“Hunger Games: Catching Fire” is not only a good sequel to 2012’s “The Hunger Games,” but also a significant step forward for the franchise that deserved every bit of its 146 minute run time.

Taking place nearly a year after the events of the first film, protagonist Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is living in luxurious Victor’s Village with past winners of the Hunger Games Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) and Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson). As the years Hunger Games are set to start, it is revealed that the powers that be want her out of the picture for inciting ideas of revolution and decide to bring her and other past victors back in to the hunger games, including her past partner Peeta.

If there is one major thing this movie improved over the first “Hunger Games,” it’s pacing. The movie moves much more smoothly than the first film, and as a result the long running time is used to explore new characters while not dwelling on things we’ve seen before, like the pregames training.

Thanks to the world being set up in the first film, “Catching Fire” was able to more deeply explore the films themes of survival and society. After the actions of the first movie, Katniss is an emotional mess. Although this was a little more understated in the film than in the book, it worked well to show all the violence of the first film didn’t just go away. This film definitely raised the stakes for the series and did a great job setting up the last film.

Jennifer Lawrence did an excellent job as Katniss, especially in the scenes with Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta. Katniss is clearly at odds with what she needs to do to survive and her thoughts about Peeta, and Lawrence convey these emotions well. Besides Peeta being completely useless in the actual Games, Hutcherson did a good job of showing a character who has grown but still is not fully aware of how out of his element he is.

I was also impressed with the supporting cast, as well. Donald Sutherland was pitch perfect as the conniving President Snow, and Philip Seymour Hoffman did excellent work as game maker Plutarch Heavensbee. Although it was a small part, I was most impressed by Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket. She managed to make a character I hated from the first movie and made me like her. It is a small detail, but it was effective.

As a whole, “Catching Fire” is a well done film that goes much deeper into the effects of the games than the first while still letting its characters change and adapt to their experiences. It looked good, especially the Arena and its many traps, and it has me optimistic for the series’ next film.

4/5