Showing posts with label Catching Fire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Catching Fire. Show all posts
Thursday, 12 December 2013
TIME 13:53
no image
Andayon, Patricia Carmela V.
2011-02035
Catching fire: Reaction Paper

Will the Odds Be Ever in Our Favor?


Science fiction is defined as “fiction dealing principally with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals or having a scientific factor as an essential orienting component” (Merriam –Webster Incorporated, 2013). Based on the definition, catching fire has an element of science fiction because the advance technology that is featured in the movie is not available today. The Hunger Games resulted because of greed and lust for power of the leader of the Capitol. The movie, Catching fire is basically about powerful versus the powerless and this theme has been present in the movies, books etc. ever since.

Human history is filled with struggles of power and until now, it is still our story and it sure looks like it would also be in the future. As aforementioned, the movie is basically about the powerful versus the powerless. The main reason why the hunger games started is because of the leader of the Capitol, President Snow, wants to show to the districts that he is the most powerful and the districts should not disobey him because there would be grave consequences if they did. Katniss symbolizes hope for the people that the tyrannical reign of President Snow can be stopped and in the movie Catching Fire, Katniss refused to take up the gauntlet at first, but after seeing her love ones hurt, she realizes that the people need her to rise up against President Snow.

In the Philippine society, during the EDSA revolution, Corazon Aquino became the symbol of hope for the Filipino people against the tyranny of President Marcos. At first, Corazon Aquino did not want to be involved in the chaotic world of the government but after seeing the pleas of the people to help them put an end to their suffering under Marcos she did took the post as the symbol of hope.

Science and technology are two powerful things and it could be either used for good or for destruction. The Capitol used technology to oppress the districts and this is not how science and technology should be used. It is supposed to enhance and improve the quality of life of the people and not destroy it.
References:


Merriam-Webster Incorporated. (2013). Science Fiction. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/science%20fiction Accessed on 1 December 2013 
Filled
0
Unknown
Read More
TIME 11:26
no image

Science fiction deals with futuristic science, technology and society.  In the film, we can see a great advancement in the fields of science and technology. Holographic projections, widescreen televisions the size of billboards, high-tech cameras, space-ships, high-speed trains and even force fields, were all present in the movie. Not only does science fiction deal with all these high-tech gadgets but it also deals with a society which may be a foreseeable future.

These scientific apparatuses, a tremendous amount of wealth, together with a huge dose of tyrannical dictatorship govern all.

In the movie, there is an undeniable, distinct division between the rich and the poverty-stricken people. Well-off people would have access on anything that they would want—power, money and influence. Others, who are off with nothing, remain in the void of nothingness.

The past is a crucial key for both the present and the future. From the film, it can be assumed of what may be a possible environment in the future.

Science, technology, and society, all fail and succeed in the world of the 13 districts. Although evidently, it is more of a failure. Science and technology made its way to make the lives of the citizens in each district more miserable than it already is. Simultaneously, it gives the Capitol all the control and authority over them.

The society in each district, as we know it, is completely desolate. The Capitol holds the ultimate supremacy above all the districts. Under a complete authoritarian dictatorship, civilians are left with no other choice but to follow so as not suffer the consequences of their disobedience --- which are inhumane.

Phoebe Jemima A. Rivera
BA Communication Arts
201353664
STS THY
Filled
0
Unknown
Read More
Thursday, 5 December 2013
TIME 11:02
no image


Mikko Chino R. Salvador / 2013-70157
Reaction Paper #2
December 5, 2013


Catching Fire is the second installment in The Hunger Games trilogy. I haven’t read the books yet but I went to see the first film when it came out mainly because of plain curiosity. I liked the first movie but it didn’t catch my interest. The idea of a group of teenagers fighting to death didn’t appeal that much to me but nonetheless, I enjoyed watching the film. With Catching Fire, I got a better view of the story and surely, it has caught my interest. The Hunger Games is not just about teenagers killing each other nor is it only about the typical teenage love story; it’s a whole lot more.

In my opinion, the movie is considered as science fiction, for now. Science fiction is purely relative. I have this belief that most of the things that we view as science fiction today can be a possibility in the future. The advanced technologies used in Catching Fire, holographic simulations, force fields, perfectly controlled environments, advanced clothing aesthetics, genetically-altered animals and the likes, in my opinion, are all possible in the future. Technological development is on the rise today and breakthroughs after breakthroughs are coming up every now and then, so this is, for sure, a possibility in the future.

In my honest opinion, the film is a commentary on the present and possibly, the future human society. Today, we are experiencing indirect tyranny and the government is trying to control and observe our every move. This can be seen in the recent leaks from the NSA. Tracking our every move and maintaining order without giving us freedom, our society right now is already close to the circumstances presented by the film. The film also presents a clear distinction of the rich and the poor. In our society today, the gap between the rich and the poor is increasing with each passing day. If we stay this way, it is very possible that we end up in a world that is closely comparable to the world of the 13 districts.

The coherence of science, technology and society failed in the world of the 13 districts, in my opinion. Society is mainly the one that separated the three. In the film, society used science and technology wrongly. Hunger for power and control is what ignited this. The capitol is constantly trying to contain the people and prevent any rebellion to occur. Every year, “The Hunger Games” is done to constantly remind the people of the capitol’s power. Anyone who crosses their path is shown no mercy and is killed right away. They try to show off their power to the people to kill any hope left in them.
Filled
0
Unknown
Read More
Wednesday, 4 December 2013
TIME 23:40
no image

Competition. Manipulation. Revolution. These seemingly ambiguous words basically summarize the bigger picture behind the love story of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. Catching Fire was about government, power, and social status. It is about how people from the upper class used their advantage to technology to achieve personal interests and favors. Also in this movie, the wide gap between the rich and the poor is greatly emphasized. It implies that as the rich people get to dominate and control over the high technology, the poor ones get left out and eventually enslaved even more.


As a Sci-Fi Movie

With all the unrealistic scenes of transporting people from one place to another, manipulating the weather condition, and using quite an advanced technology, it can be said that Catching Fire is a science fiction movie. The bourgeoisies from the capitol live a comfortable, lavish, and over-the-top kind of life as they use modern technology – from holograms to 24/7- 3600 surveillance, to man-made arenas for the annual hunger games.


Past, Present, and Future

Once in the arena, the tributes’ goal is to stay alive and nothing else, just like the old age instinct. On the other side of the coin, authorities use technology to sustain their standing in society. A combination of the primitive survival instinct, modern-day government and societal problems, and futuristic technological advancement pretty much sums up the second installment of The Hunger Games.


The Main Purpose

In the Capitol of Panem, disorder, poverty, immorality, and hatred prevail. There is war here and there, letting the citizens suffer and die. Districts versus districts versus districts versus districts battle for supplies and survival.


Technology is meant to give aid and assistance to all people. It is further developed for convenience and utility. But sadly, upon watching the movie, it seems as if technology became the means of division, chaos and war across the 12 districts.


Garcia Dianne S.
2013 BS Chemical Engineering
12-04-13
Filled
0
Unknown
Read More
TIME 19:34
no image

"I always channel my emotions into my work. That way, I don't hurt anyone but myself."
Suzanne Collins has done it again with the second installment of her Hunger Games trilogy. Catching Fire has won the hearts of many due to its new twists and turns that make life more complicated for our heroes, The Girl on Fire Katniss Everdeen, and The Boy with the Bread Peeta Mellark. Collins has toured us to the futuristic world of Panem, which is what has become of North America many years into the future.

With a pinch of science fiction which was characterized by the huge advancement of technology on their simple scarce lives perfectly balances a sense of the past and the future into the setting of the story. It has become the perfect mix of human history, with the story's setting remaining as an element of its own. The science fiction part in it was also reflected by the futuristic side of their technology, and the nature of the games itself likened to the prehistoric men's fight for survival in the old times. Even the problems of the present is well-represented in the storyline, such as widespread poverty in different parts of the world (or in their case, the less important districts) and even corruption in the government. Therefore, it is a commentary of the past, the present and the future perfectly meshed into one.

Another great thing about the storyline itself is how their technology is described. There was an abundance of hovercrafts, centrally-controlled televisions (which by the way uses LCD or hologram-like means of projection, and not mere TV screens), some sort of holographic simulator (the one that allowed the tributes, or should I say victor-tributes) to train in a battle-like situation, and even the entire arena itself (although it looks so natural, it is actually man-made and controlled 24/7 by the gamemakers). The technology is something we could only have imagined but not actually experienced in this lifetime. But it is not everywhere in the story wherein the technology was great. The poorer districts (which basically is all the districts excluding Districts 1, 2 and 4) do not have the privilege these three favorites of the capitol have. They enjoy only enough technology and electricity based on how much they actually need.

Suzanne Collins has given us another mindblowing insight to the life within her books. Using the great mesh of contrasting elements, she may have made yet another masterpiece shared to all of us. Directed by Francis Lawrence, the movie adaptation of the book is still being shown in theaters nationwide.


Karmela Rae T. Baldo
2013-18602
STS THY
Filled
0
Unknown
Read More
Tuesday, 3 December 2013
TIME 21:55
no image

THE HUNGER GAMES:CATCHING FILES

            The Hunger Games Catching Fire is a movie about how technology has affected the lives and way of thinking of the people in the movie. It shows how people became followers of technology instead of being the ones who should control over technology. It depicts the difference between people living with too much technology and people living with little technology.  
            For me, this movie is a science fiction movie. It shows how advanced technology is, especially in the Capitol where the rich people are living in. It shows how science and technology controls over the lives of the people in it. Almost half of the citizens of that community benefits from too much technology, while half of them are living a life with little technology.  It is said to be fictional since the advancements seen in the movie is not common or observable yet in our society today. But this doesn’t tell that the science behind the advancements is not true. It is just that it is still not most likely to be seen today with the state of technology that we presently have.
            Possibly, in the near future, we will be able to see the kind of technology present in the movie. High technology gadgets, graphics and all other stuff which can be observed in the movie can happen in the future if we continue to search, create, and develop new devices necessary for humans. That is why I think this film is a commentary about the future. It might, in a sense, be seen as a commentary about the past if the rebellion part in the movie is to be considered. Conspiracies and rebellions against those who have power are what are observable before especially during the times war. But since it is a community wherein high technology is present and hasn’t still occurred today, I can say that it depicts more about what future would be like. It is a much worse depiction of what the world would be if the gap between those who have power and those who are under them is too large due to the presence of too much high technology.
            In the movie, as what I had mentioned above, there is a great gap between the people who are above and people who are below. In addition to that, those people who are below need to fight; and that is through the Hunger Games, which annually happens, wherein representatives from each district would have to kill one another for their own district’s sake. The state of the districts depends on which district will win the annual Hunger Games, and clearly, the district who frequently wins gets to be more developed compared to the other districts but still not in level with those who are above. As seen in the movie, it is obvious that there are districts that are more developed and there are districts that are left behind.


Filled
0
Unknown
Read More
Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )

Blog Archive