By NICHOLAS NEGRON
With over 300 million dollars in ticket sales opening weekend, it is fair to say The Hunger Games: Catching fire is a tremendous success. The film is based off Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, sequel to The Hunger Games. Also, key in bringing this story to life was the director, Francis Lawrence.
Catching Fire focuses on main character, Katniss Everdeen’s (Jennifer Lawrence) life, post- Hunger Games. She deals with post-traumatic stress and soon learns she will be forced back into the arena. The Hunger Games is sponsored by the government. Children, 12 to 18 are taken from each district in the Country of Panem, to fight in a televised battle to the death in an arena. In her first Games, she and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) attempted to commit suicide. This led to a quick decision letting both Katniss and Peeta live. While trying to make this pass as two teenagers madly in love, many see this as rebellion. If two teenagers can blatantly disrespect the government on national television, what is stopping anyone else? The districts begin to rebel. Peacekeepers (police officers) are fighting with the people, often subjecting them to whippings, firing squads or public executions. This is the unraveling of an already fragile government.
“We talked a lot about PTSD [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder]. I had her speak to somebody about PTSD. Jena Malone, who plays Johanna, she spoke to somebody. Woody [Harrelson], we start to discover [his character, Haymitch, is] a drinker because of PTSD. It was those kinds of little things because that was the element in terms of Katniss’ character that we wanted to explore – what that does to somebody and how a girl like Katniss really, she doesn’t want the responsibility that’s about to be laid on her shoulders. She just wants her old life back”, says director Francis Lawrence to The Las Angeles Times.
Victors (winners of previous Hunger Games) are brought back and put into an arena for the 75th annual Hunger Games. Many have been permanently altered as a result of their time in the arena. Some of the victors are addicted to alcohol and morphine. Many have family members who have died as a result of the games. Chaff, a victor from District 11, has a missing hand. Enobaria, a victor from District 2, sharpened her teeth in order to rip throats out easier. Haymitch, Disctrict 12 victor and mentor, sleeps with a knife. In the novel, Peeta walks away with a new prostetic leg. The first scene of the film features Katniss hunting. She is about to shoot her arrow at a turkey when a flashback occurs. She pictures herself shooting a boy from her first Games. Katniss also has terrible nightmares. No one person is ever fully the same after surviving The Hunger Games.
Oscar-winning actress, Jennifer Lawrence, portrays the main protagonist, Katniss. Other stars include Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Jenna Malone and Willow Shields. Seasoned performers such as Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Lenny Kravitz, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Elizabeth Banks and Stanly Tucci also aid in making this film the magnificence that is it is.
Catching fire holds a 7.5 /10 rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviews are “overwhelmingly positive” according to CNN. This franchise has substance. It has award-winning potential. The final book, Mockingjay, will be split into two parts. This will give more time in telling the complex finale to the book trilogy. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 1 will be released November 20, 2014.
