So we are into the third film of four- and true to form, I had to re-read last year's take on 'Catching Fire' to get back into the Hunger Games World. Even after 3 movies, the franchise still hasn't resonated with me, and for that I must apologize. It isn't for the movies lack of trying to get me involved, as every year it would seem the press machine goes into over drive promoting Hunger Games. And I really do want to get behind a fantasy movie that has a heroine at its core, a movie that tells all those young girls out there that they can be the knight in shining armor, and that they aren't relegated to being just the damsel in distress. For those girls who are inspired by Hunger Games, I applaud the franchise. After watching this third movie, it confirms that while I find the movies entertaining, I just don't enjoy them to the point of championing it.
The third movie takes place outside of an actual Hunger Games, and for that I am grateful. The thought of more children slaughtering children for entertainment would have been too much for me. So instead of the pageantry and violence of the games, we deal with the aftermath of the 75th Hunger Games. Katniss and company are holed up in District 13, which while destroyed, found a way to survive. For years District 13 has been building up their military defenses, and living deep underground, away from the prying eyes of the Capital. We start to see the plan that Plutarch had started to put into play, and see that he isn't on the side of the Capital. Gale and the folks from District 12, including Katniss's family, are guests in this large fortified bunker. The destruction to District 12 is in direct retaliation of Katniss shooting out the energy force field and those who died are almost too much for Katniss to bear. She doesn't want to be the rallying cry that Plutarch and President Coin (new character introduced, the Pres. of District 13) need her to be, to them she is the fuel that will ignite that fire of rebellion across all the districts.
The only person missing in this cozy bunker is Peeta, who was left at the capital. At first Katniss was wondering is Peeta even alive? Then in a Capital broadcast, there's Peeta talking to Caesar, telling the world that Katniss wasn't part of any larger conspiracy or revolution, and that any rebels should lay down their arms. Katniss blames herself, blames Haymitch, and Plutarch for this miscarriage of justice. She doesn't want to inspire a rebellion, all Katniss wants is to get Peeta back, before he is killed. Her sister convinces her to use her leverage as the Mockingjay to get Peeta and the other 2 tributes out of the Capital in exchange for using her as war propaganda, to which President Coin eventually agrees to the terms. A film crew, including a director and cinematographer, along with Katniss then embark on this propaganda machine.
At first Katniss is struggling to make the words come alive, even Effie can't coax a winning performance out of Katniss. A sober Haymitch emerges to tell all of them they have it all wrong, you can't script Katniss. The times when she's inspired people- singing for Rue, becoming the tribute to save her sister- were things Katniss did on her own, let Katniss be herself, urged Haymitch. What this leads to is Katniss in full Catching Fire uniform, standing in District 12 showing the destruction the Capital caused. Evil President Snow destroys the hospital, full of the sick and wounded, for associating with the rebel Katniss. As the planes are dropping bombs, there is Katniss and Gale, shooting the planes down, with the video capturing all the destruction. Katniss, a person of few words, but each word impactful, screams "This is what the Capital does!" I have to applaud Gale for getting a larger involvement in this movie, even though not a tribute, he is right there by Katniss, shooting down planes. There are several more video shoots, on location at Districts destroyed by the Capital, with Gale right there beside Katniss. Which is a bit sad, because in all this craziness, Katniss isn't thinking about how much she loves Gale, just that they must save Peeta. Gale knows this, and tells her she only sees him when he is in pain, as if during the good times he's invisible. And Gale is the first volunteer on the covert mission to get the tributes out of the Capital. And so the cycle goes on, rebels wreak havoc on Capital, the Capital strikes back, in this ongoing escalation of death and destruction. And at the climax is Snow's haunting words, it is often the things we love the most that will sow the seeds of our own destruction. Does he heed his own advice? Only time will tell.
In re reading the review of Catching Fire, I can answer some of the questions posed, like who is good and who is bad, but I'm still left with questions, that will have to wait until movie 4 to be answered. I did however learn quite a few things in watching this movie.
1. When promoting a sense of harmony and equality in confined spaces, have everyone wear the same clothes, even President Coin wore the blue jumpsuit, as if to say she is no different than the rest of them.
2. A white rose, while usually a symbol of innocence and purity, can be turned into a symbol of evil. The white roses littering the bodies on District 12 is chilling, and puts Snow in a uniquely evil category
3. When deciding to go up against evil, one must never waver. Katniss had to be all in to live with the destruction of District 12, District 8, and to make the loss of life count in the cause.
4. As stated above, violence seems to only beget more violence. Each act of defiance Katniss does is met with punishment from President Snow, when does the cycle end?
5. When trying to evade capture, where the difference between survival and death is mere seconds, leave the cat. Don't got back for the cat, let the cat go.
