Parents' Guide to The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

This sequel manages to be gripping and emotional, despite the need for more exposition and new characters. Fans will be relieved to see that The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is just as impressive an adaptation as the original film. Middle installments of trilogies are typically the toughest to master, and with the exception of The Empire Strikes Back, The Two Towers, and a few others, often the least interesting; that's not the case here. Director Francis Lawrence ably picks up the helm from Gary Ross and keeps a strong balance between the character development, the socio-political overtones (more of Sutherland's brilliantly acted cold-hearted oligarch!), and the violent action of the Arena. Luckily for him, his star is an Academy Award winner who can carry a franchise with both vulnerability and strength. And Lawrence's off-screen friendship with Hutcherson shines through in their on-screen chemistry, which is as sweet and gentle as author Suzanne Collins describes.

The film is incredibly faithful to the story, though purists may quibble about some missing moments in District 12 before Katniss and Peeta head to the Quarter Quell. The story provides more of the triangle between Katniss and her two love interests—budding revolutionary best friend Gale and the steadfastly kind and charming Peeta. The returning ensemble is all back and clearly relishing their characters, like Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz, and Elizabeth Banks as a talk show host, stylist, and handler, respectively. Additions to the cast include veteran actors Jeffrey Wright and Amanda Plummer as fellow Tributes Beetee and Wiress and Philip Seymour Hoffman as new Gamemaster Plutarch Heavensbee; all are fabulous in their secondary roles. Jena Malone is perfectly cast as the confrontational and angry young Tribute Johanna Mason, and Sam Claflin may not have the American accent down, but he's still fine as the dashing and brave Finnick Odair. Ultimately, Catching Fire is Katniss' story, and the audience will once again be grateful that Lawrence is so effortlessly natural as one of young adult literature's most memorable heroines.