Hungry for more?

Rating: 7/10 (5 December 2013)

http://www.yusufpoonawala.com/movie/the-hunger-games-catching-fire/
Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence reprises her role of Katniss Everdeen in this post apocalyptic sequel to the 2012 Hunger Games trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins.
Directed by I am Legend and Water for Elephants director, Francis Lawrence, who has also been finalised for the directing the remaining 2 sequels, Mockingjay 1 & 2, the film has screenplay by Simon Beaufoy and Michael deBruyn.
Josh Hutcherson (Journey to the Centre of the Earth) and Liam Hemsworth continue their roles of Peeta & Gale respectively.
The story resumes with the winning tributes of the 74th Hunger Games, Peeta & Katniss about to start their victory tour amongst the 12 Districts. President Snow (Donald Sutherland) visits Katniss at her residence and threatens her to convince the Districts about her love for Peeta, in order to suppress a rebellion, inspired by the suicide threat by Peeta and her in the Hunger Games.
Along the way, Snow announces the 75th Hunger Games which also is Panem's third Quarter Quell, a special edition of the game, held every 25 years, wherein the past winners have to participate. Here begins another round of guidance by Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson), competition and alliances with the other tributes, Jeffrey Wright, Sam Clafflin etc and a new game maker, Plutarch Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman).
The film does tend to drag in places, both before the games, but I guess the makers wanted to take their time to build the plot, but somehow it still feels that...dragging. The love triangle, becomes more prominent here, with Katniss
Rest, the film has its moments once the games are announced. Full marks to the team for creating the world of Panem, of despondency and excess, beautifully shown vide a drink consumed by the people in the Capitol, so it can make them sick, in order to have more food again!
Jennifer Lawrence is more at ease here than the first installment. Woody is a treat as the alcoholic mentor. Sutherland always is at his best in a negative role. It is Hoffman who provides the twists in the plot along with his flair.
Lets not forget good ol' spicy Stanley Tucci, who revs up the screen with his pearly whites. In terms of character developments, the real progress or change is only in the heart of Katniss, leading to the buildup of the love triangle for the grand finale....where am sure true love will conquer all.
The film ends on an interesting twist, sure to create the buzz for the 3rd book, Mockingjay which is being made into 2 parts, a la Potter.
Background score by James Newton Howard, cinematography by Jo Willems makes this a more interesting film to watch than the original, in my case.
Does it have The Y Factor : Yes
Rating : 3.5 / 5