Catching Fire Reaction Paper

Catching Fire, the sequel to the globally acclaimed novel Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, has not only caught the attention of the populaces through its marvelous words from the book but also through the big screen as the renowned novel series was turned into a major motion picture. With the good feedback that the movie has been getting it’s surely no question why the movie itself is spreading like wildfire. 

Judging the movie, I can say that it is a science fiction type of film. The whole story and concept is purely a product of the brilliant mind of its author. Although there are some concepts which we could somehow compare with what is happening in our society. A very good example is the 13 districts of Panem in which they represent the different level of hierarchy in our culture. Each district has a better way of living compared to the other district preceding them. They all have unique goods or resources that can only be found in their district in which the Capitol uses for their own good. Like in the present time, it is evident that there are people who work hard for the benefit of only a certain people. What’s worse is that these people don’t get rewarded properly or even treated decently. They’re even cases where those who work hard for their masters are those who are put into danger. Same as how each year the Capitol conducts the Hunger Games where the representatives of each district fight for their life to be crowned Victor. And all of these are just for the entertainment of the people of the Capitol. 

Connecting to the course, science and technology has played a big part in the whole movie. We could see how the advancement in technology improved everything that’s possible, well at least for those in the Capitol. They have shown how technology was used in the transportation system of Panem. A single train was used to travel across the districts up to the Capitol. The next level holograms are also very commendable. What caught my attention most is how science and technology was used during the Quarter Quell. If given the chance to go into that dimension, I would have wished that science and technology never existed if it’s only going to be used to morbidly murder and punished the tributes or the people. I believed that science and technology should only be utilized to improve the life of the people and not to give them more burden. The movie itself is a commentary on the past, present and future of our human culture. The slavery of the districts is a reflection of how the people from before were controlled over by a certain sect, movement or government. They could not object the orders of those who are on control because of their fear of being punished. They ended up following their every order even to the point where they have to kill each other. The film also depicts the present situation of our society. From the simplest discriminating judgment of the government up to the dreadful murders that they have done, all of these are shown through the scenes of the movie. The future on the other hand was not much seen in movie but it somehow serve as a warning that if this kind of system in our society continuous to occur there might come a time where a huge rebellion would spark that would aim to burn the scheme down. Terrifying yet very possible. Who knows? A rebellion like this might have already been started.

There’s so much more to explore about the movie. The author might have indeed created it with a whole bunch of subliminal messages for us to discover and understand. Whatever lies between the lines the important thing is the good things we learn in the movie should be applied in our life. So to those who haven’t watched it yet, find time to do so and I assure you that it would be worth it and as the Capitol would always say ‘May the odds be ever in your favor.’

Jeff Denver F. Dela Cruz
2013-21915