Let's the honest, the first part of the series had pretty great world-building, albeit with a bit too much shaky cam, but suffered from a hardly believable, unspectacular and sometimes downright silly second half. So while it was easy for the audience to embrace the interesting dystopian future portrayed, the Hunger Games had yet to kick into gear.

The sequel gets rid of the dizzying cameras, decides to takes its time getting us back into Panem and gives this world even more depth, as the winners are on propaganda tour through the districts. That sets up the rising level of tension and drama of the second act really nicely.

The great news is: this time the games work too. By adding more characters that function as much more than victims and raising the stakes for Katniss and Peeta, the second half of the film is exciting, surprising, sometimes even wonderfully unpleasant, as should be. The new additions to the cast work great, especially Jena Malone, Sam Clafin and Philip Seymour Hoffman in roles that are not that easy to figure out. While Hutcherson manages to give his character much more heart and depth this time, this is still Lawrence's show, once again proving how she already is the leading lady of her acting generation.

Top notch special effects, a much more spectacular setting for the game arena and unexpected plot twists make for a breath-taking finale, that ends as abruptly as imaginable. That robs the film some of its standalone merit, but leaves you wanting more and that soon.
The pleasant case of a huge success that is warranted on every level.

8 out of 10 poison mists.