While I could definitely tell the budget was higher this time and the director seemed more competent I wouldn't say the film is any better than the first. It suffers from being the middle story of a trilogy. As it goes on you realize this is all just a long set-up for the next film(s). Jennifer Lawrence is good, as always, but there isn't much for her to show off her range except for a few short emotional outbursts. Regardless of these films' somewhat lackluster feel I'm still very interested in the story and cannot wait for the next one so they're doing something right. At least they got rid of the obnoxious shaky camera work this time.

3.5 Stars (out of 5)