Rection Paper : Catching Fire

I finished reading the Hunger Games trilogy a couple of years back and I was  really looking forward to the book-to-movie adaptations. As an avid reader, disappointment always uncomforts me when books I’ve read head to the big screen. For me, nothing beats a good book that exercises my imagination leaving behind lavish and all too perfect characters, surroundings, scenes. However, Catching Fire the movie failed to disappoint me. Hat tip to the director and makers of the film because it remained faithful to the book. 

Set in a dystopian unpredictable world, it is considered an adult Science Fiction with amazing technology from the enormous hovercrafts and bullet trains to the vast arena filled with ravenous muttations like jabberjays. Hunger Games was designed to be a chaotic blood bath and literally, there was a blood bath of rain.  With its unique and thought-provoking premise, its a shiveringly haunting vision of what could be the course of our future. Its a view of our past and present – commoners defying royals and citizens overthrowing oppressive governments.  The totalitarian government of the Panem can be comparable to Nazi Germany and as what Preseident Snow says in his speech, the annual Hunger Games was set up to remind people of Panem about the complete control and power of the Capitol over everyone. Its riveting and complex story speaks of unrest and twists and constant suspense with Katniss as the rebels’ Mockingjay, a pawn to an unpredictable game without her knowing it. 

Science and technology failed the people of Panem clearly seen in the unfolding revolution. It makes one speculate how a cruel game be of entertainment to the upper caste citizens in Capitol. With their crazy couture, gem-implanted  skins, silly made up faces and colorful wigs, who would have thought they were capable of unflinchingly watching brutal violence in awe (and not in horror). Their science came up with a crazy drink that will make you throw up to allow room for more food. With their bellies always full while other districts are struggling to survive from hunger, its a twisted and painful realization of what’s currently happening. Some people throw up their food while some are dying of hunger. Their technology came up with torturing devices of unspeakable horrors and dangerous revolving arenas where precious life is a mere source of  reality entertainment. Science and technology should advance society, and not cripple people in it. People should be able to think, act, and speak freely. Just like past civilizations, after the Capitol’s growth and prosperity, collapse looms just around the corner waiting to catch fire.

Edissy Claudine Ramos

2009-33319