The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

To be honest I didn't really notice the filmmaking particularly because I was so engrossed by the story. Which probably means that director Francis Lawrence did a great job. Not amazing, I like to think I might have noticed that; but clearly good enough to be commissioned for the next two movies.

As with the first film, the cast were all solid: Jennifer Lawrence is a great Katniss; Woody Harrelson is very believable as the drunk, jaded tribute; Stanley Tucci is brilliantly smarmy as the game show host Caesar. Most notable new additions to the cast are Jeffrey Wright and the excellent Philip Seymour Hoffman. Once again Toby Jones is criminally underused, but I guess in a story with such rich and diverse characters it's hard to meaningfully fit in everyone you like.

I haven't read the books so I can’t really comment on the merit of the adaptation, though I’m beginning to think that perhaps I should read them. One thing I did notice was the lack of triptychs. They featured heavily in the first film, presumably mirroring the way the public viewed the games in the different sectors; but here they were notably absent.

I can’t really think of much more to say, which I’m sure is a good thing. I did really enjoy it, I should probably watch it again to be more critical. But, you know, that's just, like, my opinion man.