'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' Review Roundup: Second Installment Praised

This weekend "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" will open nationwide attempting to break box office records.

Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, "Catching Fire" continues the story of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark as they become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games, which sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.

The movie is slated to break box office records and is projected to make $175 million. The film's reviews, attractive cast and franchise followers should also attract many filmgoers as well. Reviews for the newest film in the series have been largely positive.

Joe Morgenstern from the Wall Street Journal wrote, "None of it would work -- not the action, the adventure, the political subtext or the humor -- without the strength and beauty that Ms. Lawrence brings to the central role."

Mike La Salle from the San Francisco Chronicle also enjoyed the film: "'Catching Fire' is best in its first hour, when it concentrates on the politics and the specific horrors of Panem. It becomes more conventional in the second half and loses steam, but it's always heading somewhere."

Ben Sachs from the Chicago Reader gave the film a great review and wrote, "This sequel is a triumph of production design: Philip Messina's settings are so detailed that they convey how the movie's dystopic U.S. functions beyond the story at hand, and Trish Summerville's costume design shows a similar degree of invention."

David Edelstein from New York Magazine wrote, "Relatively speaking, 'Catching Fire' is terrific. Even non relatively, it's pretty damn good."

Latinos Post concluded, "The film should please fans of the series and first film and potentially lure those willing to give the franchise another chance."

The movie also stars Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Jena Malone, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitiz and Elizabth Banks. Lionsgate will distribute the movie in 4,163 theaters.