Can't Miss Katniss

Rating: 7/10 (10 December 2013)

Hype for a movie can be completely misleading (read Twilight). The first of the Hunger Games movies also wasn't up to the expectations. I only remember the blood shed and shaky cams from that one. This time, I wanted to play safe, so I checked out the credits. And they make the new Hunger Games movie quite credible.
Francis Lawrence dons the director's hat for the sequel (even the future ones) to make an adaptation that sports emotional depth and consistent storytelling. Who's Lawrence? As a director he's ventured us into the unknown realms with 'I Am Legend', 'Constantine' & 'Water For Elephants' (Awesome, Awesome & Lovely respectively). This time too he brings along his skills for uninterrupted, no fillers and sensitive storytelling.
Living in the limelight post their win in the last year's Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are again drawn into the arena to their fright to participate in Quarter Quell. This quarter centenary games involves participation of all living winners from each district. Only this time things have changed. People have found hope against the system in Katniss as a beacon. Her victory is showing sparks of revolt all around. Its only in time we will know how the system reacts.
The sequel is an overhaul of sensibilities. The fragility and the vulnerability of emotions among the ones who survived the horror of previous games is among the chief elements that were portrayed genuinely. Academy Award winner Simon Beufoy's (for 'Slumdog Millionaire') script is a thorough exercise in a build up to what will become of the revolution. Comparisons can be made with the first part of Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows which in a similar manner made only the story proceed and build anxiety for the action and showdowns in the sequels.
Overall the atmospherics make this movie worth the time. For me, my favorite Hollywood composer James Newton Howard's score supportingly provides the emotional leverage to the scenes. For me it's hard to believe, but I am already waiting for the sequels. Let the Mocking Jay take flight.