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Reaction Paper: Catching Fire

Waiting for almost half an hour until – 10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1. Boom! My eyes focused on the screen, ears listening to every little sound and body glued to the seat as I watch the film version of Catching Fire from the second book of Hunger Games written by Suzanne Collins.

The “Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, though with romantic elements, is science fiction movie. The movie itself can tell why it can be consider a sci-fi movie. It can be prove by the advance technology used in the movie like the multiple odd devices and weapons that are impossible today. There also a number of strange creatures like genetically enhanced monkeys and mockingjays. Also, the futuristic train, the arena (where the battle was held), the training ground (where the tributes practice) and a lot more are complete product of advance technology.

The movie is a commentary on past, present and future human society for it gives a picture of how’s life on that time period.  Panem resembles a place of the past under a rule of an absolute monarchy. Also, the tributes are shown to be more barbaric rather than civilized people like in the ancient Rome. Tributes, like ancient citizen, used some adaptive behaviour just to survive the battle like the use of camouflage, having sharp teeth and the likes. It also depicted the situation of the world in the present. Like the districts, there are informal settlers or “slums” that are almost found everywhere and the different social classes conflicting- the favoured, bourgeois class and the poor or middle class. Lastly, the future was also depicted clearly shown by the enhancement of technology such as force fields, holograms, and other futuristic devices.

In the world of the 13 districts, Science, Technology and Society failed. Only Capitol has access to technological advancement and benefits while the people did not benefit much from these. The developments and inventions are only utilized by the Capitol that caused a lot of destruction to people of Panem.

Catching Fire was not only the best but an incomparable one. The money I’ve paid was not wasted. It was all worth it. In the end, I caught myself cheering for the girl on fire. Go Katniss!