It is rare for a sequel to be on par or surpass the quality of the original film. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire achieves this extraordinary distinction. Francis Lawrence takes over the directing duties from Gary Ross and delivers an astonishingly dark film. Catching Fire is thematically bleak, filled with dramatic subtext, and powerfully acted by an exceptional lead. There are no smiles here, no moments of levity or distraction whatsoever. Catching Fire faithfully adheres to the novel and burns across the screen with a fierce intent.

The story picks up with Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) embarking on a victory tour after winning the 74th annual Hunger Games. Their defiance, by surviving the games together, has sown a burgeoning rebellion in the districts against the oppressive rule of The Capitol and President Snow (Donald Sutherland). Snow is particularly wary of Katniss, and tells her in no uncertain terms that everything she loves will be destroyed if she stokes any further revolutionary sentiment. Needless to say, this is exactly what happens. Snow decides to deal with his Katniss problem once and for all by enacting a sinister plot for the 75th Hunger Games. Called The Quarter Quell, he decrees that the surviving winners from each district will fight to the last man. Katniss is chosen as the only female winner from her district. Peeta, in an act of courage and devotion to her volunteers, taking the place of Haymitch (Woody Harrelson). Snow employs a new games master, Plutarch Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), to create a deathtrap unparalleled from previous games. Both men want to take the aura of greatness from Katniss by framing her as a killer who will save herself at any cost, while brutally punishing the districts that support her.

There are many themes running concurrently throughout this film. The overarching story is the brewing rebellion and the drastic measures taken to suppress it. Francis Lawrence pulls no punches in showing ruthlessness. People are beaten to death, executed, destroyed en masse by the military. The threat of oppression is terrifyingly real. The stark nature of these scenes hammer in why Katniss has become so important. Every revolution needs a symbol, a rallying point for all to come together. Katniss, and the image of the Mockingjay, becomes the source of inspiration. Haymitch and the other victors understand this, as does Snow.

The romantic triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale (Liam Hemsworth) also comes into focus. While Katniss had played up the destined lovers angle to ensure her and Peeta's survival, something real develops between them. She loves Gale, but Peeta's courage and his unquestioned devotion to her sparks her loyalty as well. They are in the games together. I thought these scenes were fantastic. Love, devotion, its all here in spades. You can't even compare the garbage love triangle from the Twilight films to the remarkable character interaction on display in Catching Fire. It is completely believable.

Jennifer Lawrence is simply magnificent. She takes Katniss to levels of emotional distress that hits you like a freight train. We see her as afraid, forlorn, deeply anguished by the murderous nature of the games. But she's also courageous, a heroine for the ages. Lawrence doesn't hold back, giving a committed performance that drives the entire film. A pivotal scene shows her waking up from a nightmare, screaming, on the victory tour. Peeta rushes to her, and she asks him to stay with her. Clutching Peeta, with the world on her shoulders, we are reminded that Katniss is really just a girl facing impossible odds.

The film gets a bit bogged down in the second act, but that's negligible. There's a lot of plotting and foreshadowing being set up. We're introduced to several new characters that will have key roles in the next two films. Francis Lawrence takes great pains not to gloss over anything. This is a nod to the diehard book fans, but also vital to the exposition of the themes in the story as a whole. I was pleasantly surprised by Catching Fire. It's an admirable film in its own right and an excellent sequel. The Hunger Games Franchise is proving to be memorable.