Movie review - The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) / adventure, sci-fi

Directed by Francis Lawrence
Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy and Michael deBruyn
Based on Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Produced by Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones, Willow Shields, Sam Claflin, Lynn Cohen, Jena Malone, Amanda Plummer
Trailer: click.

Better than the first one but still far from great!

PLOT
As you probably know Catching Fire is the second installment in The Hunger Games trilogy. After winning the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) return home to District 12. President Snow (Donald Sutherland) visits Katniss and explains that her actions in the Games have inspired rebellions across the districts so he orders her to use the upcoming victory tour to convince everyone her actions were out of genuine love for Peeta, not defiance against the Capitol. Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) mentors them for new Games but competitors are more powerful than in the first Games and the question is who to trust (allies with)?

REVIEW
First of all, I definitely liked it better than the first film. It's more confident, they didn't shy away from the political aspects, the love triangle was put aside and Jennifer still brought amazing performance! Some other cast members were great as well, e.g. Jena Malone who plays the explosive Johanna. The film is visually intriguing and once again offers you thought-provoking themes. First part of the film is more strategic, while action starts in second part. I don't mind first half of the film at all but I'm totally disappointed in how film rushes towards the end and how the end is not well rounded. This ending not only doesn't resolve much but it ends with a cliffhanger so it forces you to watch the next sequel in order to get a satisfying resolution. More negatives. Poor poor dialogue and the fact that we don't get a chance to bond with the other tributes. Of course we don't care about them, we don't know them! I mean, the film is way too long (unnecessarily!) but they didn't have time to introduce us more to others? Average flick that's way overrated. 3/5