By: Cynthia A.

Directed by: Francis Lawrence

Screenplay by: Simon Beaufoy & Michael Arndt

Based on Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Starring: Jennifer La  wrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Stanley Tucci & Donald Sutherland

A year has passed for Katniss Evergreen, but the nightmares of The Hunger Games that she was forced to participate in still haunt her nights, and her trick to save her life and Peeta’s has made her a target for President Snow.  An in the Districts chaos ensues, heralding Katniss as their spark, the lives of everyone she cares about are threatened.  In a desperate attempt to make an example, the 75th Annual Hunger Games bring together past victors, Katniss and Peeta once again find themselves in a fight for their very lives.

My god, that movie was amazing.  From the beginning the very end, it was emotional and gut wrenching.  If you haven’t read the books I must insist that you do.  But beside that, the movement and the adaptation of this novel into the movie was brilliant.  Jennifer Lawrence was an amazing, she captures the pain and the anguish that the character Katniss embodies as she struggles with living day to day, and the emotional rollercoaster she goes through both inside and outside the Hunger Games.  However, it wasn’t just her, the entire cast stood out perfectly, and with each death, your heart aches because they have already made you incredibly attached to the characters.  The very acting in this movie is spellbinding, not only becoming one with these characters, but also making them their own as they bring them to life.  My personal favorite would have to be Jena Malone as Johanna because she brought out a crazy and even fun loving side of the movie, even if it was for the briefest of moments.

The story, as it was told, was perfectly done.  It was explosive, emotional and gripping.  Watching it, you’re immediately sucked in.  The movement, the progression and show of how the last Hunger Games as affected the districts, while tying it tightly to Katniss and Peeta and just how powerfully they are affected is captured perfectly in the early moments of the film.  It moves fast effortlessly, grabs you hooks you and there is never a moment that is lost.  All the events, all the turmoil and the suffering in the story, it’s all captured and portrayed, told in such a powerful way. 

I will watch this movie again and again while it’s in theaters, just because it was so amazing, I saw no flaws within the movie, because it was so gripping and such a powerful film and story.  Now I’m even more excited to see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, but until then, I will be more than glad to spend more money on this film.  ★★★★ (A+)