Movies

     "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor." Panem is a country which consists of a very wealthy Capitol and twelve districts in order of increasing poverty. The Hunger Games is an annual event that takes place in the Capitol wherein two tributes--one boy and one girl--from each district will be chosen to fight against one another. The winner will enjoy wealth for the rest of his or her life. It is considered a form of entertainment for the people in the Capitol. 

Katniss and Peeta

     Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence) is just a normal girl from District 12. This all changed when her sister, Prim, was chosen to participate in the Hunger Games. Out of sisterly love, Katniss volunteered as a tribute to save her sister. In the same district, Peeta Mellark (played by Josh Hutcherson) was chosen as tribute. In the end, Katniss and Peeta survived because they defied the capitol by threatening to commit suicide. Because of that, Katniss later became a symbol of hope for the people, and in the succeeding movies, Katniss will lead the districts in revolting against the capitol and removing the heartless Hunger Games.

   

      This movie was based on the Hunger Games trilogy written by Suzzane Collins. The movie uses several techniques to capture the audience's attention. First of all, the movie uses rhetorical techniques such as ethos and pathos. Ethos is seen because the book was already famous even before the movie was made. Also, Jennifer Lawrence is a famous celebrity. Pathos is seen because there are many scenes in the movie that brings sadness to the audience. An example is when Prim was screaming because she does not want her sister to go to the battlefield. Second, the movie attracts audience because it shows topics that are popular among people today. One of the topics is love and romance. In almost every movie, there is a hint of romance. This is also true in drama series. The plot is basically the same in most series. Two people meet some way, they fall in love, there's a problem, and then there's happily ever after. But despite the fact it's all the same, people still love watching these series. In this movie, Peeta and Katniss showed their love for each other by refusing to kill each other. They would rather die together than live alone. Lastly, the movie has things never seen before, so audience would want to watch the movie. This is seen especially in the arena, which is controlled by computers. The assistant game makers can make a beast in the computer and send it to the arena; then, the beast will really appear in the arena. This is not something that can be seen in real life, so it encourages people to use their imaginations.

Assistant game makers controlling the arena

     The movie shows three things: feminism, heroism, and hope. 

     Women are usually associated with the characteristics weak and helpless, but in the movie, women and men switched roles. Katniss is the provider of her family, like a father. She is a very intelligent and accurate hunter.  On the other hand, Peeta is more like a mother. He is selfless, loving, and caring. In one scene, Katniss was very hungry, and it was raining. Peeta intentionally burnt two loaves of bread so that he can use that as an excuse to give the bread to Katniss. His mother was very angry and hit him, but Peeta did not regret what he did.

        Anyone can be a hero. Katniss is just a normal girl from District 12, a very poor district, and Peeta is just the son of an owner of a small bakery shop, but they became symbols of heroism, leaders of revolutions, and reasons for hope.

      President Snow once said in the movie, "Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear." The Hunger Games was actually created to stop the districts from revolting again. Many years before, there were 13 districts, and altogether, they revolted against the Capitol, but they failed. District 13 was removed, and the Hunger Games was established. President Snow does not like Katniss because by defying against the Capitol, she is giving hope to the people that the Hunger Games can be removed and that they have a chance of succeeding if they choose to revolt once more. Hope is what starts the revolution, and hope is what will bring them to success in the succeeding movies.

     Although the movie portrays feminism reasonably, it has some bias. It shows that men are weak. Peeta would have died without Katniss. Katniss defied President Snow. Gale, who was in love with Katniss, could not stop Katniss from kissing Peeta in the Hunger Games.

     The movie is being shown to encourage people to stand up for what they think is right. Katniss is just one girl, but what she did inspired all the districts to do what's right. Also, it tells people to go beyond what they think they can do. Katniss and Peeta are two ordinary people, but they became leaders of the revolution.


Sources:

IMP Awards. (n.d.). The Hunger Games. Retrieved  from: http://www.impawards.com/2012/hunger_games_ver23_xlg.html
Other images taken from: http://www.google.com/imghp