Catching Fire Reaction Paper

Catching Fire is the follow up film succeeding The Hunger Games both movies both being based on the books written by Suzanne Collins with one more movie adaptation to come soon. The trilogy depicts a futuristic society from the ruins of the post apocalyptic North America (now called Panem). It is ran by a central authority called the Capitol which rules over 13 districts. Due to a rebellion, the Capitol destroyed the 13th district and as punishment for the other districts formed the Hunger Games where 2 representatives (children aged 12-18) from each district will compete in a battle to the death. The trilogy follows Katniss Everdeen, a victor of District 12, and her role in the new rebellion against the Capitol.

Cacthing Fire is science fiction film as of now. All the technology in the film is to futuristic compared to what we have now. If we had that kind of technology now, it is possible for our lives to be alleviated. We can cure amputees and other diseases, transportation would be much better and work would be done much easier and more efficiently. In other words our lives could be better if used properly. It is possible though that in the near future we would be able to attain this kind of technology. But as of right now that is just merely science fiction.

The film in my opinion is a commentary on past, present and future society. Past because the idea of the Hunger Games is similar to the myth of Perseus and the Minotaur where the myth was that children were sent to the maze of the Minotaur to appease the king. There are similarities to that of to the Hunger Games. So it represents ideas of past societies. Present because of the ideas the film advocates like fight for freedom, fight for what is right, change. These are ideas we fight for at present. We all aim to be free and independent and as of now we have achieved that in a way. No country completely rules over another but instead influence one another. Future because of the technology. The film shows what we can achieve as a human race: all the technological wonders. You can even say that the reason why there is a rebellion is because they looked to the past for inspiration. So the past, present and future are all connected in this film. 

Technology and society both failed and succeeded in the film. It failed because 1.) we failed to learn from the past (dictatorship) 2.) the technology was used to abuse and exploit the citizens when it had the potential to do good. If succeeded as well because 1.) it shows that we are still human because we continue to learn and adapt to the situation (the rebellion) and 2.) we don't forget our roots. I guess we can only truly tell if it failed or succeeded in the next film.