The victors of the 74th annual Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta, have earned a well deserved break, and they are finally able to enjoy peace in knowing that their fight has come to an end; or are they? Are the Hunger Games truly over for the only two tributes ever to survive the horrendous games together, or has their fight just begun?
Katniss and Peeta sacrificed everything, nearly committing suicide during the games, because of their true feelings for each other. While many see this as the act of love that it truly represents, there are those who look at it as an act of defiance against the Capitol. This is a problem for President Snow, the primary oppressor in Panem, and it quickly becomes a problem for Katniss and Peeta.
They were promised many things, including a lifetime of support from the Capitol, but what they are left with is a shallow victory indeed. Everything that they were made to endure, for the prize of stardom and fame, is for nothing in the end and the end is soon to begin for them both. You see, there are changes coming to the 75th annual Hunger Games, in honor of the third “Quarter Quell”, and former victors are expected to be a significant part of this change. In fact, they will be fighting right along side new comers to the bloody games.
Positive Elements
The sacrifice that Katniss and Peeta made, during the last Hunger Games, offered much hope to those witnessing the unselfish act, and it is what transforms the next Hunger Games into what it will become. The games have always been about survival, and more specifically about an individuals will to survive, and this year will be no different. However, there will be one incredible twist and that is the fact that the fight will not be between one tribute and another, but rather between the combined efforts of the tributes and those who continue to oppress them.
That’s right, the tributes (many of them anyway) have decided to stop fighting against one another and begin making the very same sacrifices that Katniss and Peeta made for each other. This is all due to the fact that they were greatly affected by the original sacrifice they witnessed in the last games. But what they don’t realize is that the sacrifices that they will be making will be much greater than they might have first expected.
One of the tributes (Haymitch) is approached by both Peeta and Katniss, at separate points during the games, and is asked to help the other survive no matter what the cost. This is just one more act of sacrifice, by the two most important individuals in the game, and is what continues to feed the fire that is the tributes will to survive together. Needless to say, sacrifices are made throughout the 75th annual Hunger Games that affect more than just those involved in the game itself.
People everywhere begin to take life threatening risks simply to support Panem and its growing rebellion. This sacrifice spreads throughout each of the 12 Districts and leads directly to the two most important people to Katniss; his very own mother and sister. Their message to Katniss is communicated quite clearly: We are nowhere near as important as everything that is going on in Panem at this point, so don’t worry about us.
Sexual Elements
Peeta, Katniss, and Haymitch share an elevator ride together with Joanna, another tribute in this years games, that turns into a strip show as Joanna removes all of her clothing in defiance against being forced to continually dress up for the cameras. The view is of Joanna’s bare back although the three additional elevator riders see a whole lot more. Joanna also asks Peeta how he feels about the fact that the whole world wants to sleep with him.
Katniss and Peeta share an unusual love in that Katniss has feelings for Gale, the hunting partner that she shared much of her childhood with. They kiss at several points throughout the movie, but those kisses are nothing compared to the kiss that Katniss and Peeta share on the beach during one scene in particular. This stirs up very definite conflicting feelings in Katniss as her feelings for Peeta continue to grow stronger. Katniss and Peeta end up sleeping together, in a non-sexual way, for the purpose of helping to stop the constant occurrence of nightmares.
Violent Elements
The violent acts that the tributes experience is, by far, the worst that moviegoers will see, but it is by no means the only violence witnessed. Tributes are stabbed in the stomach, torn apart by creatures that have been genetically modified, shot with arrows in the chest, killed by a poisonous mist capable of causing the skin to blister, cut down with an ax, and much more! The violence is, at times, very brutal and while it is simply a means to an end, it can be quite horrific.
Drug and Alcohol Elements
There are several elements throughout the movie including one scene, in particular, where Katniss is injected with a sedative, but only after using this very same sedative during the attack of another man. There is yet another scene where Gale is beaten with a whip, and then immediately injected with morphine.
Katniss pays Haymitch a visit, at his home, and states that she is in need of a drink. Haymitch replies, “Finally, something I can help you with.” and she does exactly that. There aren’t too many forms of alcohol that Haymitch won’t drink which is probably why he is either in a drunken state, or is on his way there, throughout the movie. His mission is typically to escape the pain of his past.
Conclusion
Katniss wants to live and she wants everyone she cares for to live as well. What she comes to realize quite quickly is that running is not the answer. The answer is in staying and fighting for what she believes to be true. Along with Peeta and the others, she learns that the true fight is more about coming up with the best way to live her life while she still has life in her body.
There is nothing more prevalent throughout the movie than sacrifice, and amidst it all is the horrifying bloodshed that we are made to witness. Would the message have been the same had the violence been omitted from its storyline? Possibly however, it is there and it represents Panem’s constant fight against those who would threaten their freedom to love and care for those closest to them.
The Hunger Games: “Catching Fire” is a movie full of what might be considered to be controversial scenes to some, but to others it relays a very distinct, and much needed message. Watching this movie will come down to personal preference (as it does with most movies of its kind) and will be determined on an individual basis.
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Southern Outdoor Cinema
About Paul B. Murray
Paul is founder of Southern Outdoor Cinema, an outdoor cinema event production company based in Atlanta and a dad to 2 pre-teen girls. When he is is not traveling to create outdoor movie nights for communities, he is spending time playing board games, reading books and of course watching movies with his girls.
