A tightly paced science-fiction adventure that's a success in every way.

Rating: 8/10 (17 January 2014)

I was curious when I found out that a different director was going to be hired to direct the sequel to The Hunger Games (2012). I liked what Gary Ross did with the first film though there was certainly a shortage of thrills. When Francis Lawrence was hired to direct Catching Fire in May of 2012 I became skeptical. He directed three films before and they had some problems. Constantine (2005) is stylish and entertaining but slightly misses the mark. I Am Legend (2007) is mildly invigorating but unmemorable. Water For Elephants (2011) is an interesting but formulaic romantic drama. But Lawrence clearly got better because Catching Fire is a sophisticated film that's filled with thrills. Lawrence got to work with a budget of $140 million, which is almost twice the budget of The Hunger Games. It shows because improvements in sets and special-effects are noticeable from the beginning. The districts are shown with detail. The Quarter Quell arena looks fantastic. The procession of the chariots makes you feel as though you're in the Capitol, the futuristic Rome. It's clear that the filmmakers put as much effort in the political intrigue of the story as in the action. The performances from Donald Sutherland and Philip Seymour Hoffman are very good. Sutherland brings a sense of menace to Coriolanus Snow that wasn't really there in the first film. It's like in the great 1985 war drama Come And See because the acting is so good that watching characters interact is a treat. Jennifer Lawrence delivers a more confident performance this time. Her promotional tour for the film was certainly eventful. She talked about her hair, weight issues, kissing, on-set injuries and so on. The videos sure were funny. Josh Hutcherson got better too. Now he's not the bland Peeta Mellark of the first film. He has more to do, and he's becoming a real companion for Katniss Everdeen. It's interesting that Jena Malone got the part of Johanna Mason. She's been in several good films but she hasn't had this level of fame before. Malone definitely makes an impression in the arena. The pair of Malone and Sam Claflin lights up the grim situation of the Quarter Quell. Claflin clearly studied how to use a trident, and he gained weight for the role. He does a good job as Finnick Odair, and he sure does look different from his role in Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011). James Newton Howard's music score for Catching Fire offers a good mix of stoic melodies and bold action cues. The entertaining soundtrack features some of pop and rock's biggest names. The singles included are Atlas by Coldplay, Elastic Heart by Sia Furler, and We Remain by Christina Aguilera. But my favorite tracks are Mirror by Ellie Goulding and Shooting Arrows At The Sky by Santigold. With Catching Fire Francis Lawrence managed to appease both the fan base and the viewers unfamiliar with the story. It's a step up from the first film in every way. The costumes are better too, though I didn't like the new Peacekeeper uniforms. In a world after Harry Potter Catching Fire stands out from other schmaltzy young adult films. It's an intelligent blockbuster that's also brutal. That's a real success if you consider its PG-13 rating. I recommend it.