Decent sequel, hugely successful

Rating: 6/10 (15 October 2015)

Released in late 2013, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is the second film in the franchise based on Suzanne Collins' popular books. A new nation, Panem, exists in post-apocalyptic North America where Capitol is the seat of Panem's wealthy, eccentric populace and the cruel totalitarian government led by the pompous President Snow (Donald Sutherland). The winners of The Hunger Games depicted in the first film, Katniss & Peeta (Jennifer Lawrence & Josh Hutcherson), tour the districts to pacify the masses, but revolution is astir. So Snow declares another Hunger Game involving victors from all the districts where only one of 24 players will survive. Liam Hemsworth plays Katniss' boyfriend, Gale, while Philip Seymour Hoffman, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz and Elizabeth Banks play characters who seem to be on her side. Jena Malone is on hand as one of the players, amongst others.
I'm not a huge fan of The Hunger Games films, but I'll watch 'em. I gave the first one a 7/10. This sequel is a natural extension and it's decent, but nothing mind-blowing. Because of the franchise's built-in audience "Catching Fire" was a massive success at the box office. Jennifer makes for a worthy heroine and I appreciate the realistic tone and overall ambiance, as well as the entire dystopian concept.
The film runs 146 minutes and was shot in Georgia, O'ahu, New Jersey and California .
GRADE: B-