In a year where with “Batman,” “Avengers,” “James Bond,” and “Twilight,” there was one film franchise that had a lot of work to do. “The Hunger Games” took the world by storm, receiving critical and universal acclaim with its powerful themes and the wonderful acting of Jennifer Lawrence. Now over a year later, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” will continue the success of this franchise.

Even with new director Francis Lawrence, he’s able to pick up right where the first film leaves off. “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” will take the world by storm again as the “The Hunger Games Trilogy” seems to be the new must-watch event.

“Catching Fire” opens up with Katniss (Lawrence) and Gale (Hemsworth) saying goodbye before she goes out on her victory tour throughout the 12 Districts with Peeta (Hutcherson). Before she goes, he leaves her with a kiss — which makes things interesting considering it was her love story with Peeta that allowed her to survive the previous years Hunger Games. Katniss and Peeta are joined on their Victory Tour by Haymitch (Harrelson) and Effie (Banks), and the pair guide the two star-crossed lovers and how they should act and speak. Their first stop is District 12…which hits Katniss right in the heart as it’s the District of Rue…the one she couldn’t save. While the Victory Tour is going on, there are murmurs and whispers of a possible revolution which concerns President Snow (Sutherland).

Snow and new gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee (Hoffman) know that they must come up with something to destroy the hope the people feel after the 74th Hunger Games. President Snow believes that Katniss’s ‘species’ must be eradicated…so he comes up with a genius and extremely evil plan to get his way. Every 25 years, the Capitol celebrates the Quarter Quell and with this being the 75th Annual Hunger Games, he decides that the tributes for this years games will be reaped from the existing winners of each District. What this means is that Katniss will be forced to take part in the games again while it’ll be between Peeta and Haymitch for District 12. They will have to face the victors of the other 11 Districts as well, which makes for games that are much more memorable and so much more intense than previously seen before.

What makes “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” superior over its predecessor has to be the work of the cast involved. A majority of actors and actresses from the first movie reprise their roles and they all bring their A-game again. Jennifer Lawrence, as usual, is truly remarkable and is the best part of the film.But the new supporting cast…they put this film over the top. Phillip Seymour Hoffman continues to be one of the best actors in any generation of cinema. Jena Malone and Sam Claflin, who play Johanna Mason and Finnick Odair, both are a breath of fresh air into the franchise and both bring a bit of snark, wit, and sexiness to their roles. Malone in particular has one of the most memorable entrances in any film I remember and right off the bat, you just know she’s having a lot of fun.

What helps “Catching Fire” the most is that this world has already been introduced to us in the previous film. Screenwriters Simon Beaufoy and Michael Arndt don’t have to worry about setting up this universe which allows them to focus on the story, the characters, and the emotion and they do not disappoint. Francis Lawrence does an incredible job, balancing the themes of “The Hunger Games” universe as if he’s been there all along. “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” isn’t just a great sequel, but a great movie that’s led by Academy Award winning actress Jennifer Lawrence.

“Catching Fire” is now playing.

-Joshua Kaye

On Wednesday evening, Vanity Fair and Dior hosted the New York premiere of the film at AMC Lincoln Square. Cast Jennifer Lawrence, Producer Jon Kilik, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Hemsworth,Philip Seymour Hoffman, Stanley Tucci, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Jeffrey Wright, Director Francis Lawrence were in attendance in addition to Common and Victor Cruz.