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.