The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG-13)
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This is the second movie in the Hunger Games franchise. It came out in 2013, and I saw it just a couple years later. Of course, by then the third movie had already been out for about a year, and the fourth movie was just a few months away. Anyway, I didn't remember a lot of details from the first movie when I watched this, but it wasn't hard to pick up again. There are some details I left out of my review of the first movie, to avoid spoilers, but I must catch you up, before getting into this movie. Um... so basically, Katniss had inspired people in the districts to start thinking about rebellion against the Capitol. (Maybe some rebellion had actually started, but it wasn't a major thing, yet.) She and Peeta were both allowed to survive the 74th Hunger Games, because the rules had been changed for them, due to popular demand, or something. All this made President Snow very upset. And the Gamemaker, Seneca Crane, was presumably killed for his failure.

At the start of the second movie, we can tell that Katniss and Gale are developing a closer relationship. However, it's complicated by the fact that the general public believes Katniss and Peeta are a couple, and that's something they're required to play up for the public's benefit. If they don't... both their families would be in great danger. Anyway, the two of them are going on a tour of the twelve districts, once again accompanied by Haymitch and Effie. (Effie still has all the qualities I found annoying in the first movie, but in this one we gradually see that she's actually kind of a decent person.) Meanwhile, Seneca has been replaced by a new Head Gamemaker, Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Throughout the film, at different times, it seems like he could either be on Katniss's side or President Snow's. Either way, he comes up with a special plan for the 75th Hunger Games, which is also the third Quarter Quell, which happens every 25 years. This time, Plutarch decided that the tributes would be selected exclusively from previous victors (which isn't really fair, since the rules specifically said no victor would ever have to compete again). Of course this means that Katniss and Peeta become District 12's tributes for the second year in a row.

The Games didn't actually start til probably a little more than halfway through the movie. But as was the case with the first movie, I almost felt like this one actually consisted of two movies. Anyway, Katniss and Peeta need to acquire allies, though of course they can't really trust anyone... and this time, it's not like two people will be allowed to survive, as happened last year. But they team up with a guy named Finnick Odair, and an old woman named Mags (both from District 4). And um... there are all kinds of additional dangers in the arena, not just the other tributes. But I don't want to spoil any of that. The group eventually gets a few more allies, District 3's Wiress (Amanda Plummer) and Beetee (Jeffrey Wright), and District 7's Johanna Mason (Jena Malone). And... well, eventually things get weird. Things happen that I don't want to spoil. I'll just say it sets the stage for the next movie (and I'll explain more when I see that).

So... I guess I liked this slightly more than the first movie (though it's hard to be sure). It just seems like things are getting a lot more dramatic. All the citizens of the various districts are getting closer to open rebellion, even as President Snow's "Peacekeepers" are cracking down harder than ever. Meanwhile, Katniss herself just wants to do whatever she has to, to protect her family and friends and pretty much all the innocent citizens. She doesn't want to be a symbol, and I can't say I blame her. But she has no choice... she's in the kind of situation that I've always referred to as "a corner painting itself around you." And it's frustrating as hell, so I feel really bad for her. But at the same time, it's becoming clearer and clearer that the Capitol is just plain evil and needs to be taken out. Rebellion is inevitable and necessary, and Katniss has an abundance of reasons to be pissed off. So I'm really looking forward to seeing her finally accept her destiny and do what needs to be done. She's always been pretty tough, but I don't think we've yet seen her reach her true potential. I fully expect her to take a level in badass, in the next movie....