A solid and serviceable sequel to the Hunger Games

Rating: 7/10 (23 November 2014)

I had written that the first movie left me with an empty feeling in terms of what was served up as I wanted more than what was given to me and some of the void from that was filled with Catching Fire which is a more than serviceable sequel to the original Hunger Games. Just when you thought that Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson)had graduated from the whole Hunger Games experience, think again as they are now thrust right back into the action after completing their little "victory tour" in an effort to keep the rebellious population in tow. It was definite improvement from the first film as it is better in just about every way, from improved character development to better special effects and better acting from not just the new members of the cast including Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Amanda Plummer, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jeffrey Wright but also from returning cast members Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Banks and Stanley Tucci. They were all good in their own way but if I had to single out individuals here, it would be Woody Harrelson who gives a better performance this time around as more of his character is explored and gives an understated performance here, Donald Sutherland who thrives on more screen time than in the previous film, showing us that he is the brutal dictator of Panem and that he will get his way, his scenes with the granddaughter are well done and Philip Seymour Hoffman who is always a treat to watch him hone his craft and who plays one of the more complex individuals in the film as there seems to be more than meets the eye with his character but then again, that he is what he is known for, just blending in to his environment like a true character actor attempts to do. In terms of the leads, Lawrence and Hutcherson's chemistry goes up a notch from the first movie as they have shown more matureness and their coupling seems more and more believable as the film goes on. So if this is anything to go by, the sequels should be just as impressive. Positives for the movie include, once again, the chemistry between the two leads, the supporting cast of which some I have notably highlighted as well as the film feeling more mature and darker than the first one and some negatives could be Liam Hemsworth and his chemistry with Lawrence but in fairness I might give him the benefit of the doubt as that may be the fault of the screenwriter here, a couple of characters looking like passengers- say for example the guy who plays Commander Thread as he had shown a little bit of promise but ultimately that promise disappeared. Overall, a solid sequel and worth watching.