A supposedly action fantasy

Rating: 5/10 (26 November 2013)

The first instalment of this series became a success and a phenomenon largely due to the struggle that was put up by the main character in order to survive as well as conveying the moral that 'it is wrong to kill' even if it is part of the rules.
So, given that the "games" were so pivotal to this film why the makers of the movie wasted over 80 minutes of the audience's time before we were treated to any action? All this mumbo jumbo background gibberish made this for a largely dull experience. When a film is by definition a fantasy/action all this attempt to slowly build a subplot and explore additional mechanisms is in vain. Not to mention the constant switch from seeing our characters as powerful and able to effect change, were then deemed helpless pawns. So what were they?
Lack of imagination and creativity is what lacked in this film. The first instalment was also not entirely to my liking, but it offered plenty of thrills and a fine spectacle.
When the long overdue action did arrive, it was just too little too late and any enthusiasm for the upcoming sequels, has largely diminished.