Reaction Paper: Catching Fire

Reaction Paper: Catching Fire

            Catching Fire is a 2009 novel by Suzanne Collins; the second book in the famous The Hunger Games Trilogy. This year it is made into a movie and brought to big screen as sequel to the first movie The Hunger Games. It continues the story of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, the lead roles in the movie, after winning the 74^th annual Hunger Games and returning to District 12 and the nation or place called Panem. 

            After seeing Catching Fire, I can say that it is a science fiction film. The settings and concept or idea behind the movie is way progressive than what we have now in the present. Comparing the technology in the film and the technology today, the former is more futuristic and forward-looking. The arena, the device/equipment they use to control the game, the aircraft which picks up a dead tribute and the fastest train I’ve ever seen are the technological advances seen in the movie. Even Katniss’ dresses which burst into flames whenever she twirls it and, in the film, the dress turned into a different dress similar to a mockingjay. Clearly, those things are not in our time yet. 

             The film is commentary of past, present and future human society. It was shown in that the districts are traditional and not that progressive just like a society we have back then. People hunt in order to have food and in order to survive the day. Even our present society was illustrated in the movie: cruel high government officials who are not fair and can do anything they want to other people because of their position and power. Lastly, their technology can somewhat represent our future society. It may not be as high as what was shown in the film, but with brilliant people, surely, advanced technology will just be enough for the future and for the people.   

            Science and technology failed in the world of the 13 districts. Even though the people have the weapons and tools used to gather food, they were not enough for them to survive. They suffer and still have to participate in the annual hunger games just to have enough supply of food and resources to survive. Moreover, that supply will just be given to the winning district and the others will continue to suffer. Science and technology was shown, not in the 13 districts, but in the Capitol.

Regina Alyssa L. Bargola

2013 - 68055

Catching Fire: Reaction Paper

Catching fire is the 2^nd book (or movie in this case) of the Hunger Games series. It mainly focuses on the 75^th Hunger Games which is the 3^rd Quarter Quell. In this Hunger Games, all the victors of the previous hunger games were reaped as tributes. This was to signify that not even the strongest of the districts can overcome the Capitol.

The movie is not really science fiction because it does not focus on the scientific aspect of the film, but more on the class struggle. If it were science fiction, it would have focused on the technology used in generating the Hunger Games and the like.

The film is a commentary of past, present and future society. This is shown through its interpretation of the government and the vast class struggle. The government is obviously abusing its power by holding the Hunger Games every year to punish the people for the last rebellion made. They are being punished for something they didn’t even do which causes society to rebel even more in the process. This point is strengthened even more by the fact that the 13^th district was obliterated. Though not pushed to the extent like in the movie (holding the Hunger Games), the concept is still the same in real life. The government right now is just pretty messed up. Technology wise, it is definitely of the future due to the highly advanced technology used in the film and especially in generating the Hunger Games arena.

 Each district has it’s certain “specialty”. For example, District 1 focuses on luxury, District 4 on fishing, District 11 on agriculture, and so on. Since each of the districts have a certain specialty, the burden of the tasks is divided between the districts, thus more efficiency. So the science and technology used succeeds because it helps Panem thrive as a whole. It allows each district to focus on manufacturing on a specific thing rather than each district doing everything.

Rix, Mayumi Katrina

2013-14322 

Reaction Paper on Catching Fire

Catching Fire is the second book of The Hunger Games trilogy. It is the sequel to the first movie: The Hunger Games. This sequel narrates the story of the lead character, Kastniss Everdee after winning the 74^th annual Hunger Games from the previous movie.

I could say that it is a science fiction in a sense that the film deals with the impact of science and technology in Panem especially in the Capitol. Catching fire has also clearly shown how the advancement of science and technology has affected the tributes inside the forest in saving their lives.  The Capitol manipulated the events inside the arena by using science. The tributes were set loose against each other in a forest managed by man-made technology that adds small auto-timed tsunami and barbarous baboons, There is also a train that travels along Panem as their way of transportation.

The film is commentary on past, present and future human society. First, it is because it interpreted the human society in the past as barbaric. It also had similarities with the Roman Empire in terms of the way the Capitol dominated among the other districts. Second, it is commentary on the present human society because it was seen in the film what our society is at present. It is being portrayed by the life of the characters in the film which reflect the present society of different status.  Third, it is commentary on the future. The advancement in the technology seen in the film implies how advance the technology will be in the future. The Capitol has customized the arena putting different danger zones that go off on schedule, according to the hour, and are organized in the shape of a clock. The Capitol’s power is also being manifested by their lavish lifestyle done by the man-made technology compared to the 13 districts. Therefore, it gives a glimpse on the future technology.

The science, technology and society failed in the world of 13 districts. The power, science and the technology are only centered in the Capitol and were not distributed to other districts. The Panem is a deprived township of hard labor, low to no wages and no electricity. It is run by the Capitol that makes the full use of the power. The Capitol, on the other hand, is a place of drastic fashion sense and extreme future technology. 

Kimberly M. Pacle

2013-02319

Catching Fire Reaction Paper: Watching the Imaginable Future

               It is in the nature of people to be curious about the future. People imagine the future differently. Some alter the things in their minds that happened in the past, while others are cool to keep things in their places. But with Suzanne Collins’ famous The Hunger Games Trilogy, she maybe telling a story of what could happen in the coming, specifically in the place called Panem.

                Lately, the second book of The Hunger Games Trilogy, Catching Fire, was made into a movie. I must say that this is one of the amazing science fiction film I have ever watched. The technology showed in the movie were so much ahead of what we have at present. It gives the viewers a taste of knowledge on things that are not yet thought of to be able to happen. The train, for example, that Katniss and his team were using to travel from different districts was really one state of the art vehicle. Also, the gadgets and the arena they used for the game where the tributes had the game were much advanced.

                For me, science, technology and society failed in the world of the 13 districts in every way possible. Yes, we may say that they had the most advanced technology in their time, be it in medicine, architecture or even in weapon making. But the people living in each districts had not felt any of these advancements. They were still stuck in their low jobs. They still had their hands dirty at work to have a living, bust still that wasn’t enough. The people governing the districts were at hold of science and keeping the neglected and oppressed people out of their comfort.

                The movie is not far from what could happen to us in the years yet to come. It is now up to us on how to live and act to escape from this terrible reality.

De Jesus, Carmela Gabrielle D.

2013 - 55245

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

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

Catching Fire reaction paper

The setting of the film Catching Fire is a mixture of high and low-tech societies. T he 13 districts are the low-tech societies, in which their level of technology is lower than that of today. On the other hand, the high-tech society is the Capitol. For me, the film is a science fiction because it is futuristic and the level of technology in the film is much higher than today. I’m talking about the technology that is seen in The Capitol. Yes, there are holograms, but controlling a piece of land inside a dome during the hunger games, super fast trains with comfortable interiors, fiery outfits, medicine that easily heals wounds and bruises, and many more requires a high level of technology that I think might not be existent in the present, but very possible to occur and exist in the future.

The film is also a commentary of the past, present and future of the society. The low-tech societies, or the 13 districts, represent the past. The use of different tools and weapons of the past and their livelihood and lifestyle clearly shows the past and somehow the present human society. The present may be the number of technologies that are existent both in the film and in the present. Lastly, like what I stated in the previous paragraph, Catching Fire’s technology is futuristic, and it clearly represents the future as well, because the technology that is shown in the movie is not impossible and very achievable.

Science and technology didn’t fail in the 13 districts. Even if they are considered low-tech, they used their utilities and tools wisely, and it really helped them gather food and survive. Science and technology is still present in them in the form of those tools and weapons, like hammer, bow and arrow, etc. Technology is low, but it is not a failure. On the other hand, the society is not that good because equality among people is not present. They have to undergo the annual hunger games in order to commemorate the years that the districts rebelled to The Capitol people. Freedom is clearly not present also. Plus, the distribution of technology is not equal. But I can also say that the society among the districts is not a failure because they are good people. The leadership and the mindset of the Capitol people clearly ruin the society in the Catching Fire.

Pauline de Leon

2011-44571

Reaction Paper: Catching Fire

“She has become a beacon of hope for them. She has to be eliminated.”

The Hunger Games trilogy is as much about engaging storytelling as it is about making a statement. While it is easy to lose track of the message in the latest blockbuster "Catching Fire’s" awe-inspiring special effects, intense storyline, and great acting found in the movie, its plot is still grounded on distinctions. Here is a film where it is easy to distinguish the rich from the poor, the strong from the weak, the ruler from the subjects. On a societal level, the film depicts one issue above all else: class struggles.

         The Merriam-Webster defines science fiction as – “fiction dealing principally with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals or having a scientific factor as an essential orienting component.” In this sense, Catching fire fits the genre. It contains scientific marvels technologies beyond current comprehension. It dazzles with complex, sleek train systems leading to a utopia filled with modern marvels. Also, an enhanced grasp of knowledge in the fields of medicine, architecture, weaponry, and computer system, among many others, are displayed in the arena where the tributes are to engage in the games. However, the impoverished masses of the districts snarl at the population at the Capital who have all the access to these technologies, while they have none. Perhaps the effects of these technological advances on society can be seen most in these respects, in connection again to class struggles, in that it may possible create separation as well.

            Administration in the realm of the 13 districts demands obedience and respect. History is full of totalitarian systems of governance, where the upholders of centralized power do the same things the Capital does to the 13 districts in the film. Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, even to some extent Marcos, all imposed the same kind of system wherein any kind of subversion or hints at rebellion where punished immediately, all the while refusing to listen to the problems presented by the people. Any form of “hope” was to be eliminated immediately. We see here that the film does indeed reflect some of the societies of the past.

Even today, the dichotomy of upper and lower classes in our country are well-pronounced and it is only the upper class that are able to avail of the technologies that can be beneficial to their livelihood and welfare. Obviously, poverty is as much a problem in our present society as it is in the movie.

Science, technology, and society have all failed in the movie, as even the most basic needs of the people are not made universally available. This is despite the advances of sciences and technology, and is caused mostly by inadequacies in society’s governance.

                                                                           Redentor E. Claudio

                                                                                 2013-59776

Catching Fire: A Reaction Paper

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is the second installment in the movie series The Hunger Games based on Suzanne Colin's trilogy of the same title. It was directed by Francis Lawrence, with Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth giving life to the three main characters.

I would say that the movie is science-fiction because it is set in a time and place different to ours and showcases some scientific breakthroughs and innovations that are not yet seen today. It also features a lot of scientific and fictional concepts like the structure of the arena in which the games were held, the fashion in the Panem, and the 'challenges' the tributes encountered while in the games. The world of the movie, with its different government and geography, seems like that of the future because it is unlike any other civilization we have today or had in the past but even so, I could say that the movie is also a commentary on our present society. The wide gap between the rich and the poor, the way the powerful abuse their power, the struggles of the poor, and the uprisings of the rebels as shown in the movie is also how it is today.

Science and technology may have improved or succeeded in the advancement of life in the Panem, but they failed miserably in the society as a whole. They could have been an enormous help to the poor like those people in District 12, but instead they were used by the powerful to gain riches and power and give the poor an even harder time to survive. The technology could have been used in better ways, wherein everyone  gained out of it.

All in all, I liked the movie, with its plot, characters, special effects and dialogue. I especially liked the plot because it did not waver a lot from the book. Also, I liked how the movie gives us a glimpse of what might happen in the future, and at the same time showing us what is happening in the present.



Camille Anne Barbosa
2013-01010
STS THY

The Hunger Games 'Catching Fire' reaction paper

Suzanne Collin’s ‘Catching Fire’, a sequel to the 2008 bestseller ‘The Hunger Games’, has been the talk of the town a few days back since it was already premiered in a number of movie theaters all over the world. I’m sure that most of the fans (and also those who are not really fans) of the ‘The Hunger Games’ trilogy surely rushed to the movie theaters to have a look of the said movie. I prepared myself for the worst, since there are books which were made into motion pictures that are really disappointing. But it was different this time. You see, when I went out of the theater, I was still into the movie. I literally cannot get over it. It was more than what I have expected. And by the way, I have read the book.

Anyway, the movie is considered as sci-fi since it depicts a country that’s so affected by numerous scientific advancements. If you’ve seen the movie, then you’ll know what I’m saying. One very good example was the interview with Katniss and Peeta outside their homes in the Victors’ Village. Who would’ve thought that those type of cameras exist? Well, it does exist though, in their world. The hovercrafts are a testament too. There were also several events in the film that are observable in our society today and in the past and even in the future. The revolt of the people because of the unjust ways of President Snow and his minions is similar to what happened to the EDSA People Power Revolution during the 1980s. But this revolt of the people of Panem is yet to end. The bloody Hunger Games also is similar to the Roman Empire’s famous gladiator games which were held in the Coliseum. It was a games where the players fight to death and whoever stays alive in the end, wins. Furthermore, the people’s day-to-day struggle to survive is also present in both. Even until now, people always strive hard to survive. Also, because of the fast-paced scientific development, surely the future may look somewhat like that – the use of hovercrafts, force fields and even the creation of deadly mutations will be rampant.

I think Science, Technology and Society failed in the world of the 13 districts. Yes, there was a great advancement in technology – bullet trains, man-made arenas, force fields, you name it – yet no matter how advanced technology was in their country, it didn’t make any significant difference in the lives of the people in the districts. Instead of giving them comfortable and easy lives, technology was used to enslave them, abuse them and even worse, kill them. Therefore, the three failed. They weren’t able to serve their purpose well. But then again, it still depended on how it was used by the ones in power or even the people. =)

Power and Hope: A Reaction Paper to "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"

            The arrow Katniss shot to the ceiling of the 3^rd Quarter Quell arena was a catalyst of many things. It triggered the impending collapse of the government, the crumbling of the structure of the Districts and the undoing of an already ruined society. But what it most significantly did was shut down the arena, stripping the control center of its control and robbing the powerful of their power.

~

            The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is the second film in a series based on Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games Trilogy, this film particularly based on the second book Catching Fire. Despite having romantic and adventurous themes, this film belongs to science fiction as it is set in a time and place so far from our reality, it’s practically a different world. It shows plenty of scientific developments and technologies that, although are possible enough to exist, we don’t have at present. In other words, it is futuristic but not enough so that it is fantastical.

            Although, it’s not only the technology presented that made it futuristic. The world of the film itself is set in the future. It is sort of an exemplification of what our world might evolve into; negatively, what system the wars and discord at present could create, and positively, how the oppressed would always fight for freedom. But the film also manifests our past and present. How the peacekeepers raided the districts and punished the rebels can be likened to how tyrants in the past controlled their people. Meanwhile, the social and financial structure of Panem can also be likened to our present; how the rich value social events and appearances over food, while those in poverty keep on working hard for salaries that aren’t nearly enough as they continue to starve.

            This structure also stands as a testament as to how science and technology failed the society. When we compare the Capitol to District 12, we see opposites. One is fully powered by technology, it’s practically embedded in society; while, the other lacks it so much, people hardly know of its existence. This particularly shows the power brought with technology. And although it should be said that there were innovations that bettered the country, like its forms of transportation, there were also developments so unnecessary that they shouldn’t have even existed, like the drink that makes you vomit. Furthermore, technology also provided the possibility of things that robbed the people of their rights and their lives. One evident example is the arena and, thus, the games itself.

~

            There were a lot of different aspects of the film that I liked and disliked. But it was its message on power and hope that made me applaud it. It effectively showed how power, in its darkest forms, could rob the vulnerable of their hope. But it also successfully conveyed that one girl, one arrow, one berry could rob the powerful of their power and create hope, give it a chance to catch fire and eventually forge a blaze.

Audrey Anne A. Arocha

2012-51626