Mico E. Aquino  

2-O

                                                Catching Fire

Not having read the book, I cannot say whether or not the film is faithful to the second book of Suzanne Collins' hit series, Hunger Games.

In Hunger Games, the first installment of the trilogy, the viewers had no idea what was going on. All they knew was that the Hunger Games- an event in the story- was some sort of Battle Royale done every year to commemorate a 'War'. This alone tells us that this was set in a dystopian future. What we do not know is the logic behind the Hunger Games, why it is done, what its purpose is. In the next installment, Catching Fire, we find out.

Catching Fire's story is excellent, as it explores the various secrets "behind the iron curtain", as one would put it. The Iron Curtain, as historians define it, is the partition that separates the Communist countries from the Capitalist countries during the days of the Cold War. The concept of the Iron Curtain and how it was a deciding factor between the relationship of the Communists and the Capitalists during the Cold War is sort of similar to the situation in Panem, where, for some reason, Capitol is richer than any of the of the Districts, even when put together. Now, the definition of the phrase "Behind the Iron Curtain" is that, up front the Communists look like they're having a better time than the Capitalists, but in reality, they're having more trouble than the Capitalists trying to keep things together. This is similar to the situation in Panem where, up front, President Snow and the government are "suppressing" (more like "neutralizing") riots and that any forms of rebellion are being suppressed, but in reality, the rebelling population show no signs of being deterred because of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) being their inspiration/symbol of hope. And from here on out begins President Snow's campaign of making Katniss Everdeen a symbol for his government instead of the Rebellion. President Snow's attempts fail, and he is forced to change the rules of the year's Hunger Games' "The Reaping", where, instead of any random citizen, the "Tributes" will be the winners of past Games, for at this point he is convinced that all winners are symbols of hope for the Rebellion and seek to, as Grand Moff Tarkin said, "crush the Rebellion with one swift stroke!"

This plan backfires, however, for the Rebellion has spies all the way to the highest echelons of the government, in the form of Plutarch Heavensbee, the Gamemaker for the year. With Plutarch, the rebels successfully ruin the Game and, with Katniss in tow, begin their long-planned 'Revolution' against Panem.

Final score: 9/10

“They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power.” 

― Patrick Henry