Over-indulgent action sequences makes an overly-long film, writes Christine Powley.
Director: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Paula Malcomson, Willow Shields, Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz
Rating: (M)
4 stars out of 5
Here we are, back in the grim future revisiting the nation of Panem, a place whose only redeeming feature is the ferocity of its reality TV programming.
Katriss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) have won their session of ''Ultimate Survivor'', but things are no better on the home front. Winning her first Hunger Games did not give Katriss her old life back.
Instead she is forced to keep playing the role that saved her in the games, the dewy-eyed young lover of the wrong boy, or is he?
Afraid that she can not be tamed President Snow (Donald Sutherland) has decided to get rid of all the winners and hold an All Stars session.
So The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Rialto) has Katriss re-enrolled in the Hunger Games only this time she is fighting against adults.
Realistically, this should be a short film and the series would end here, but Katriss is not just handy with a bow and arrow, she is also a tactical thinker who no longer feels bound by the rules. As a non-fan I enjoyed this second instalment until the games began. Watching Katriss and Peeta's victory tour of the other districts is absorbing but we spend too much time on it.
Because of the dedicated fan base this film indulges itself, and them, with a blow-by-blow retelling of the book.
They did not take in the lesson of the Harry Potter films, which got better the tighter they became.
Best thing: The deconstruction of the false emotion of those big-time knockout talent shows is savage and quite wonderful.
Worst thing: The way Jennifer Lawrence says Peeta's name reminded me more and more of Lois in Family Guy.
See it with: Someone with a well-thumbed copy of the book at home.
