The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Rating: 10/10 (26 July 2015)

Film Review on IMDb
The film The Hunger Games: Catching Fire reveals a fascinating plot that intrigues the audience. A brave woman named Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, has won the previous Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen succeeded in the previous film The Hunger Games by the help of Peeta Mellark, played by Josh Hutcherson. The plot centers around a dominating government that brutalizes its citizen's, for total control. President Snow, who is played by Donald Sutherland, has complete control of the government. Mr. Snow is not happy with the districts behavior since Peeta, and Katniss botched the Hunger Games with a stunt of eating poison berries. Forcing him to allow two contestants to win. To regain total control of his country, Mr. Snow orders Katniss to make the districts believe she is in love with Peeta. Through their journey of the districts, uprising continues. In the end, a new game has to be played to restore order. Now existing Hunger Games contestants will face each other in a scramble for life with one winner. Only with the help of Haymitch Abernathy, played by Woody Harrelson, will the couple be able to outwit the game maker.
The theme of the film is that kindness deeds, self-sacrifice, and the love for people, can topple harsh conditions. The characters indulge in self-sacrifice throughout the movie and is seen by the oppressed people in the districts as hope. The various players within Katniss's allies always outperform the situations they encounter because of this trait.
The first example of self-sacrifice that stands out in the movie is when Gail, Katniss's old friend is being beat in the square by Commander Thread. Katniss puts herself in front of him to protect him. Haymitch and Peeta both come to aid her by convincing Commander Thread out of the brutality. All three people put their life on the line to protect Gail.
An example of kindness deeds is when Finnick Odair performs CPR on Peeta after he touched the boundary electrocuting him. Finnick Odair had no benefit of having Peeta alive. In the end, it would have been another man trying to kill him. He only did it as an act of love for life.
The Film, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is a sequel to The Hunger Games. Another movie that has the same theme closely related to this movie would be The Condemned. The movie The Condemned is closely related and shows the same type of theme as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Both films reveal harsh conditions toppled by people trying to do the right thing.
The symbol of a Mockingbird reinforces the theme. In one scene, a man in the crowd likes what Katniss Everdeen says and holds his fingers up and whistles the tune of a Mockingbird. The man loses his life for this act of defiance. Later more and more crowds in the district replicate the sign and tune. The Mockingbird becomes a symbol of hope and self-sacrifice to the people. Before the games, Katniss transforms her dress into the outfit of a Mockingbird. The love for the people and her coherence to them comes to the surface.
The use of internal conflict within the film strengthens the idea of the theme. Even when faced with uncertainty the allies stick together. Katniss at one point drew her arrow back at Finnick only to do the right thing and resist the urge to win. The theme proves that kindness deeds, self-sacrifice, and the love for people, can topple harsh conditions.
The film has an action packed plot that keeps the viewers concentration. The theme of the film allows the viewer to take something positive from the film. Overall this is an exceptional film.
References
Lawrence, F. (Director). (2013). The hunger games: catching fire. (DVD) United States: Lions Gate Entertainment
Petrie, D., & Boggs, J. (2012). The art of watching films (8th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Wiper, S. (Director). (2007). The Condemned. (DVD) United States: Lions Gate Entertainment & WWE.