“Catching Fire” is the second book of the quickly growing in popularity book series “The Hunger Games” trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins.
Unlike the distant yet current counter parts, “Twilight,” by Stephenie Meyer, and “Harry Potter,” by J.K. Rowling, “Hunger Games” has no magical and mystical adventures. Instead, it’s about a modest love triangle, a gruesome battle and the uprising of the 12 Districts against the Capitol.
“Hunger Games: Catching Fire” is fantastic.
The rebellion is a reaction of the Capitol flourishing and its citizens living excessively with eating habits, while the districts, which varies on the district the person lives in, survive off the scraps and perish from starvation.
Throughout all the depression that surrounds the districts, there’s still a small flicker of hope, the love triangle between Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorn.
This unrealized love triangle, with the quick kiss between Katniss and Gale, and Katniss and Peeta sleeping together in the same bed, lacks actual passion making it for young readers.
Although the love scenes are made PG, the rest of the book should be rated R for the violence in the arena.
The Quarter Quell participants, who are past victors of the hunger games, were granted immunity from fighting. Wanting to rid the world of the “girl on fire,” Katniss, president of the dystopian society, Coriolanus Snow, was willing to make an exception.
When looking back to “The Hunger Games,” the first book, and comparing the book to the movie, the screenwriters left out many important scenes and characters. With that in mind, it’s safe to say that the scenes that included those people will be missing as well.
Hopefully this scene will be included in the movie, since “The Hunger Games” cut out many vital characters and scenes.
In the original story, Katniss has a best friend, Madge, who is the daughter of the governor. She is a secondary character, however she has a great impact in the storyline. By removing her from the movie the writers have altered an event that played a big part in a menial role.
Originally in “The Hunger Games,” Madge gave Katniss the mockingjay pin; however since they removed her from the movie, instead of being a meaningful moment, it turned into just another scene. Rather than Katniss receiving the pin from her best friend, the pin now came from a random stranger. With Madge removed from the storyline, it would alter many different events that happen in “Catching Fire.”
For example, when Katniss goes to Madge’s house and stumbles upon a television broadcasting the other districts revolting against the Capitol. This showed Katniss that not only was just one district apart of the uprising but many. Without a doubt, this scene will be cut out or altered; it’s impossible to be faithful to the book.
Hopefully with the removal of so many characters it will not alter the plot completely. It’s common for movies to have some differences from the book. However if they stray too far from the original material, the fans will not be pleased.
The follow up to “The Hunger Games,” “Catching Fire,” which is the slightly altered version by director Francis Lawrence, will be coming out in theaters on Nov. 22.