Feels less like the first half of a conclusion to a film trilogy than a 2-hour pilot for a TV series, but it's a show I'd want to keep watching. Catching Fire exceeded all of my expectations and while this wasn't on that level it still has a lot of stuff that makes it stand out from the young adult entertainment fold. There's somewhat more than surface-deep political ambiguity but its real appeal is its tendency toward quiet reflective moments in natural surroundings, for which I guess it sacrifices action. I'm sure Part 2 will have a fair amount of that.
The real-time approach means a huge proportion of the film is set aside for the climactic boxing match, which is good for showcasing Ryan's dedication to his craft but bad if the viewer, like me, doesn't have much interest in boxing. That said I can't say I wasn't entertained throughout. The ending is an insufficient payoff; I'm not sure whether it's good or bad that it avoids a more predictable but oomphier resolution.
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