The sequel to the wildly successful 2012 film is directed by Francis Lawrence and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Elizabeth Banks, Jena Malone and Sam Claflin. When Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Hutcherson) embark on their Victory Tour after winning the 74th Hunger Games, they notice that there is unrest in the Districts, and early signs of a possible uprising. President Snow (Sutherland), senses this too, and realizes that Katniss, after defying the Capitol with the poisonous berries in the Hunger Games, has become the people's symbol of hope. To remedy this situation, Snow and Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee (Seymour Hoffman) decree that the 75th Hunger Games, or the 3rd Quarter Quell, will be unique in that the Tributes will be chosen from the Districts' past victors. This means that Katniss and Peeta must return to the arena and fight for their lives again, much to the dismay of Gale (Hemsworth), and Katniss's sister, Primrose (Willow Shields). This time, they will be up against much stronger tributes, including the charming but deadly Finnick Odair (Claflin) and the sassy but lethal Johanna Mason (Malone). What I like most about the Hunger Games films is that they are as true to the books as possible. The screenplay by Simon Beaufoy managed to take a large amount of content and weave it into a film that contains all of the book's important elements and that is not absurdly long; in fact, those two-and-a-half hours felt like much, much less. What I also enjoy about these films is that they do not try to be a cheeky fan girl love story (ahem, Twilight). The romance that is included is necessary to the story and quite subdued, and the heavier social commentary, as well as plenty of action and suspense, shines through. Of course, this film doesn't try to be a cinematic masterpiece, and you can't really describe as anything more than an action blockbuster. Nevertheless, in terms of blockbuster films, this one is about as good as they come.
Should you see it: Yes
Grade: B+
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