Catching Fire

PG-13
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Willow Shields, Paula Malcolmson, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Donald Sutherland
Running Time: 2 Hours and 26 Minutes

Once again Jennifer Lawrence returns as Katniss Everdeen in the second installment of the extremely popular Hunger Games series: "Catching Fire".
She returns home safely after being the victor with her fellow tribute Peeta Mellard (Josh Hutcherson) after they win the 74th Annual Hunger Games. They are required to go on the Victor's Tour where they are paraded around like royalty and treated the same when they start to sense a rebellion on the horizon.
With the 75th games just around the corner, she become worried and concerned. Not wanting to depart her family, especially her younger sister Primrose Everdeen (Willow Shields) and her boyfriend Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) she reluctantly leaves. Katniss and Peeta board a train and they are immediately forced into training for the next games.
They pair up with another unusual couple where the mayhem begins. A very powerful and deadly poisonous gas starts to consume them and then they encounter an entire herd of very violent and hungry mandrills!
Needless to say this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I personally, am not a huge fan of the series, finding young people dueling to their death very disturbing!  I also think that it is really creepy that President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) take such great thrill and enjoyment in watching these people suffer and die at their expense!
However, I did enjoy this movie more than I did the original. The special effects were incredible and the costumes and different characters were fun to see. I also did enjoy the ending very much!
Parents be advised, it is rated PG-13 for several reasons. First of course, is the violence and the terror they encounter. The killer smoke and the wild mandrills are very intense! There is also some swearing and intimidation from President Snow..
I am giving "Catching Fire" three bags of popcorn.