"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is back as Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) push through their Victor's Tour only to find themselves back in the arena.
The second film in the franchise takes place right after the duo's "Hunger Games" win. President Snow has warned Katniss to convince the districts she is no rebel and her intentions were always to save the love of her life from dying in the arena.
However, Katniss fails to convince her many admirers and President Snow enlists the help of Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee to create a "Quarter Quell" no one will ever forget.
Check out what critics had to say about the film below.
The Chicago Tribune gives the film 3 stars out of 5
"'Catching Fire' has the bonus of a genuinely charismatic performer at its center. Jennifer Lawrence, now an Oscar winner thanks to 'Silver Linings Playbook,' emotes like crazy throughout 'Catching Fire,' but you never catch her acting. It feels real, and Lawrence sees to it that we rarely experience the dramatic set-ups in terms of cheap revenge or conventional movie blood lust."
Tech site IGN gives the movie an 8.2 out of 10
"'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' is another strong installment in this confident series. Structurally, it's hard not to notice the close similarity to the first film, but within that familiar framework, there are some very emotional moments, delivered by a wonderful cast. Francis Lawrence proves to be a very solid choice as the new director for the series, maintaining the established tone, while doing away with the shaky cam stylism that put off some viewers."
What RottenTomatoes.com users had to say about "Catching Fire":
"Nearly every aspect of this film is as precise as its subtitle (Catching Fire). The second installment of the Hunger Games series is powerful, sleek and very-well directed. The film offers more than enough awe-inspiring visuals and action sequences. It nearly disregards the fact it's two-and-a-half hours long, as you want to continue to view this again and again. Catching Fire is remarkable and a major step up from the previous film. 5/5," user Eugene Bernabe wrote.
"Catching Fire is an astounding improvement from the last installment. Although the first was a well made movie, Catching Fire thrives on its fast paced plot, likable characters and fun twists and turns...This blockbuster series is definitely one to remember. 4/5," user Zach l. wrote.
