Posted on 11/30/2013 2:34:46 PM PST by LS
When I saw "The Hunger Games," I was sure there was a strong anti-government message that seemed closely related to our current situation in the USA. The newest episode in the trilogy, "Catching Fire," sharpens that message even further.
Jennifer Lawrence is headed for a position as one of those generation-defining actresses, much the way Katherine Hepburn, Raquel Welch, and Meryl Streep were. I'm not talking acting talent, although it's pretty clear Jenny can act. I'm talking about the actress who most quickly comes to mind when you talk of the early 21st century. She delivers another excellent performance as Katniss Everdeen, the reluctant rebel who must feign love for Peeta Millark (Josh Hutcherson) so that they both can survive the Hunger Games. Episode 2, "Catching Fire," picks up not long after they have become "victors" in the games and now live, relatively speaking, a life of Riley in District 12. (Not to be confused with District, 9, which is where the aliens live).
For those unfamiliar with the general story, a rebellion against the "Capital District," or "CD," has resulted in the feds crushing the "districts." Each district is defined by what it produces---food, lumber, fish, coal/gas, and so on. However, the Capital District doesn't produce anything. It leeches off all the other districts, which have been brought into subjugation. Further, to teach the districts a lesson about rebellion, every year the feds have an "entertainment" called the Hunger Games in which two candidates are "reaped" from each district---always teens to young people---and they fight to the death until there is a single victor. At the end of "Hunger Games" (episode/book 1), Katniss and Peeta find poisonous berries that they threaten to take unless both are named victors, and President Snow (whose heart is entirely black), his back against the wall, has to allow them to live for propaganda purposes. But he doesn't like it!
By episode 2, Katniss is becoming a revolutionary symbol to the oppressed people of the districts (symbolized by the Mockinjay and a hand gesture that resembles that of the Boy Scouts accompanied by a short whistle). Snow, of course, can't tolerate this kind of challenge, so he arranges through a new Games Master Plutarch (!) Heavensby (Philip Seymour Hoffman) to have a "Quarter Quell," a special once-every-25-years reaping to be fought by only victors from the districts. That leaves as the District 12 candidates Katniss and either Peeta or Haymitch (Woody Harrelson). Predictably, Peeta ends up as Jenny's death date.
What is stunning is that the messages and symbolism of the series tracks extremely well with "Atlas Shrugged." Both books were written by women, with strong heroines as the central character. Both feature rebellion against the "Man." Toward the end of "Catching Fire," Katniss finds herself on the way to her own version of "Galt's Gulch," District 13 (which supposedly had been destroyed . . . but wasn't).
But more than "Atlas Shrugged," the message of the Hunger Games Trilogy is very much the D.C./government elites (not "the rich") vs. everyone else. As Heavensby tries to convince Snow not to kill Katniss but to subject her to the games again, he uses her pending wedding to Peeta as the bait. "Show executions and floggings," he says, then show Kaniss in her wedding gown. "Show executions. Show the wedding." In other words, show the Kardashians and show the seamy side of America and get the people agitated against the elites. . . .
Except, it isn't the elites that Heavensby is setting up, and it isn't "the rich" that the people in the districts hate but rather the D.C. "Capital District" elites. The "gubment." It is clear that the only people in the CD are those who don't do anything, while all of the people in the other districts---think "flyover country"---produce everything.
Perhaps the most striking message to me was the degree to which everyone conducted their own mini-rebellions against the CD. Effie Trinket, Katniss's "handler" for the games, played by Elizabeth Banks, surreptitiously refers to Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch and herself as a team and makes them each gold, well, trinkets. Katniss's is a gold Mockingjay pin. Cinna (Lenny Kravitz), the dressmaker and stylist goes out of his way to take digs at Snow, making Katniss's "wedding gown" burn up to reveal a stunning blue Mockingjay dress. Even half of the combatants are participating in a plot to overthrow Snow and the Capital District.
Cinematically sound, "Catching Fire" has memorable and epic theme music by James Newton Howard. As a sequel, it surpasses by far Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and ranks IMHO with "The Empire Strikes Back" and "The Two Towers."
Oh, and did I mention that the primary reading audience of this was teenagers? It is just the message they need to be hearing right now. But the theatrical audience has crossed all boundaries, and the theater was as full of adults as teenagers and young people. (Analysis of ticket buyers confirms that the movie is reaching all age and demographic groups.) So if "Atlas Shrugged" the movie hasn't caught on as well as some of us would like, there is a film out there that speaks to the dangers of big government, the romance of resistance, and the value of standing up to "the Man." And, as the graffiti in the train tunnels says, "We are always outnumbered." Big deal. Get used to it.
A whole generation is growing up in dystopia now, I only hope they see that in this film.
President Snowbama
LOL...I'm sure Obama is jealous...of the fictional character
He's thinking "If only"
LS, Thank you for your review.
Sounds great. My only problem is I can’t stand Woody Harrelson.
I had this argument with my 9 year old daughter after watching the first one. I had told her that if she didn’t pay any attention to politics it can happen here as it has recently in other places.
Her previous school had student drawings of Obama plastered on the office wall. I asked her if she had ever seen student pictures of Bush.
I went to Google Maps and zoomed into all the Mediterranean countries with a search of resorts. I had the photo feature turned on. Then I told her which countries were in wars and regime changes. We went from country to country panning the beautiful coastlines and the resorts were absolutely beautiful.
That was a year ago. She doesn’t stand up for Obama anymore. If she does, I’ll tell her what Obama, Ayers, Dorhn, Evans, Clinton and Kerry are doing to the world.
Mexican violence, this one just might be too graphic for a young child
https://www.google.com/search?q=syria+resorts&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=DMmYUoWzJYLuoATn3YCwCQ&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1455&bih=705#q=mexican+violence&tbm=isch
Afghanistan resorts
https://www.google.com/search?q=syria+resorts&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=DMmYUoWzJYLuoATn3YCwCQ&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1455&bih=705#q=afghanistan+resorts&tbm=isch
Islamic violence against women
https://www.google.com/search?q=syria+resorts&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=DMmYUoWzJYLuoATn3YCwCQ&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1455&bih=705#q=islamic+violence+against+women&tbm=isch
Then I’ll show her what communism does to a country
Cuban transportation
https://www.google.com/search?q=famine+russia&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=FNSYUuzhLsTpoASs6IDYBw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1455&bih=705#q=cuban+transportation&tbm=isch
Vietnamese boat people
https://www.google.com/search?q=cuban+schools&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=pNiYUpCBCdHyoAT6kYGwDA&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1455&bih=705#q=vietnamese+boat+people&tbm=isch
Awesome. Fracking. Review.
Thanks for taking the time! I’m going to share this to the max, dude, and I say that in the good way that means you have tapped into a youth crossover appeal that I missed by a mile.
Thanks for the review.......
bttt
Me neither, but the character he plays is a wretched drunk, so it’s easier to take.
What pleased me was seeing Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Bank's character) reveal that she wasn't the Obamabot she pretended to be.
I haven’t seen or read the movies or books, but could you answer a question? Would a liberal see it, as you say, as a commentary on THIS government, the 0bama government? Or would they see it as a commentary on government in general? The reason I ask is because my big-lib sister-in-law went to see Catching Fire with my niece on Thanksgiving night. I think she saw the first one, also. I would love it if she could relate the movie to the 0bama administration. Thanks.
I think a lib would identify with the “downtrodden” of the other districts, and liken the Capital more to the Military Industrial Complex and Corporate Elites.
After all both right and left have been trying to claim Orwell for decades.
Fantastic review and very topical as Obama resembles President Snow more every day and Washington, DC becomes more like the Capital District with the endless infusion of money taken from the rest of the country and filled with companies and sycophants who are draining the life from the US.
We’re going tonight.
Just remember this book was written in 2009. From what I’ve read Collins wrote the books based on her reaction to GWB not Obama.
"The Hunger Games" is largely a Rorschach test, where those who's sympathies tend with "Occupy Wall Street" map movie villainy to real-world players quite differently than Patriots.
While there is some overlap between the sets (crony bankers), most of the OWS types will view this as a call for more socialism, rather than less. They haven't realized yet that "voting to help the poor" is in reality "voting to make the ruling elite more powerful".
That being said, I watched the movie and enjoyed it quite a bit.
Not my favorite actor, and to an extent he plays “himself,” but still he is a part of the anti-DC/CD crowd so you gotta love him.
Thanks, and I think teachers everywhere can use this to pull in “Atlas Shrugged.” The similarities are just too apparent.
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