This movie was on fire. It is the second installment to the series based off the book by Suzanne Collins, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” There cannot be enough praise for this movie. The transition from book to movie was worked wonderfully. The characters were portrayed even better than the book in some cases.

Warning: Spoilers ahead.

My favorite castings had to be Johanna, Mags, Finnick, and Wiress. Johanna was played by Jena Malone, who also had a role in the movie “Sucker Punch.” She was tough and snarky, just like Johanna was in the book. The scene in the elevator where she stripped down was so hilarious. This was especially because they added Haymitch into the elevator, unlike in the book when it was just Katniss and Peeta with Johanna. It made it all the better when Johanna winked at Haymitch.

Mags is played by Lynn Cohen, and she touched my heart without uttering even a word. Her interactions with Finnick were so sweet. Even as I knew she would die, I still cried when she ran into that deadly fog.

Finnick was perfect. Sam Claflin, who has also been in movies such as “Snow White and The Huntsman” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” took on the role of this sexy and mysterious man very well. The scene where he offered the sugar cube to Katniss was worded perfectly from the book, and I was so glad they included the part about him dealing in secrets, because it’s important to the story later on.

Wiress was played by Amanda Plummer who I recognized from an episode of “Law and Order: SVU” where she played a schizophrenic. Turns out she’s really good at playing crazy people as Wiress stumbled around the arena with her famous line, “Tick tock.”

For Haymitch, he was just as funny with added parts that were genius. I loved how they portrayed Effie in this movie. They gave her a more emotional standing than in the last movie, because she really does care about Peeta and Katniss. During the scene where she calls Katniss for the Reaping of the 75th Hunger Games the look on her face betrayed all the sadness and regret Effie felt.

Prim and Gale developed well in this movie. No longer did we see the young, innocent sister of Katniss. We saw the brave, kind Primrose. When she treated Gales wounds, she was all business. Not even hesitating to give him a shot of morphine when her mother was unable to and telling Katniss she didn’t need protecting, she could take care of herself. Gale was fierce, working in the coal mines, kissing Katniss, and saving a woman from getting beaten. He took lashes from the whip, which was a very gripping scene especially when Katniss rushes in to save him and ends up with a gun pointed at her head. Luckily Haymitch showed up to save them both.

Peeta, played by Josh Hutcherson, was just as kind and caring in this movie, if even more so. His painting of Rue on the floor of the training room was so beautiful. I wish they had included the part where Peeta showed Katniss his paintings of her and scenes from the games on the train. It’s good that they still had Peeta telling Katniss his favorite color, which is sunset orange, because of its significance later in the story.

Jennifer Lawrence did a marvelous job playing Katniss. Her trauma from the previous games, her inability to choose between Gale and Peeta, the drama of the victory tour especially when she made that speech in District Eleven, her interactions with President Snow, how she reacted when Peeta hit the force field nearly ending his life, and the reveal of the wedding dress into the mockingjay were all played excellently. Her role was powerful as she ignited the rebellion within the districts, becoming a symbol of hope for those longing for a better world.

The deaths in this movie were definitely harder to take than the previous movie, because we got to know most of the tributes that reentered the Hunger Games. The worst ones were probably Cinna and Mags. With Cinna, he is beaten then dragged away presumably getting killed later as he never shows up again. Mags and the Female Morphling both sacrificed themselves to save Katniss and Peeta, which was difficult to watch.

My favorite add on to the movie was President Snow, played by Donald Sutherland, shown being with his granddaughter. Played by Erika Bierman, this little girl idolized Katniss. In the most ironic way, she looked up to Katniss while President Snow was planning Katniss’ downfall. This connection makes you realize how popular Katniss was not only in the districts but within the Capital as well.

The only other important thing missing from the movie was when Plutarch Heavensbee, the head gamemaker, was dancing with Katniss at a party when he said he was late for a meeting at 12 midnight and showed her the pocket watch that lit up with a symbol of the mockingjay, which ultimately helps Katniss figure out that the arena is a clock. They did not include this part in the movie, but it was a minor thing.

This is the best movie I have seen all year. As an avid fan of the Hunger Games trilogy, I can’t wait to see the next movie, Mockingjay. Go see Catching Fire, in theaters now.

5/5 Stars