The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ****

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is better than first installment of this trilogy (or quartet, since I'm told the last volume will be made into two movies, a trick Hollywood now employs as often as prequels it seems). And thank goodness it is, because even the amazing Jennifer Lawrence and Katniss Everdeen could not have held our interest if all we had here was more of the same. Just about everything is better: the acting, the costumes, the special effects, even the fighting.

In "Catching Fire" Katniss and Peeta begin to enjoy the spoils of their victory in the brutal spectacle of children killing children of the first volume, when they learn what a charade they are meant to play. They have won a life of ease but must play their part in keeping the districts quiet and the capitol and its one percent in luxury. Then, with signs of rebellion surfacing, a new games is called, one that pits past winners against each other. This at least removes the most squirmy aspect of the first movie, with adults now hunting adults, and opens the possibilities of alliances.

I very much enjoyed this chapter, and its ineluctable movement toward revolution. Jennifer Lawrence continues her string of magnetic performances, with fine turns from Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Stanley Tucci. But I suppose the highest marks should go to the new director, Francis Lawrence.