OVERALL: Oh Wow! YES!! This was everything I wanted it to be and more!! LOVED it!

POINTS: A seamless, more powerful movie than the first, The Hunger Games. This movie is beautifully made, perfectly cast and acted, and will leave you wanting more. Thank goodness there are two sequels!!!

Note that the acting is fantastic in this movie. Fantastic!!!!!! Every character is perfectly cast. The director, Francis Lawrence, did a masterful job with this movie and let his perfect cast do their job.

PITFALLS: I would have loved another 30 minutes to one hour plus. More of the tributes would have been good. I have seen the movie twice in one week and want to see it again. It is a great movie to fall into. Then again, as far as pitfalls go, this really isn’t one. 🙂

FEMALE CHARACTER(S): Katniss Everdeen. Oh just say it people: Katniss Everdeen! She is a fantastic character. What is so cool about Katniss is that in the books, everything is her POV, she is narrating. You find yourself drawn to a young woman who has been feeding and caring for her family since the age of 11. She is aware of her own thoughts, others opinions and ideas, and the perception of the society around her. The power of the books/movies for me is watching Katniss navigate the world, doing the best to not hurt people and stay alive.

CULTURAL PITFALL(S): I’m pretty happy with this movie. But. what does bother me is how the media and fans focus on the “love triangle” of Katniss, Peeta, and Gale. I find it offensive and sexist that we have to reduce a story about a women surviving against incredible odds to a love story. To make this a “Twilight” story just disgusts me. Oh good grief!!!!!

HIGH POINT(S): All of it.  *[SPOILER ALERT]*   But as I write this the moment that is sticking out in my mind is Jennifer Lawrence’s face – the last thing you see before the flaming mockingjays and the credits. So many emotions play across her face – fantastic! You read about such things, emotions playing across a person’s face, but it is hard to find in reality. Jennifer Lawrence delivered.  END *[SPOILER ALERT]*

Speaking of Jennifer Lawrence, let me reduce myself to a squeeing fangirl. Ms. Lawrence has true star power. She leaps off the screen. Feel sorry for anyone sharing screen time with her because you must watch her. She is charismatic in the way that only a handful of stars are. She is talented, beautiful, feisty, and luminous. I salute this marvelous young woman and I am very glad she is in this world and acting. Jennifer, I am a fan! She deserves every award she will get. Another Oscar for Best Actress just might be in the mix as well.

BECHDEL TEST (Website): 3 of 3! The movie passed with flying colors!! Many women talking or, in Mags’ case, communicating with each other about all kinds of things – mostly about the game itself. So excellent.

IMDB: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

OFFICIAL MOVIE WEBSITE:  The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

DVD/BLU-RAY WORTHY: Yes yes yes!! I want it now.

 LION PAW PRINTS:  5 of 5. Yes. The movie is that good. It is amazing.

EDIT: Huzzah to the ladies!!!! Check out this Pinterest link or check out the picture below to read some wisdom. These young women know Katniss is a great role model and the story is about survival. Team Katniss All the Way!!