THE FLY REACTION PAPER!!! - miguel molina

After watching the 1958 Science Fiction film The Fly, in no more than  three (300) words. What is your opinion of the film? This is required. Please discuss briefly by answering the following questions:

Was the film entertaining and interesting? Why?

Yes, though it was a 1958 film I found the story interesting because it had a lot of concepts and future ideas on what the future might have.

What was the film's commentary on Scientists and conduct of science? Would you consider it a morality play? Why?

In my opinion the film’s commentary on scientists and conduct of science are immoral, they try to change how life works and defy naturalities. I would consider it a morality play because they try to find a way to change back the guy that turned into a fly. In short they are meddling in genetics.

How does it reflect the view on Science and Technology during the 1950s

The movie and the teleportation device reflects the view on science and technology during the 1950’s because it is too advanced for their time.

The Fly (1958) - A Reaction Paper

Clearly, it is a science fiction horror film, and it served its intended purpose: To show the horrible consequences of science gone wrong.

Andre Delambre was working on a revolutionary technology: a matter transporter. Primarily, it is a device that is able to transmit matter instantaneously in space. It is his answer to the problems of transportation: quick and efficient. No more traffic and congested roads, no more air pollution from car exhausts and NO MORE WAITING. How it works, is that first, the matter is disintegrated in one chamber. It is then transported to another chamber, where it would be reintegrated back to its original form. (Andre likens his invention to that of the telephone, where matter is replaced by sound vibrations).

It is without its fault though. Andre has failed to safeguard his equipment from possible defects, and thus has suffered because of it. He tried transport himself in his machine, without knowing that a fly has entered the chamber with him. In the process of disintegration-integration, their atoms were mixed, creating a man with a fly’s head and arm, and a fly with a man’s head and arm.

He was a man of science, passionate in his pursuit of knowledge, even to the point of unrest. We see him in his lab all the time, to the vexation of his wife and family. That passion became his downfall. His passion led him to push his own boundaries and do unsafe tests on living creatures, including the family cat, and later himself.

IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW that cost Andre his life and humanity. The conclusion was sad, but necessary. As it was said in the film, Andre died doing what he believed would benefit mankind, and faced the dangers that came with it.

Overall, it was a good film, although the horror was a bit offset by the campiness of 50s cinema. I found the 1986 a bit more horrifying.

Kristine Faith D. Valle

2013-14356

           

“A Reaction Paper on the movie: The Fly”

            I found the story of The Fly very interesting. It was about a loving father and husband, who was also a passionate scientist who created an invention that eventually lead to his downfall. It was honestly quite a tragic story. Despite this, however, I think that this movie sends a deep message regarding science and technology. Truly, as was proven by Andre, the pursuit for knowledge never stops and curiosity just leads people, especially scientists wanting to find out more about the world and create inventions for the benefit of humanity. Despite this noble goal however, may come deep consequences for the pursuit of knowledge truly does not come for free.

            The Fly focuses on the main character Andre, who can be considered a genius but more than this, he was also a dedicated family man to his son and wife. As the movie progressed, the character of Andre was revealed and it can be concluded that he was one of those scientists that really had a hunger for inventing things which lead him to create the machine that allows living or non living things to be transported from one place to another through molecules. This eventually lead him to be forced to kill himself, for the machine created a dangerous creature that can potentially harm other people. This proves that Andre is also noble, knowing full well the consequences of what he has created and owing up to it. I believe that all of these tell something insightful about science which includes all the new technology that we are experiencing in present society. As years go by, more things are being created for our convenience, and more people are curious as to what more can be discovered for the benefit of society. While this is something that should be encouraged, it should also be noted that all of these benefits have certain repercussions. Much like how, Andre turned into a fly and had to take away his life, we have to realize that all these new technology have bad effects on our lives, environment etc. From a small scale of being our distractions to a larger scale of causing wars and destroying the environment and killing lives, we have to realize the full extents of these things and make sure that we do not take advantage of it. More importantly, we also have to know how to reverse what wrong was committed so as to not harm other people.

             

The Fly (1958): A Critical Reaction

by Calimlim, Noli R.

2013-11406

"The Fly" is classic Sci-Fi from the 50s but this film doesn't showcase childish feels which make it more interesting. The context itself may seem inane here, but its manage-ably executed and handled in a relax manner. This movie also swerve more towards a much more broaden and imaginative story. A certain creepiness contained in its psychological material rather than visuals also makes the plot to catch more attention to the viewers. What does make it surprisingly good is that interesting set-ups or plot twists exist that pulls every viewer by taking a more serious approach with a play of irony along the story.

"It'd be funny if life wasn't so sacred."

With this words form Andre,we can say that issue of morality was dragged out. By this point, it’s a sad fall into death which is a long way from André’s original intent for the machine: to help humanity; which is also all we knew the main purpose of Science, to simplify the humanity’s method of life. The movie’s moral exemplifies the motto that the “road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” 

From the creative minds and ideas of Andre itself, we can conclude that Science and Technology back in the 50s contributed a lot of advancements which we are experiencing now or will be experiencing in the near future. The invention of TV sets, discovery of the DNA structure, opening of the first nuclear plant and even the development of internet are only some concrete examples of those scientific and techno-logic innovations.

Have You Seen the Fly? : A The Fly Reaction Paper

       
       

          I was never fond of old-fashioned science fiction films but The Fly surely captured my attention. The 1958 film revolved around Andre, a scientist who invented a machine that disintegrates and reassembles atoms. This invention opens up the possibility of teleportation. When the scientist's experiment goes wrong, he ends up with a head and an arm that is similar to a fly. Unfortunately, his attempts to reverse the process failed, thus, leading to a dramatic finale in which his wife crushes his head and arm in a hydraulic press. The plot and the effects might seem corny at first but watching this film proved to be a chilling and worthwhile experience. 

       Unlike the media's view on scientists, The Fly doesn't portray scientists as either evil geniuses out to conquer the world or nerdy geeks. Aiding the society by means of his inventions is Andre's main goal in the film. This goal can be compared to to science's main purpose, to ease the humanity's way of living. But even when the scientists have the right ideas and their contraptions actually work, sometimes things can go wrong or results may not be as good as what they expected. There are instances where scientists tend to misuse science and end up 'playing God', dragging the issue of morality. In one scene in the film, Andre uttered the line "It'd be funny if life wasn't so sacred." Life is something you shouldn't mess up with science. Yes, humans are blessed with the intelligence and capability to achieve scientific advancements but we should always remember that there is always a limitation to everything, especially to our curiosities. 

      The 1950's is somewhat the 'golden age' of science fiction films. Movies like "Godzilla" and "The Blob" were box-office hits.  Being a post-World War II era, people showed interests in the aspects of science. The people's scientific curiosity during that decade enabled them to explore. The 50s contributed a lot to scientific and technological advancements. One of these contributions is the internet. Almost six decades have gone by but still, the people's thirst in uncovering the mysteries of science and technology still exists, further seeking development.


2013-25246

         

The Fly (1958)

2013-17819

                The film piqued my interest right from the beginning because it started in medias res[1]. The story started with a puzzling situation that made more and more sense as one of the main characters recalls the events. Another reason why the film caught my attention is the great mind of the scientist Andre. He was able to create something so genius yet, he does not make wise decisions. A scientist must know what and who NOT to test their experiments with, especially if their inventions are still prototypes.

                The film showcased scientists as the key to helping society have an easier and more efficient life in the future. It is sending a message that scientists mean well. But sometimes, they cross a very thin line when they don’t follow safety rules and laboratory conducts. They could actually harm society (and in the film’s case, even the scientists themselves); the opposite of what they are actually trying to do. The only issue of morality play in the film was if Helen, wife of Andre, is guilty for murdering a part-man, part-fly creature. If the verdict is yes, then the police chief is also guilty of murder for smashing the part-man, part-fly creature.

                Based on the film, people from the 1950s were very imaginative. They were able to think of a device so complicated, that even now in the 2010s seem very far from possible. Aside from being imaginative, they were also innovative. Did you see that teleporting machine? It had lots of knobs to turn as you set it up. It even had different colored neon lights that lit up as the machine processes the disintegration and reintegration of molecules. Now that’s creative!

Reaction Paper on The Fly

I found The Fly interesting and entertaining because it had an interesting plot for a science fiction movie. I have seen and read science fiction materials wherein the scientist’s experiment had gone wrong, but what made this film unique for me is the involvement of the scientist’s wife in his time of crisis. Also, what made this film very unique is the choice of the animal to be fused with the DNA of a human. I’ve seen movies about werewolves, mermaids, centaurs, but this is the first time I’ve seen a half-man half-fly.

I think the film showed the limits of a scientific experiment. It illustrated an example where man took it too far. I think there is nothing wrong with wanting to know the truth. As a kid, I was also curious about everything around me and I wanted answers to all those questions. But science also has to have its own conduct of morality and regulation. Not every experiment is acceptable to humankind in terms of religion, culture and society. Taking The Fly as an example, although the scientist did not intentionally fuse with a fly, it shows how a human life and morality was endangered in a man’s experiment to search for the truth. I consider this film therefore a morality play because it shows the conflict of right and wrong and several moral lessons can be drawn from it.

Based on the movie, I think that people viewed Science and Technology in the past as something that is developing and progressing at an incredible rate. In spite of the awe of people about science and technology, they’re also wary about what this may produce. Progress has its disadvantages after all.

Corpuz, Raiza M.

2013-14987

Reaction Paper on "The Fly"

            The views and concepts of science today is not the same as when it was in the earlier times. Such is portrayed in the 1958 science fiction film entitled “The Fly” which revolved around the death of a man who loves science more than anything else that he even dedicated his life to it. It was a pretty interesting film to watch knowing that it is a science fiction from the late 50s and I wasn’t even born that time so it somehow gains some interest to know about the views of people in science and technology then. But then, I don’t really consider it that entertaining because I have already seen many science fiction films and the 1958 film is simple compared to those because of a high standard and in my view, there aren’t  much plot, twists or revelations which is understandable because of the difference in generations.

                The film also tells about the proper laboratory procedures, right conduct and ethics like the use of live animals in experiments and worse is the researcher himself because it may lead to certain tragic events like in the case of the movie, the scientist got its atoms mixed up with a fly. It could be considered as a morality play because it teaches a lesson that one should follow proper experimental procedures and protocols. The improvements in science is not easily achieved as there were many failures and accidents so such rules were created to help minimize the problems and accidents because if a tragedy happens, not only one  but many will be affected  like the family of Andre.

                It shows that in the 50s many are still undiscovered or invented that stirred the curiosity of the people then which lead to the advancements in science and technology that we have today. But thinking about it, science has always been like that. Even now, many are still curious on many mysteries of reality and technology is still vastly developing for the future use of society.

Rasty M. Rastrullo

2013-41010

The Fly: A Man's Pursuit and Nature's Antagonism (Reaction paper)

               

The film is interesting because it started with the climax, wife killing her husband by means of hydraulic press.  There’s the build-up, piquing the curiosity of the audience. And it all fell into places: how man dared to tamper nature, the way he suffered the consequences and how the wife tried to save his husband from nature’s antagonism. Another great point about this film that made it more interesting is that criticizes scientists on their pursuit of explaining everything. There is a fine line in science that would actually tell you when to stop. But those who take the extra mile must be applauded for their tenacity because of their willingness to sacrifice for the sake of the discovery.

The ending was when the white fly pleading for help and the spider about to devour it was smashed by a rock. The investigator killed a fly with a person’s head attached to it.  It was shown earlier in the film that the reason why Helene killed him was because he had this head and arm of a “thing”. She was about to get jailed for murder for killing him whose head is a fly.

This is where morality comes in. Where do you put the line between what is right and what is wrong? Something is morally good if it is morally permissible, bad if otherwise. In this case, did they do right thing in killing the man/fly?  Can he (Andre) still be considered as a human and the act that those two do be considered murder or just “pest-killing” like what people do with cockroach? This is a morality play.

Another factor that made the audience hooked-up with it was because it dealt with futuristic science that is, in today’s time, far from possible. Is teleportation through space even possible? And the concept of disintegrating and integrating again is very imaginative. 1950’s was the time when people think that everything through science is possible. Laughable? Yes, because they are not equipped with the knowledge that we possess now. But can we blame them?

                 

 Zhedrik Chua. 2012-15340

The Legend of the White Fly – A Commentary on The Fly (1986) Film

              Once there was a man who loved science more than anything. He spends a lot of time in his lab. He eats there, sleeps, and maybe even doesn’t take a bath that frequently. There even are times when he spends more time in his lab than with his family! These he’s been doing to realize his one true goal – to help the people through his inventions. So he theorized, built, experimented, conducted trials, and succeeded. He was able to realize his goal through the matter transporter he invented which allows things to be transported from point A to point B. However, just as he was ready to announce it, an accident occurred when he himself tried to use it! A fly accidently entered the chamber and they were scrambled altogether. His head and left arm became that of the fly. The fly on the other hand became peculiar – its head became white. Upon closer inspection, the reason why it was white was because the scientist’s head and arm replaced its original parts. Thus, the “white” fly was born!

               Getting back on the topic, the film “The Fly” is actually a science fiction horror, though I’m not sure about the horror part given that it was not that scary at all. For me, the film is somewhat a commentary of what science is – its function and purpose in society. Helping people through his creation/s is the purpose of the scientist Andre in the film, which is also similar to one of the primary purpose and function of science in our society. It studies our environment, analyze phenomenon, and uncover mysteries in order to find out their cause, effect, and applications. For them, gaining an understanding on these things will help improve the current conditions of the society as well as its inhabitants. Through their findings, not only can they make people’s lives easier – similar to what Andre’s goal is in the film, they can also explain whatever is occurring around them.

                The field of science nowadays has come a long way compared to how it is back then. However, all of these improvements did not come without a price given that scientific theories are proven on a trial-and-error basis by conducting a series of experiments. I’m sure a number of these experiments conducted by scientists did not always end up bearing good results or ended without any accidents. Most likely most of these had experienced some “something must have went wrong” or “it was not supposed to end like this” moments. One can also say that the film somewhat brushes on the morality issues concerning science wherein it makes our mind waver by making us feel guilty. But then again, it depends because each person has a different mindset, and I having a scientific mindset don’t see any problems with this for it is for the betterment of a greater number of people.

Andrew Kevin B. Mayor (2009 - 53399)

The Search for Truth (a The Fly (1958) Reaction Paper)

                I found The Fly interesting and a film nothing short of entertainment. It had a sense of mystery that I liked.  The film’s subtle foreshadows encouraged the audience to piece the plot together, only to be shocked at the plot twist. The scientific grounds were also interesting. The logic of teleportation, disintegration and re-integration, seemed to be sound. However, I found the human-fly mutation a bit sketchy. Questions like, “Why was a big part of his body a fly if a fly was contains relatively little “fly” molecules?”, came to mind.

                A scientist was regarded as “an explorer in a wild country where no one had ever been before”. The film regarded science as a “search for the truth” which is the most important work in the world but also the most dangerous. The film also presents 2 messages, that the boundaries of science should be pushed in the quest for knowledge and secondly, that in spite of this, science also has a limit and that there are some things that should not be tampered with.

                In a deeper sense, the film is a play on morality. It depicts conducts of science, especially the achievement of something near impossible, as “playing God”. It also gives the message that the sacredness of life should always be respected and that life is not something one should take for granted. Although we have the capabilities and intelligence to explore the world and the laws of nature, we should keep in mind the limits of what we can manipulate.

                In the 1950s, science and technology was viewed as a field with infinite possibilities for new discoveries and inventions that will benefit mankind. However, it was also regarded with fear, a fear that one day we may misuse it and end up with disastrous consequences.

2013-13861

“A Reaction Paper on the Hunger Games Series: Catching Fire”

By: Kristine Faith D. Valle 2013-14356

            The Hunger Games series was most of the most popular adaptation of science fiction, acclaimed by millions. However, it was not only because of amazing graphics and a wonderfully made plot that made this movie worthy of praise. The beauty of the Hunger Games comes from its deep message regarding social realities that are faced by many citizens of the world today and its message of hope that freedom and rightfulness will always prevail. 

            The movie adaptation of a Catching Fire clearly depicted the elements of a science fiction, with its highly futuristic setting and advanced forms of technology especially as exemplified in the Capitol, which is the capital of the thirteen districts. Furthermore, it is also set in a universe that operated differently from current society given their customs of looking for tributes and the culture of fear and discipline that citizens must embody or else face very dire consequences. They had a different social, cultural and political setting different from that of today. However, compared to other renowned literature of science fiction such as Star Wars and X-men, it is also evident that it is not as heavy in being a science fiction compared to these movies that really had fictional characters such as mutants, aliens and technology that have not yet been discovered in present time. The Hunger Games were not as “futuristic” compared to these movies.

            Aforementioned, Hunger Games operated in a world where fear was instilled in the thirteen districts manifested through their bad governance allowing them to live in harsh conditions and the practice of the Hunger Games, where one volunteer is chosen from the twelve districts to a duel to death. The benefits of a good society can only be felt by the citizens of the Capitol. This is where we can see the success and failure of the thirteen districts. First, it is evident that the society of the twelve districts were in poverty, where their citizens are constantly suffering. However, despite this, the twelve districts had a strong civic culture, evidenced by their courage to fight against the Capitol, even with the risk of death and as exemplified by the Catching Fire where the citizens are clearly gaining hope, spearheaded by Katniss Everdeen. This is where they can potentially succeed.

            The situation of the thirteen districts depicted realities that were felt in the past and still exist until the present. First in the extremes, tyrannical governments were existent in the past and present such as that in countries in the Middle East like Syria, Libya and Myanmar and even in the Philippines. On the lesser level, bad governance is prevalent in several countries like the Philippines, India, North Korea where citizens face the problems of corruption and deprivation of civil liberties. However, reviewing the society as a whole, the Hunger Games is a clear depiction of the strength of the citizens to fight back against abusive leaders and their power to bring back their dignity as human beings. All of these come together to give the prediction of how society evolves together with all of its elements which includes citizens and governance. 

Catching Fire - A Reaction Paper

I’ve read all of Suzanne Collin’s books, and I would say the second one is the best. The movie did a great adaptation of the book, and watching in IMAX was worth every peso spent. Getting a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes isn’t a small feat to achieve.
As far as entertainment goes, Catching Fire was indeed a spectacle, boasting of great scenes, alternating monochromatic and colorful visuals to highlight contrasting moods and intense portrayal of emotions such as grief, anger and hopelessness that did justice to what was written in the book.
So was Catching Fire a science fiction movie/novel? Short answer is yes. The Wikipedia page even says so. But let me defend that answer by giving characteristics of a Sci-fi evident in the film:
                1. It is set in a post-apocalyptic society after an unknown catastrophe has occurred.

                2. The said society contains futuristic technology that is currently unattainable and unexplainable by modern science.

Was it a commentary on past, present or future societies? It is set in a post-apocalyptic future, more specifically, it is future Earth, when the land has been terraformed and what we consider as modern society has ceased to exist, and the film and the books narrate what its replacement. However, I would argue that they contain elements of the past and the present as well. It shows us a country run by a dictatorship, and the lives of the people living under that regime, which I would say, is a commentary on past and present military states such as North Korea, and Hitler’s Third Reich.

It also comments on the huge disparity between the social classes, something that is still quite evident today. The rich citizens of the Capitol live a life of debauchery, blind to the hardships of the people of the District. The Capitol citizens live a life of abundance and entertainment, at the expense of the 13 lesser states.

Lastly, did Science, Technology and Society fail or succeed in the thirteen districts? Technology is the use of science in order to achieve a goal, usually to solve a problem. Technology enables people to adapt and harness the resources of their natural environment. Technology is supposed to make our lives better, in theory. But that is not always the case, because ultimately, science and technology are tools. Tools that can be used for good, but can also be used for malice, and that is what happened in the world of the 13 Districts. Technology was coupled with bad politics. Technology was used to take away the freedom of the people. It was used to divert resources in surplus to a few, while leaving the majority without. Weapons were created and monstrosities wear made to wreak havoc and control people by fear.

Scientific advancement was a success in Panem that much is true. They have gotten beyond what our modern society can accomplish. But the adaption of that technology failed it’s people.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Reaction Paper)

YBUD, Franz Raimund T.
2008-21932
05 December 2013

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

So I went and watched Catching Fire last Friday and going in, I had some expectations of the film since I’ve already read the trilogy years prior. Particularly, I was excited to see Finnick, Johanna, and the actual arena seeing as to it’s one of the main reasons which made Catching Fire the best story in the trilogy.  Overall, the film felt heavy and it also felt quite compressed in my opinion.

                Now before I answer the question whether the film was sci-fi or not, I would just like to point out that everything that is presently categorized as “sci-fi” has just simply not been invented or perfected yet. With that being said, the film, for the most part, is indeed sci-fi with its state-of-the-art Hunger Games arenas and the gamemakers headquarters which controls every aspect of the arena including the weather, the elements, the topography, and the various scientifically mutated species known as “mutts”.  Another supporting factor that establishes Panem as a sci-fi world is the level of technology that is present and available within the Capitol. A few examples are their holographic feeds and the top-of-the-line training facility for the tributes. Fashion also has a touch of sci-fi to it thanks to the dresses made by Cinna in the first two films.

                I think the film is a commentary of past, present, and future human societies since the themes shown in the film present parallelisms with how our societies work in one aspect or another. Take the oppressive rule of the Capitol for instance; there have been many cases of the same circumstances found in our world history and it’s still going on now in some places with varying degrees of oppression. Another theme would be the hierarchy between the Capitol and the Districts, and amongst the Districts themselves. They say history repeats itself and it seems to be holding true with respect to how our societies continue to operate.

                Science and technology within Panem clearly succeed due to their numerous technological advancements in fields like communication and transportation. But those advancements are not made accessible to everyone. And that's where their society fails. These advanced technologies are only available to the Capitol and probably to the Career Districts as well, like District 1 and 2. If you step into one of the other Districts, like say 12, it would seem like you were living in the past rather than the world it belongs to which is clearly set in the future. A place like that coexisting alongside a city of luxury and lavish lifestyles like the Capitol is clearly a failure in human society.

Reaction Paper on Catching Fire

Rasty M. Rastrullo

2013-41010

Catching Fire Reaction Paper

            The film is a fictional one due to the fact that it doesn’t happen in the real life and the events only happened in the mind of the author and was relayed to us. Meanwhile, it also had a strong element of science because of the impact of the setting where it is in a time of a way advanced technology than what we have like the holograms, the awesome arena where they can manipulate it and other stuff which others we can say as not that far away until we develop it while others just seemed impossible. Considering this film a science fiction will not just because it didn’t really happen and it has science in it but because the science or let me redirect to technology in it does not yet exist or impossible to achieve like how a story with the concept of the internet can be considered sci-fi in the 80’s.

            Thinking about it, even in the ancient times, there were already records of social stratification where there is a very fine line between the statuses of the people and nobles gaining power over them just like how it was portrayed in the movie between the capitol and the 13 districts. In the present times, there is this continuing trend of globalization with the core-periphery system and in such situation the core represents the capitol and the districts represent the periphery. Also it shows how people “fight” to survive in this world and their will to do anything just to live. In the real world it doesn’t really mean a fight like to the death but the struggles and ways in gaining more like doing some acts that doesn’t really reflect to the person. It might also tell about the future of mankind where there is a chance that it could really lead to a rebellion due to an unstable system. But come to think of it is there a stable one? I think there could be ideally, but there is no such thing as an ideal world. But the future cannot be easily predicted as it only serves a slight chance for there are lots of twists and turns.

            For science and technology alone, it had succeeded very well due to such great advancements but considering the society including the 13 districts; it will be a different story.  Science and Technology if I’m not mistaken is supposedly for the betterment of mankind and an easier life. True, science there has benefited many people but it was only true in the capitol. Those in the districts have slightly felt the effects of their advancement. So if their technology is already all that great, why not extend it to others who also needs it so in their case, it has failed. I believe that the most major goal of science and technology is for the good of all people as we approach an ideal world.

Catching Fire reaction

A Reaction Paper to 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'

-2013-17819

         The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is indeed classified under science fiction for two reasons. One, it says so on IMDB [1] and two, the film features a "narrative world that differs from our own present or historical reality in a technological, physical, historical, sociological, philosophical, metaphysical, etc, but not in a magical way" [2], which is the exact description of science fiction movies. The movie possesses technological equipment such as holograms, force fields and spaceships which are not currently available. It also has a different community set-up where the gap between the rich and poor grew to its extent. 

Through advances in science, we can achieve the technology featured in the film in the distant future. The great minds of the past were able to turn a can and string into a telephone. They were able to develop a super computer from scraps of metal and a mother board.  Who says we can’t turn our modern airplanes into spaceships of the future? How about our digital frames to holograms? Anything is achievable with scientific research and of course, time.

The political set-up of the film seems familiar. The rich became richer and the poor got poorer. Their gap got large enough to allow the rich to control the poor. The latter will comply until they realize that they’re taken advantage of and start a revolution. After a hard fight, they get the equality that they well deserve. That is, until the gap the rich and poor becomes wide enough again and the whole thing repeats itself like the cycle that it is. It seems very familiar, doesn’t it? Oh that’s right, it’s our entire history. Most civilizations have experienced an abuse of power and a revolution to rid of it. History really does repeat itself, which makes the political set-up of the film highly likely to happen in the future.

The events of the movie could theoretically happen in real life given enough time, so I believe that the film is a commentary of the future.

          The technology in the film is successful. To have evolved so advanced is enough to determine that it is. The only reason why it is unsuccessful is the misuse of technology. The Capitol has failed to use the advance technology to the advantage of all districts; rather it was the cause of the fall of some. For technology to be truly successful, it should exist for the benefit of mankind – not the cause of the end of them.

Catching Fire Reaction Paper

Corpuz, Raiza M.

2013-14987

Catching Fire Reaction Paper

                Science fiction is defined to be fiction based on imagined future scientific or technological advances and major social or environmental changes. Catching Fire, sequel to the Hunger Games is indeed a science fiction film. One main example of the futuristic technology shown in the film is the arena where the tributes compete for survival. The arena’s climate, topography and flora and fauna are controlled by a computer operated by a group of people. Such technology is so advanced and therefore does not exist today. Other minor examples include the spaceship and the force field.

                I believe that the film is a commentary of the past, present and the future. The film Hunger Games involves this plot: chaos, then the Capital emerged to control the warring districts, superior and inferior societies emerge, abuse, and finally rebellion. These series of events resemble the relationship of the government and its people.

                In the past, these circumstances are very evident by means of war and invasions. In the present however, it is less chaotic and the idea depicted by the film still continues on. People either make silent or public protests; they rebel against the government; people who come in the way of the higher power are terminated; inferior struggles against the clutches of the inferior.

                So why is the film a commentary still of the future? I believe that this two-way relationship does not end just by declaration of independence or any thing that will make the people think they’re free and equal. Human abuse will still exist, evidently or not, and I believe that the people will not just tolerate that.

                In the film, technology was used by the Capital to take control of the people. Technology exists in the annual Hunger Games and therefore it plays a great role on the slaughter of other human beings. I believe that technology failed in the world of the 13 districts because it became a tool for bad deeds. However, in the film, technology made way for the people to realize that it was time for them to stand up to the Capital. Through the media, they saw a girl show compassion to another girl from another district. They saw a girl disobey the rules of the Hunger Games which is considered as a reminder to the people of the war years ago. Through technology, a clear message was passed onto the people. Therefore in this film, I think technology both succeeded and failed.

Fanning the Flames (a Catching Fire reaction paper)

Fanning the Flames (a Catching Fire reaction paper)

2013-13861

Catching Fire has finally hit the big screen. People everywhere are excitedly rushing to the cinemas with their barkadas and families to watch. As audiences watch the action and drama unfold, one can’t help but wonder if this truly is just for entertainment or if it holds a deeper, darker truth of our reality.

                I consider Catching Fire as science fiction. The post-apocalyptic setting is a mark of sci-fi. The futuristic technology like the arena, force fields, hovercrafts, holograms, genetic manipulations, and weather control systems are still not feasible and don’t practically exist today. There may be prototypes but none are comparable to the ones shown in the movie. Although they may not exist today, the rate at which science is progressing will possibly make them a reality in the future.

                The film’s events have a similarity to what has happened in the past. The idea of undermining lesser civilizations through the use of advanced weapons and technology is not entirely new. The Mongolians, Romans, Spaniards, and many other large civilizations used their military strength to conquer and enslave people, like the Capitol. The Capitol represents the conquerors while the districts represent the conquered. Furthermore, like the Capitol, the conquerors forcibly took the resources of the conquered, as tax for their “kindness”. The rebellion of the districts, led by District 13, against the Capitol is a reflection of the rebellions of other groups of people like in the Philippines, where the revolution against the Spaniards was led by the Katipunan.

                Our own present day society is reflected in the movie as well. The enormous gap between the wealthy and marginalized, the social hierarchy, the various discriminations, and the bizarre trends are all things that can be observed in our current world. What is most notable is the lavish and wasteful lifestyle of the rich compared to the day-to-day survival of the laborers. The wealthy squander valuable resources for their own entertainment and leisure in spite of the fact that everyone else is suffering.

                If modern society doesn’t change over the course of time, I believe that this film may become our future. A future after a thermonuclear war between the world’s superpowers, leaving but traces of humanity forming a country much like Panem, where power and luxury lie in the hands of those who have the technology to control others.

                Science and technology without a doubt succeeded in Panem. The leaps in the fields of science eventually resulted in a technologically advanced society seen in the movie. However, human society failed in this world. Advanced technology was not used for meaningful purposes but instead was used for wasteful occasions, like the Hunger Games. Precious time, effort, and resources were wasted on the lavish lifestyle of the Capitol. In the world of Panem, where the people of the Districts were viewed only as beasts of burden, society has degraded so much that it has lost its humanity. A human society deprived of humanity is no longer fit to be called so.

Fanning the Flames (a Catching Fire reaction paper)

Fanning the Flames (a Catching Fire reaction paper)

2013-13861

Catching Fire has finally hit the big screen. People everywhere are excitedly rushing to the cinemas with their barkadas and families to watch. As audiences watch the action and drama unfold, one can’t help but wonder if this truly is just for entertainment or if it holds a deeper, darker truth of our reality.

                I consider Catching Fire as science fiction. The post-apocalyptic setting is a mark of sci-fi. The futuristic technology like the arena, force fields, hovercrafts, holograms, genetic manipulations, and weather control systems are still not feasible and don’t practically exist today. There may be prototypes but none are comparable to the ones shown in the movie. Although they may not exist today, the rate at which science is progressing will possibly make them a reality in the future.

                The film’s events have a similarity to what has happened in the past. The idea of undermining lesser civilizations through the use of advanced weapons and technology is not entirely new. The Mongolians, Romans, Spaniards, and many other large civilizations used their military strength to conquer and enslave people, like the Capitol. The Capitol represents the conquerors while the districts represent the conquered. Furthermore, like the Capitol, the conquerors forcibly took the resources of the conquered, as tax for their “kindness”. The rebellion of the districts, led by District 13, against the Capitol is a reflection of the rebellions of other groups of people like in the Philippines, where the revolution against the Spaniards was led by the Katipunan.

                Our own present day society is reflected in the movie as well. The enormous gap between the wealthy and marginalized, the social hierarchy, the various discriminations, and the bizarre trends are all things that can be observed in our current world. What is most notable is the lavish and wasteful lifestyle of the rich compared to the day-to-day survival of the laborers. The wealthy squander valuable resources for their own entertainment and leisure in spite of the fact that everyone else is suffering.

                If modern society doesn’t change over the course of time, I believe that this film may become our future. A future after a thermonuclear war between the world’s superpowers, leaving but traces of humanity forming a country much like Panem, where power and luxury lie in the hands of those who have the technology to control others.

                Science and technology without a doubt succeeded in Panem. The leaps in the fields of science eventually resulted in a technologically advanced society seen in the movie. However, human society failed in this world. Advanced technology was not used for meaningful purposes but instead was used for wasteful occasions, like the Hunger Games. Precious time, effort, and resources were wasted on the lavish lifestyle of the Capitol. In the world of Panem, where the people of the Districts were viewed only as beasts of burden, society has degraded so much that it has lost its humanity. A human society deprived of humanity is no longer fit to be called so.

Fanning the Flames (a Catching Fire reaction paper)

Fanning the Flames (a Catching Fire reaction paper)

2013-13861

Catching Fire has finally hit the big screen. People everywhere are excitedly rushing to the cinemas with their barkadas and families to watch. As audiences watch the action and drama unfold, one can’t help but wonder if this truly is just for entertainment or if it holds a deeper, darker truth of our reality.

                I consider Catching Fire as science fiction. The post-apocalyptic setting is a mark of sci-fi. The futuristic technology like the arena, force fields, hovercrafts, holograms, genetic manipulations, and weather control systems are still not feasible and don’t practically exist today. There may be prototypes but none are comparable to the ones shown in the movie. Although they may not exist today, the rate at which science is progressing will possibly make them a reality in the future.

                The film’s events have a similarity to what has happened in the past. The idea of undermining lesser civilizations through the use of advanced weapons and technology is not entirely new. The Mongolians, Romans, Spaniards, and many other large civilizations used their military strength to conquer and enslave people, like the Capitol. The Capitol represents the conquerors while the districts represent the conquered. Furthermore, like the Capitol, the conquerors forcibly took the resources of the conquered, as tax for their “kindness”. The rebellion of the districts, led by District 13, against the Capitol is a reflection of the rebellions of other groups of people like in the Philippines, where the revolution against the Spaniards was led by the Katipunan.

                Our own present day society is reflected in the movie as well. The enormous gap between the wealthy and marginalized, the social hierarchy, the various discriminations, and the bizarre trends are all things that can be observed in our current world. What is most notable is the lavish and wasteful lifestyle of the rich compared to the day-to-day survival of the laborers. The wealthy squander valuable resources for their own entertainment and leisure in spite of the fact that everyone else is suffering.

                If modern society doesn’t change over the course of time, I believe that this film may become our future. A future after a thermonuclear war between the world’s superpowers, leaving but traces of humanity forming a country much like Panem, where power and luxury lie in the hands of those who have the technology to control others.

                Science and technology without a doubt succeeded in Panem. The leaps in the fields of science eventually resulted in a technologically advanced society seen in the movie. However, human society failed in this world. Advanced technology was not used for meaningful purposes but instead was used for wasteful occasions, like the Hunger Games. Precious time, effort, and resources were wasted on the lavish lifestyle of the Capitol. In the world of Panem, where the people of the Districts were viewed only as beasts of burden, society has degraded so much that it has lost its humanity. A human society deprived of humanity is no longer fit to be called so.

Fanning the Flames (a Catching Fire reaction paper)

Fanning the Flames (a Catching Fire reaction paper)

2013-13861

Catching Fire has finally hit the big screen. People everywhere are excitedly rushing to the cinemas with their barkadas and families to watch. As audiences watch the action and drama unfold, one can’t help but wonder if this truly is just for entertainment or if it holds a deeper, darker truth of our reality.

                I consider Catching Fire as science fiction. The post-apocalyptic setting is a mark of sci-fi. The futuristic technology like the arena, force fields, hovercrafts, holograms, genetic manipulations, and weather control systems are still not feasible and don’t practically exist today. There may be prototypes but none are comparable to the ones shown in the movie. Although they may not exist today, the rate at which science is progressing will possibly make them a reality in the future.

                The film’s events have a similarity to what has happened in the past. The idea of undermining lesser civilizations through the use of advanced weapons and technology is not entirely new. The Mongolians, Romans, Spaniards, and many other large civilizations used their military strength to conquer and enslave people, like the Capitol. The Capitol represents the conquerors while the districts represent the conquered. Furthermore, like the Capitol, the conquerors forcibly took the resources of the conquered, as tax for their “kindness”. The rebellion of the districts, led by District 13, against the Capitol is a reflection of the rebellions of other groups of people like in the Philippines, where the revolution against the Spaniards was led by the Katipunan.

                Our own present day society is reflected in the movie as well. The enormous gap between the wealthy and marginalized, the social hierarchy, the various discriminations, and the bizarre trends are all things that can be observed in our current world. What is most notable is the lavish and wasteful lifestyle of the rich compared to the day-to-day survival of the laborers. The wealthy squander valuable resources for their own entertainment and leisure in spite of the fact that everyone else is suffering.

                If modern society doesn’t change over the course of time, I believe that this film may become our future. A future after a thermonuclear war between the world’s superpowers, leaving but traces of humanity forming a country much like Panem, where power and luxury lie in the hands of those who have the technology to control others.

                Science and technology without a doubt succeeded in Panem. The leaps in the fields of science eventually resulted in a technologically advanced society seen in the movie. However, human society failed in this world. Advanced technology was not used for meaningful purposes but instead was used for wasteful occasions, like the Hunger Games. Precious time, effort, and resources were wasted on the lavish lifestyle of the Capitol. In the world of Panem, where the people of the Districts were viewed only as beasts of burden, society has degraded so much that it has lost its humanity. A human society deprived of humanity is no longer fit to be called so.

Fanning the Flames (a Catching Fire reaction paper)

Fanning the Flames (a Catching Fire reaction paper)

2013-13861

Catching Fire has finally hit the big screen. People everywhere are excitedly rushing to the cinemas with their barkadas and families to watch. As audiences watch the action and drama unfold, one can’t help but wonder if this truly is just for entertainment or if it holds a deeper, darker truth of our reality.

                I consider Catching Fire as science fiction. The post-apocalyptic setting is a mark of sci-fi. The futuristic technology like the arena, force fields, hovercrafts, holograms, genetic manipulations, and weather control systems are still not feasible and don’t practically exist today. There may be prototypes but none are comparable to the ones shown in the movie. Although they may not exist today, the rate at which science is progressing will possibly make them a reality in the future.

                The film’s events have a similarity to what has happened in the past. The idea of undermining lesser civilizations through the use of advanced weapons and technology is not entirely new. The Mongolians, Romans, Spaniards, and many other large civilizations used their military strength to conquer and enslave people, like the Capitol. The Capitol represents the conquerors while the districts represent the conquered. Furthermore, like the Capitol, the conquerors forcibly took the resources of the conquered, as tax for their “kindness”. The rebellion of the districts, led by District 13, against the Capitol is a reflection of the rebellions of other groups of people like in the Philippines, where the revolution against the Spaniards was led by the Katipunan.

                Our own present day society is reflected in the movie as well. The enormous gap between the wealthy and marginalized, the social hierarchy, the various discriminations, and the bizarre trends are all things that can be observed in our current world. What is most notable is the lavish and wasteful lifestyle of the rich compared to the day-to-day survival of the laborers. The wealthy squander valuable resources for their own entertainment and leisure in spite of the fact that everyone else is suffering.

                If modern society doesn’t change over the course of time, I believe that this film may become our future. A future after a thermonuclear war between the world’s superpowers, leaving but traces of humanity forming a country much like Panem, where power and luxury lie in the hands of those who have the technology to control others.

                Science and technology without a doubt succeeded in Panem. The leaps in the fields of science eventually resulted in a technologically advanced society seen in the movie. However, human society failed in this world. Advanced technology was not used for meaningful purposes but instead was used for wasteful occasions, like the Hunger Games. Precious time, effort, and resources were wasted on the lavish lifestyle of the Capitol. In the world of Panem, where the people of the Districts were viewed only as beasts of burden, society has degraded so much that it has lost its humanity. A human society deprived of humanity is no longer fit to be called so.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - Reaction Paper

 Zhedrik Chua (2012-15340)

“As I drift off, I try to imagine that world, somewhere in the future, with no Games, no Capitol. A place like the meadow in the song I sang to Rue as she died. Where Peeta's child could be safe.”

-Katniss Everdeen

                Movies are made in order to instill in the minds of their audience how and what to think. And during this time, present time; it is one of the leading media tools that would shape the minds of people given that it is very accessible and entertaining at the same time.

                Make  The Hunger Games: Catching Fire as an example.

Undeniably, gadgets have evolved from simple forms to overwhelming complex technology. From simple cellphones to smart phones. From desktop computers to laptops to tablets. It’s amazing how technology surpasses itself through the years. By watching a movie that deals with people gutting and slashing each other in an arena that is operated by high level of computer competence, it makes people think that, “Right, this is what future would look like.” “Is that even possible?”

 Wearing flames without getting burned, installing a tracking device inside a human body, generating monsters with just one tap, spaceships; these are just some of the things people believe might happen somewhere in the future. The movie appealed to the masses not only because of its great plot and frustrating cliff hanger, but also because of the awesome technology shown in the film. Again is this possible?

Maybe or maybe not.

 But the answer lies in the capacity of movies to, again, control the minds of the people. It provides people make-believe scenarios that would give their audience a piece of their message. Fiction. Some would argue that it is possible because technology evolve fast; some would say that it’s not. I

               

                This is the mechanism ran by the sci-fi genre in order to get audience and to make their film successful. Considering that this is specifically shown in the film, it will definitely fall into this category. Another bonus is that, sci-fi tackles political and social commentary. How the districts respond to the government’s oppression and how the rich and powerful in the capitol are favored by the government were shown through luxurious lifestyle. And how the higher-ups go and milk those impoverished is something that should not be overlooked.

It can be inferred that, while the technology presented in the film might actually be pseudo-science, might not be even possible to happen, there is a chance that the future of the society reflected on the film might occur. The film envisaged such future where it is unsafe and where people might actually kill others in order to stay alive. This is possible given that oppression had happened many times in the past.