It is the Friday premiere of “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” and people are lined up to watch a girl who is forced by her government to fight for her life and freedom. We will be taken to Panem, a dystopian society where young people are forced to battle to the death in a televised event that will strike fear into the hearts of oppressed citizens. Isn’t that everyone’s idea of a good Friday night?

The sequel picks up on the lives of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), the victors of the 74th Annual Hunger Games. The two are settling back into reality, traumatized by their experiences in the arena, having been saved by their self-fabricated romance.

As the “Hunger Games” was originally a wildly popular book trilogy, I never cease to be amazed by Lawrence’s ability to play the character of Katniss both true to the story and to reality, a notoriously difficult task for the actors in novel-turned-movies (cough…Kristen Stewart). I find myself able to relate to Lawrence’s character while also admiring the character’s stubborn and brave nature, which was identified in the novels.

As Peeta and Katniss struggle to find normalcy both at home and in their relationship, I find myself emotionally distraught for Peeta, who was more willing to participate in their fake romance. The fact that the relationship was not quite as fake for him as it was for Katniss breaks my heart, but when I see the way she looks at her childhood friend, Gale (Chris Hemsworth), I can’t help but be sympathetic to both relationships.

Though romance may play a small part in the lives of the victors, it only adds to the anguish they face. The two soon find themselves in another year of the games, the “Quarter Quell,” where they will compete among other previous victors. The obvious bleak and depressing aspects of the film provide constant tension.

This intensity remains unbroken, however, the technologically vibrant setting is enhanced by digital effects that make the film bright and captivating. As a book-turned-movie I have to say that this franchise is one of the only series of novels that I have liked more on screen than in the book. Like any good novel, each moment on film leaves you wanting to know more.

In fact, the only thing I didn’t like about the movie was that it had such a cliff-hanger ending. I want to know what happens next and I want to know now. I’ll be counting the days until “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay.”

Karly Horn is an A&E Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.