Type: Movie Review
Title: The Hunger Games - Catching Fire
Director: Francis Lawrence
Company: Color Force, Lionsgate
Year: 2013
Ages: 12 and up
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi
Reader's Annotation: Who will Katniss Everdeen chose as her lover? Will she survive the pressure of the Capitol?
Plot Summary: The second film of The Hunger Games Trilogy, this film continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, fresh off her victory in the Hunger Games, along with her 'lover', Peeta Mellark. They have returned home to their 12th District, and are now under pressure to be outstanding citizens of Panem. However, Katniss' distrust of the leadership of Panem has her struggling with uprising in various districts. This film takes a twist, when they are trust into another 'Champions' of the 75th Hunger Games battle and must learn to survive yet again.
Critical Evaluation: I loved this film better than the first. This film takes a closer look at Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and her struggle to play the role of victor. At the same time, she struggles with still being in love with her hometown friend, Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) and yet seen in love with her 'on-screen' lover Peeta.
I think this film is better adapted to the film and is suited for ages 15 and up. Young adults will fall in love with Katniss, root for Peeta, and also enjoy yet another Hunger Games featuring past champions from each of the 12 Districts. Although very graphic for it's violence, this film brings out the teamwork, survival skills, and competition in all of us. The cinematography of the city landscapes and the individual characters placed within them create a great juxtaposition of the importance that each of them represents in the world of Panem.
I have provided a link of an interactive website for the film:
http://www.thehungergamesexplorer.com/us/
Challenge Issues:
- Excessive violence
- Post-apocalyptic world
- Love scenes
Challenge Defense Ideas:
- Be familiar with the themes in the material and how they relate to young adults today.
- Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
- Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
- Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
- LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
- All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.
