. Love seeing how they did everything and the behind the scenes parts. Great for any collection.

[Sofía · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro simplemente impresionante

[Arrianna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing! So much detail. 😁

[Rosalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love it. my most fav scène is when Peeta's heart stopped and Finnick fixed it. The emotions I felt while reading were amazing

[James Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very short review here. Absolutely fantastic photographs, a good bit of information blended together into a definite must-have for anyone like me who loved the entire series!

[Sati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book, I find it fantastic and with a good plot

[Sejanus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started: August 6, 2022
Finished: August 8, 2022