Catching Fire (2013)

This suffers from middle book syndrome (which is much like middle child syndrome in that it is struggling to keep up with it's older sibling, but has a much less well defined purpose).  With that in mind--that there is not a satisfying ending and that everyone knows there will be a third installment, the movie is a competent follow up to the first one (which I thought was spectacular, especially when you consider that it is focused on a group of teenagers who are out to kill each other in a state sanctioned tournament.  The minor miracle is that you could emerge with any sympathy at all for the victors, which is what happens).

Katniss Everdeen is a heroine in her own time.  She tries to shun the lime light, but her ability to retain what was good in herself all the while outfoxing the leaders of her dystopian world has become the fuel that sets off a revolution.  President Snow (played to evil perfection by Donald Sutherland) is baffled by her popularity and attempts to kill her off in yet another tournament, misunderstanding that whatever the outcome, she would be the victor.  She would be a symbol for the revolution, whether as a martyr or a reluctant leader.  Jennifer Lawrence has done a lot of work between the first and second Hunger Games movie, but she manages to pull her role off here beautifully, the center of attention in a frightening tale of what can go wrong with dictators.