The film “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” is based on the second installment of Suzanne Collins’ trilogy of novels of the same name, and its expansive worldview and themes of social criticism are appealing. The story, which follows the impact of the previous film, “The Hunger Games,” draws viewers in deeply, but also has elements that are likely to divide opinion.
Looking back on the original novel and the previous film, “The Hunger Games”
First, in order to gain a deeper understanding of this work, I would like to briefly review the original series and the previous work, “The Hunger Games.”
About the work
The Hunger Games is a trilogy of dystopian science fiction novels for young adults written by American author Suzanne Collins.
- The Hunger Games
- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay
Set in a near-future America that has become a dictatorship called Panem, the Capitol is the political centre, and its citizens enjoy aristocratic privileges. In order to suppress rebellion, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 are selected from each of the 12 districts surrounding the Capitol, and 24 boys and girls are forced to fight to the death in a murderous survival game.
This is The Hunger Games !
A brief summary of the previous film, “The Hunger Games”
The protagonist, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), who lives in District 12, volunteers to participate in the games in order to protect her beloved younger sister, Prim, who has been selected as a participant. From District 12, Katniss and another boy, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), the son of a baker, are chosen to participate in the deadly competition. Using her skill with a bow and arrow and her wit, she survives the games by pretending to be in a relationship with Peeta.
Back to the world of the game
In the previous film, “The Hunger Games,” Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) won the 74th Hunger Games and returned triumphantly to their home district, District 12. They are welcomed as heroes, but their battle in the Hunger Games and their victory in the game ignite a quiet flame of rebellion in the hearts of the people.
President Snow, seeking to crush Katniss, who has become a symbol of hope for the people, resorts to extremely brutal measures. He decides to gather all past Hunger Games victors once again and hold the 75th Hunger Games (Commemorative Edition: Quarter Quell), which will be even more brutal than before. Katniss and Peeta face the fate of being sent back into the deadly battlefield.
In the 75th Games, the victors gathered are more cunning and dangerous than ever before. They are all survivors who have once faced death, and their conflicting motives, betrayals, and schemes swirl around them. Katniss must now seek out a new strategy to survive. Meanwhile, behind the scenes of the Games, the smouldering flames of rebellion across Panem are finally beginning to ignite into a full-scale revolution.
This film is not just a simple repeat of the survival game. The “Victory Tour” that visits each district concretely shows life throughout Panem and how resistance simmers beneath the surface among impoverished residents, adding realism to the portrayal of a dictatorship.
The depiction of the game has also evolved. While the previous film focused heavily on Katniss’s survival, this film introduces the “alliances” and “strategies” of past victors before the game begins as key elements, giving it a more psychological warfare-like quality. The presence of the new game maker, Plutarch Heavensbee (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman), adds an unsettling atmosphere and foreshadows future developments in the story.
From a rough documentary to dark footage due to a change in director
The director of “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” is different from the director of the previous film. Gary Ross directed the first film, and Francis Lawrence directed the second film, “Catching Fire.” Francis Lawrence also directed the subsequent films, “Mockingjay – Part 1,” “Mockingjay – Part 2,” and “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”
We have summarised the main changes in the atmosphere and expression of the work following the change of director to Francis Lawrence.
Changes in imagery and style towards a more grandiose and dark tone
First of all, the atmosphere of the imagery is different. This change gave me a different impression of the atmosphere of The Hunger Games as a film, with its rough realism and cinematic perfection.
- Gary Ross (director of the previous film, The Hunger Games):
- The film was shot with a handheld camera, giving it a documentary-like feel that emphasised immediacy and tension. The frequent cuts and emphasis on the characters’ subjective perspectives created an immersive experience, making the audience feel as though they were participating in the Hunger Games survival game.
- Francis Lawrence (director of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and subsequent films):
- The film featured a more refined, cinematic visual aesthetic. The composition of the frames felt more intricate, and the overall scale of the film seemed to have improved. This atmosphere gave the impression of a more refined cinematic experience. The depiction of the Capitol remained opulent, but the overall tone had become darker and more sombre.
- Action scenes now employ wider angles to convey the overall movement, with a reduction in handheld camera shaking compared to the previous film. This clarifies the scale of the game and the structure of the arena. However, compared to the previous film, the sense of immersion in the survival game feels somewhat diminished.
The transition from a survival game to a revolution
I also felt that the focus of the story had changed significantly from the previous film.
- Director Gary Ross (first film):
- The focus was solely on the survival of the death game known as “The Hunger Games.” It concentrated on carefully depicting the process of a young girl named Katniss fighting against an unreasonable system and surviving.
- Francis Lawrence (director of the second film onwards):
- Political intrigue and signs of rebellion are more pronounced. Katniss’s role shifts towards becoming a symbol of hope and revolution, focusing more on human relationships and political maneuvering over pure survival.
Deepening inner world and expanding relationships
Changes were also observed in the inner world of the protagonist, Katniss, as well as the relationships between the characters.
- Gary Ross (first film):
- Katniss’s motivations were relatively simple, centred on her instinct as a “hunter” and her strong love for her sister. Her relationship with Peeta was also depicted as a simple bond, with the “acting” required to survive the game playing a significant role.
- Francis Lawrence (director of the second film onwards):
- Katniss’s PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and mental conflicts are explored in greater depth. The love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale is depicted as more complex and emotional, with Katniss’s identity and the agonising choices she faces being emphasised.
The director change can be seen as a necessary evolution for the “Hunger Games” series, transforming it from a mere survival game into a grand, political dystopian epic. Director Gary Ross effectively brought the shocking setting of the original novel to life in the first film, successfully drawing audiences into that world. On the other hand, director Francis Lawrence expanded the worldview of “The Hunger Games” from a survival game to the totalitarian state of Panem in the second film and beyond, laying the groundwork for the story that leads to Katniss’s revolution.
Katniss’s love story
Katniss’s love story is also an important element in this film. The role of “tragic lovers” she played with Peeta in the previous film began as a performance to achieve victory. However, in this film, the false relationship is depicted as becoming entangled with their true feelings in a complex manner.
Katniss struggles and feels confused between her genuine love for Gale and the new emotions that emerge from her harsh life with Peeta. Especially, Peeta’s selfless efforts to protect Katniss deeply shake her heart. However, since there is more time spent with Peeta through the game, the love triangle feels more inclined towards Peeta.
Prelude to Revolution
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is a pivotal turning point in the series as a whole. If the previous film was the story of a girl fighting against the insane system of The Hunger Games, this film can be seen as a prelude to revolution.
The secret plans for rebellion are unfolding behind the scenes of the game, and the shocking events that occur in the final stages drastically alter the story’s direction. Katniss, unwittingly, becomes the “Mockingjay” of the revolution, a symbol of hope for the people. Though she is not yet fully aware of this role, her very existence hints at her becoming the key to determining the future of Panem.
This work depicts not just a survival game, but the beginning of a struggle for freedom by oppressed people. As the ruling structure of Panem is gradually revealed and the resistance movements in each district are depicted in detail, the story expands in scale and promises to develop into a more epic narrative.
Summary: The beginning of Francis Lawrence’s new trilogy
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire primarily serves as a transitional installment in the trilogy. The action and storyline are less impactful than those of the previous film, and the romantic subplot featuring Katniss, Peeta, and Gale is given significant emphasis.
For those planning to watch the “Hunger Games” series, I strongly advise against watching this film without a companion. This work can only be understood within the context of the series, and it occupies an awkward middle position as the second instalment.
However, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” builds on the strengths of the previous film while delving deeper into its themes. It is a work that carefully portrays Katniss’s struggles, growth, and the nascent movements toward revolution. For fans of the previous film, the content may feel somewhat dull due to its position in the middle of the series and the change in directors; however, this film plays a crucial role in laying the groundwork for the impending revolution.
