Nerds That Geek Movie Review - 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'

Written by Shae Rufe

Often, when books get translated into movies there are changes. Certain parts of the book get left out, while others are taken and turned into elements that do not match the original written work at all. In the case of Catching Fire, however, the film was as close to the book as humanly possible. Anything that was left out, was not noticed until after the film’s end.  Of course, there were some changes. As the book is written in the first-person point of view of Katniss, we can only speculate what happens between the Game Maker and the President. That being said, this movie was incredible. At times, it was hard to watch with its emotionally charged scenes. Yet, still, it was amazing.

I really enjoyed what they did with the first movie, and I have to say I'm blown away by the second. The movie starts off with Katniss and Peeta having returned to District 12. It's been a year and the two are about to go on their tour of the other 11 districts and then the Capital before finally getting to go back home. Tensions are already high because of the last Hunger Games. So, it's no surprise when President Snow shows up at the Everdeen home to have some private words with Katniss. As far as bad guys go, President Snow ranks pretty high up there (next to the Governor or Negan from The Walking Dead). He's doesn't believe the love between Katniss and Peeta was real. But the people of Panem do. He wants her to convince the people in the Districts that their love is real. Otherwise her family, Peeta's, and Gale's, might not live to see the end of this tour.

First stop on their District tour is District 11! Home of Rue and Thresh. Katniss protected Rue and Thresh saved Katniss after Rue died in the first Movie/Book. Also, this is weird for them because people are not allowed to travel between Districts. And only Tributes are allowed to leave the District to participate in the Games and see the Capital. Anyway! Here, Peeta gives a heartfelt speech and declares that he and Katniss want to give one month of their winnings to Thresh and Rue's families, every year, for the rest of their lives (or something). Katniss gives a heartfelt speech about how awesome Rue was…and then all of District 11, Katniss and Peeta, give the three-fingered salute…this is when the peace keepers intervene, and shoot the old man from the crowd that started it.

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​This, is how the tour starts off. There's unrest in the Districts, revolution is brewing in the air. The only ones who care about Peeta and Katniss are the Capital. Even an engagement announcement isn't enough to stop it. To top it off it is the 75th year since the beginning of the Hunger Games, making it the third Quarter Quell. But, as luck would have it, President Snow decides it's time for Katniss to be killed, once and for all. So, instead of regular tributes, the Games require the tributes to be the previous victors from the previous Games….which means Katniss is chosen no matter what since she's the only female victor from District 12.

And so her and Peeta are off to the games again. Katniss loves Peeta, and Gale, because no story is complete without a love triangle. They try everything to get out of doing the Games again. All the tributes complain about having to go again. Peeta even tries saying Katniss is pregnant. Nothing works, and let the Games begin. Katniss and Peeta make friends with Beetee, Wires, Mags, Finnick and Johanna. But, never get attached. Mags sacrifices herself so that Finnick and Katniss can help save Peeta; Wires is stabbed and killed. But Beetee, Finnick, Peeta and Katniss live. At the end, Katniss uses Beetee's wire, wraps it around a tree, and shoots the arrow into the sky, just as the tree is struck by lightning. The arrow pierces a force field that has encompassed the Games, which are taking place in a dome, and the lightning charged wire, shorts it out. Katniss, Peeta, and Finnick pass out from the blast. When Katniss awakes, she finds herself on a transport ship. Finnick, the Game Maker, and Haymitch are talking not too far from where she is. 

They're on their way to District 13; which was not destroyed as everyone has been told. Peeta and Johanna were not rescued in time, they're back at the Capital. Haymitch reveals that the plan was always to get Katniss out; she is their Mockingjay, the symbol of the rebellion. By the end, I remember that the entire theater clapped (which is something rarely seen nowadays and why it sticks in my mind) and everyone cheered, and there’s a good reason for that, this is a great adaptation of the novel. 

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