The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Watching Catching Fire on the weekend made me wonder why I was hesitant to watch the the First Hunger Games movie. The answer of course is simple, I hate waiting and I haven’t read the Hunger Games series then.

The first Hunger Games was forced on me by classmate when she found out I haven’t watched it yet. And my reaction was ‘Kailinit mana sa kay Katniss man’ (I hate the character Katniss Everdeen). And she said I was spot on. I was supposed to not like Katniss in the first place.

I was intrigued and so I read the series. If you hate Katniss Everdeen, reading the series would make you hate her more. But I did like the series, though not so the third book which is Mockingjay. But that is my opinion and you can have another if you have read the book, as I did, or you can wait for the movie, I hear it’s a Part 1 and 2. That is justifiable as its a bit thicker than the other 2 and they last for 2 hours and a half just to convey what happened in the book in a Lord of the Rings way (sorry, BIG fan).

So let’s get on with the review.

I think let us start with I adored Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason. They delivered the character as I imagined them to be. Sexy and sassy.

I feel sorry for Wiress and Mags and Effie. Theirs is a tragic part. Wiress and Mags dying and Effie heartbroken. But hey, Elizabeth Banks delivered. You should have been jealous of those gorgeous clothes with matching hair.

As for Cinna, I didn’t really care. He had implanted into the Capitol and the Districts a symbol and him dying as price for that symbol, I think, is fair. Since everybody who goes against Snow dies anyway, at least when he goes he had sowed more hatred for the Capitol in Katniss’ heart.

But I started at the middle.

Now for the start. The beginning of the movie is pretty subdued. Just highlighting life after the Hunger Games in District 12’s Victor Village and the RIOT at the Victory Tour. What moved most people would be the speech of Katniss for Rue, and the old man dying for defying the Capitol after that.
Then it was just a pure narrative of Capitol’s monkey business.

Remember: Panem Today, Panem Tomorrow, Panem Forever.

Everybody hated that (the District people) that is.

Then we have the sham engagement. Poor Peeta.

And the announcement of the 3rd Quarter Quell with the goal of eliminating Katniss Everdeen. Tributes were chosen from the victors who are already darlings of the Capitol. Shame that others would suffer because of a single Kat, err, lady?

The Parade, The Tributes Training, Interview, the implication of Katniss as the Mockingjay and the announcement of Katniss’ pregnancy and secret wedding.

Then we have the Hunger Games.

What happened then is too much fun to spoil, but spoil it I will.

The new Arena is a dome and there the Tributes, former Victors, must eliminate each to have one Victor in the end. But before that, the tributes suffered from Anxiety, Pain, Death, Friendship, and Love as Enemies became Allies and Allies Enemies.

But will Katniss have her wish and save Peeta from Death?

We do not know that yet, as the movie ends with Katniss waking up with Gale at her side and the story of District 12 burning in her mind.

So in Mockingjay Part 1 and 2, I hope the answers we seek will be found. And as those movies will bring the Trilogy to an end, will the ODDS be in Their Favor?

Because for now, the ODDS are never in their favor but at least they have
Katniss Everdeen: The Girl On Fire.

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!