a richly satisfying second installment

Rating: Null/10 (25 March 2019)

They thought they'd made it out alive, but the games have only just begun. Having survived the 74th annual Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta return to District 12 as heroes, and prepare for their victory tour. Not wanting to be shown up by their bold act of defiance, the Capitol keeps a watchful eye over the two victors, and attempts to quell recent uprisings inspired by their courage. To send a message, President Snow announces that the third Quarter Quell of the games will involve tributes selected from previous victors, all but guaranteeing that Katniss and Peeta will once again have to compete, only this time it's an entirely new game where they're pitted against trained killers. Impressive and emotionally gripping follow-up takes little time to get started and delivers with spectacular effects sequences, a clever assortment of new dangers, tense action scenes, and some unforgettable additions to the cast (played to perfection by Hoffman, Clafin, and especially Malone). About as good a follow-up as you could hope for, one that's enjoyable even if you're not a dedicated fan of the source material. ***½