As a fan of the original books, I can say that this hugely anticipated Hunger Games sequel - subtitled Catching Fire - is a major triumph. It exceeds the first of the planned four-part series in every way (even Jennifer Lawrence managed to outdo herself as the lead,) and crucially, it gives us a heroine to root for and a villain to loath (though it is so enjoyable to loath President Snow, played with stone cold conviction by the great Donald Sutherland). For those unaware, The Hunger Games tells the story of the dystopian remains of North America, now called Panem, divided into twelve districts and the Capitol. Every year, a male and female child from each of the poor districts are picked as tributes in a fight to the death for the entertainment of the capitol, and as a deterrent against uprising, and in punishment for a historical rebellion that saw the end of District 13. Wonderfully, the story is complex and multi-layered: this isn't just good versus evil, and Catching Fire is far more than a movie about a love triangle (which gladly takes a backseat), even with the obvious allure that such an easy subplot could have had for director Francis Lawrence. It's a movie full of tragedy, and with that tragedy comes genuine social commentary that actually
makes such minor things - things we don't even think about - seem tragic. But it also showcases the horrible things, and while the first film managed to strike the right emotional chords, this sequel goes far beyond. Catching Fire makes use of the simply horrific circumstances of this futuristic world and calls us out on the things that could go wrong. This isn't mere fantasy: Suzanne Collins (the author of the books) makes it feel like this
could actually happen, if we let it. So let's have a look at 4 reasons why The Hunger Games: Catching Fire reflects the direction our own world could take, if we aren't careful...