The latest film in the ‘Hunger Games’ series is living up to its name. The second movie in the four-part series is catching fire across country, quickly become a must-see film this holiday season for young adults across the political spectrum.
Regardless of political affiliation, the plotline of “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” is one that every freedom loving American should be able to get behind. Fed up with President Snow’s reign of terror, former Hunger Games victors team up in the second film to win back the people of their country’s inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Where the first ‘Hunger Games’ film (based on the book series of the same name) is focused on the personal story of Panem District 12 tribute Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, and her conspiracy to keep herself and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark, played by Josh Hutcherson, alive during the 74th annual Hunger Games, the second film relies more heavily on an ensemble of characters. This group includes Katniss’ love interest and close friend Gale Hawthorne, played by Liam Hemsworth as well as former Hunger Games victors Finnick Odair, played by Sam Claflin, and Johanna Mason, played by Jena Malone, among others.
In ‘Catching Fire,’ Katniss is unknowingly used as bait by revolutionaries to start a rebellion in the Capitol and the Districts of Panem. Realizing that Katniss poses both a symbolic and physical threat to the Capitol’s government, President Snow, played by Donald Sutherland, calls for tributes to the 75th annual Hunger Games to be reaped only from living victors in hopes that Katniss and any potential allies will be killed during the games. The physically underwhelming group of victors ultimately form an alliance with Katniss to fight the games’ career victors – those who seek to win the game rather than fight “the real enemy” – to the death. The fate of reoccurring characters and favorite newcomers remains unknown at the close of the film, setting up a penultimate battle with the Capitol’s government to be played out in the third and fourth films in the movie series.
‘Catching Fire’ masterfully makes the right to self-determination and emerging democracies riveting issues by employing top-notch visual effects and inspiring music. Anyone not enthralled by the film is either a male over the age of 25 who doesn’t appreciate the concurrent plot centering on the personal life of the 17-year-old heroine, Katniss, and her ongoing love triangle with her Peeta and Gale or a left-wing feminist who takes issue with Katniss’ portrayal as being too weak-willed and emotionally fragile to handle being notified of the insurgency’s plans until after she’s participated in their mission.
Discussions over whether Katniss’ emotions make her too flawed as a heroine aside, (she is a teenager after all, and “The Hunger Games” was a franchise originally meant for young adults), ‘Catching Fire’ keeps movie goers on the edge of their seats. The key players in the second round of the Hunger Games are nothing like those in the first, and viewers never know what to expect from the oddball gang of tributes.
Fans of the movies will be happy to know that the second half of the series will be split into two parts, ala “Twilight: Breaking Dawn.” The third book in the series – “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay” – is set to be released as two movies, hitting theaters in late 2014 and 2015, according to production notes. In ‘Mockingjay,’ characters from ‘Catching Fire’ will return to lead the Districts of Panem into battle against the Capitol.
