We get to further explore the devious contempt of Donald Sutherland's character, Snow. Something sorely lacking from the first instalment. We also get a great performance from Phillip Seymour Hoffman. His character adds gravitas to proceedings. The 'things that go unsaid' nature of his story arc adds a very thoughtful element.
The first film was very much about survival. You could also liken early adolescence to survival too. Your life is rapidly changing. You are plucked from the safety and security of primary school, thrust into the harsh dog eat dog world of secondary school. Much in the same way as the Reaping sees Pledges taken from their homes and put into The Hunger Games.
Moving onto Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and the journey continues in much the same way. During your early years, from the safety and security of your family home, you have but to think about yourself. That is not to say that we are all selfish, just that we have yet to be fettered with the responsibilities that are a natural part of adulthood. Now as The Hunger Games moves into it's second instalment, we start to see these more responsible, adult elements start to appear.
This starts with the scene between President Snow and Katniss. Snow immediately acknowledges the deception of Katniss' relationship with Peeta, and asks that it continue. Snow insists that Katniss do whatever it takes to convince him that it is real, otherwise Katniss’ family will be at the mercy of Snow. So not only are we dealing with the concept of deception, but also the idea that Katniss is having to do something that she does not enjoy in order to keep others safe. A very grown up concept, and signs that we are moving out of the comfort of childhood and into adolescence and young adulthood.
Then we are introduced to the Mockingjay symbol for the first time as a symbol of rebellion and propaganda, spray painted on the tunnel wall during the train journey to District 11. An introduction to the politically charged element of this second film. Having arrived in District 11 on their victory tour, Katniss and Peeta are expected to give a speech. Effie has prepared these already and hands them cards that they need only read from. After only a few words Peeta abandons the cards and speaks from the heart. With the image of fallen tribute, ally, and friend Rue looking down upon her, Katniss is compelled to follow suit.
“Everything beautiful brings her to mind. I see her in the yellow flowers that grow in the meadow beside my house. I see her in the mockingjays that sing in the trees."
After these heartfelt words from Katniss, an elderly gentleman in the crowd raises a silent, three fingered salute, a symbol of the growing rebellion. Members of the Capitol's police force are quickly on hand to put a stop to it by shooting the elderly man.
A distraught Katniss gets a very real lesson on how her thoughts, words and actions have very real consequences on everyone around her. Like I'm sure all parents will agree however, there are still some things that are kept from Katniss. In much the same way parents protect their children from some of the harsher realities of life for as long as possible. This becomes apparent in the final scenes when we find out that a plot to start a rebellion was happening all around her during the 75th Hunger Games.
As the first film introduced us to the concept of The Hunger Games. It focused mainly on the mechanics of the games survivalist nature. In this way it was likened to films such as Battle Royale, meaning that those unfamiliar with the books were coming to watch the film with expectations that were skewed from the start. Being compared to such an adult themed and violent film made the first Hunger Games seem perhaps more childlike than it actually was. Throughout the second film we get glimpses of rebellion. People talking about hope. Unrest in all the districts, and silent salutes in respect to the two main characters that add much more. This comes to a dramatic climax at the end when we are brought to the precipice of a full scale uprising. When we also find out that District 12 has been flattened and Snow has followed through with his earlier threat, Katniss' steely look tells us that we have crossed a threshold and there is no going back. A fine ending that left me wanting immediately to see the final instalment of this franchise.
As the final credits began to roll, I turned to a friend who I was watching the film with and jokingly bet that the final film would be split into two parts. An annoying trend with such franchises. It appears the trend will continue with The Hunger Games, where we can expect to see 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1' on our screens just before Christmas next year. My only hope is that it isn't a case of all the action being shoe-horned into part 2.
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