The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) is directed by Francis Lawrence and once again stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Huterson, and Liam Hemsworth. The story picks up after the events of the first Hunger Games film with Katniss and Peeta on a winners tour through the various districts. Katniss’ victory in the first film has initiated a brewing rebellion and President Snow is intent on punishing her one way or another. Every 25 years, a glorified version of The Hunger Games known as The Quarter Quell takes place. Snow announces that the current Quarter Quell will exclusively feature winners of previous Hunger Games. In expected fashion, Katniss and Peeta are once again thrust into the game and must survive under the controlling eye of legendary returning game maker, Plutarch Heavansbee (Portrayed by the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman). Catching Fire succeeds in being a strong follow-up to the first film while also exceeding it in some key ways. That partly has to do with the improved performances of almost the entire cast.

Nearly everyone’s performance takes a step here. As well, the sporadically awkward dialogue of the first film’s script is mostly absent except for one key line in the climax that I thought came across as forced. We even get more development of side characters such as Elizabeth Banks’ Effie Trinket. In the first film I criticized her for coming across very much like Dolores Umbridge from the Harry Potter series, but here she is really able to distinguish herself as a character. Lenny Kravitz’s Cinna is also elevated here, giving some good emotional beats in the early stages of the film. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is always a welcome addition and elevates the film similar to just about every movie he has ever been a part of. Likewise welcome are the new cast additions such as Sam Caflin’s charming Finnick Odair, Jenna Malone’s flirty and furious Johanna Mason, and Jeffrey Wright’s socially awkward Beetee. We also get much more of Donald Sutherland’s President Snow here and he is just as intimidating. Though, by the end of the film he does come across as a kind of stooge. 

The film does a good job of feeling like a natural continuation to the first film. The winner tour to begin the film is consistently entertaining, but I wish they would’ve taken the opportunity to show some of the districts/world beyond districts eleven, twelve, and the capital. I’m glad they chose to show some effective character moments relating to Katniss’ PTS as well as the understandable anger and fear that she feels once she learns she will have to fight in The Hunger Games once again. The story/script is much more mature and dark this time around, with the larger stakes being more present than the first film. Throughout the film, Katniss is slowly pulled toward being the symbol of the rebellion, and the film doesn’t shy away from her reluctance to do so. I appreciate that the film took its time to play out that character arc. The first half of the film really takes time to build out the world and conflicts beyond the game with lots of good intrigue, political chess, and subtle power plays. Besides some once again spotty CGI creatures that appear during the game, the visuals are also a huge step up here. You can definitely see the budget increase on screen here. The love story from the first is expanded on here in effective ways, mostly being able to avoid the sometimes distracting melodrama of the first film. The characters here treat romance within their situation in a way that is mature and avoids cringe. The game is fun once again and the film does a great job of balancing the fact that the audience really wants to see the games because of their irresistible nature once with the fact that it might seem derivative to show them once again. Snow’s manipulation of the event is a believable, effective, and simple way to get it done. Relating to the ending twist of the film, I struggle to believe that they couldn’t let Katniss in on the plan in some way. I understand that there weren’t many opportunities and the risk was high, but she seems to be THE ONLY person who doesn’t know. That doesn’t really seem like they were keeping the plan that close to the chest if you ask me. Not to mention that all of the allies she could’ve killed during the game because of the simple fact that she wasn’t in the loop even slightly. Also, Jabber-Jays? Really? Where are all these mutated monster animals coming from? No explanation there at all. In the end though, the climactic cliffhanger does deliver the ending stakes that I was craving from the end of the first film.

All in all, this is one of the better sequels I’ve seen. It improves on nearly every aspect of the first film, only suffering from the inherent fact that this doesn’t really work as a stand alone film in any way whatsoever. Some silly YA elements still pop up from time to time but this is mostly a surprisingly adult story, with dark themes and occurrences.This movie made me really excited for the next installment, and I can’t say that about too many franchises nowadays. Although some of its weaker elements hold it back from being a masterpiece, this is a surprisingly good film. B+