Suzanne Collins’ dystopian novel trilogy will soon get another installment as an animated prequel film, showing President Snow’s early years and their subsequent roles in The Hunger Games series.
Every year, the Capitol of Panem shows its authority over poorer districts by compelling each to send one boy and girl from each community to compete in The Hunger Games – a televised fight to the death.
The Hunger Games
Jennifer Lawrence stars as Katniss Everdeen, a girl who volunteers to take the place of her younger sister in The Hunger Games competition, a televised fight to the death between boys and girls from each district; winners, known as Tributes, receive food and supplies for their home districts as rewards.
In Panem’s version of the future, the Capitol is extraordinarily wealthy and powerful, dominating most aspects of daily life while the majority struggle to meet basic needs. To keep their population under control, every year, the Capitol selects 24 children (two from each district) to compete in The Hunger Games: an intense and brutal television battle to the death.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen of District 12 volunteers as tribute for Peeta Mellark after their sister Katniss is taken ill; with guidance from Chaperone Effie Trinket and mentor Haymitch Abernathy who won the Games 24 years earlier, they travel to the Capitol where teams practice strategies for competition; one important lesson learned here includes gaining sponsors who provide lifesaving food during the match.
Katniss and Peeta quickly bond once the Games commence, even though they were ordered not to exacerbate conflicts between themselves. Their actions–such as Katniss wearing her mockingjay pin–become symbols of rebellion against the Capitol government, with the Mockingjay pin becoming one such icon.
District by district, citizens begin organizing against the Capitol. In response, Snow announces the 75th Hunger Games: Quarter Quell, in which past Hunger Games winners will compete against one another. This event is planned as an effort to cancel Katniss and Peeta’s wedding ceremony.
As Katniss and Peeta compete in the Quarter Quell, Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason ally with them and help train. Furthermore, they recruit other survivors, such as Mags the Elder and young boy Beetee – giving Katniss the ability to devise a strategy that may give her a chance of winning the Games.
Catching Fire
Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark’s victory at the 74th Annual Hunger Games has sent shockwaves through Panem, sparking rebellion among other districts of Panem. President Snow sees this rebellion as a threat and plans to end it once and for all – thus prompting President Snow to drastically alter the rules of the Hunger Games to preserve Peeta from being put at risk while simultaneously keeping Panem calm.
Catching Fire, the sequel to the first film in this trilogy, explores how Katniss and Peeta’s victory has spread hope and anger throughout their nation, ultimately leading them into war with Capitol.
Jennifer Lawrence shines here as the strong-willed Katniss in Suzanne Collins’ classic Hunger Games novels, giving an outstanding performance as the strong-minded protagonist Katniss. While Collins’ stories tend to be dark in tone, Lawrence manages to keep it light by playing it off-beat with a soft touch aided by an outstanding supporting cast that includes Donald Sutherland as President Snow and Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee.
The sequel not only explores the growing conflict between districts and Capitol but also about love and friendship – as seen through Katniss and Peeta’s unique relationship and bond. However, their personalities differ considerably, and they remain loyal companions throughout.
Catching Fire brings new tension and suspense to the franchise, particularly during its climactic scenes, which will keep viewers on the edge of their seats!
The Hunger Games trilogy should be at the top if you’re searching for an epic dystopian series. Both films and books in this franchise have earned high grosses worldwide and should be essential viewing for fans of young adult literature. While other similar franchises may try their luck at competing against it, none has reached its heights quite like The Hunger Games has done. In addition, Suzanne Collins offers fans of Panem a closer glimpse by writing The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes prequel novella, giving viewers more insight before Katniss’ story begins.
Mockingjay Part 1
The Hunger Games trilogy reigned supreme in both books and movie theaters during the 2010s, yet with its prequel set for release soon and the original series concluding in 2015, now may be an appropriate time to revisit all four films in order. So, to celebrate The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ release date, here is a guide on chronologically watching The Hunger Games movies.
This blockbuster series takes place in an alternate dystopian future where Panem is divided into 12 districts ruled by a central entity, The Capitol. As punishment, each district must send two teenagers into The Hunger Games — an annual television contest where they must fight until one person survives!
Jennifer Lawrence stars as Katniss Everdeen, an eager young woman who volunteers to replace her sister, Katerina Everdeen, in the Hunger Games despite not wanting to participate. Though unhappy about it, Katniss tries her best to survive this brutal competition that mimics war – after doing so successfully, she joins forces with Alma Coin (Julianne Moore), an underground leader attempting to overthrow the Capitol.
Katniss learns, while traveling with the rebels that Peeta is being held hostage and tortured by Capitol forces. To save him, she agrees to become part of an anti-Capitol propaganda campaign; she begins finding meaning and realizing her beliefs have changed.
Snow has plans of his own; he wants revenge by using past Hunger Games winners as tributes for the 75th Hunger Games and endangering those who stood up for what they believed in, thus necessitating Katniss and Peeta join forces once more to defeat this threat.
Francis Lawrence returns as director and screenwriter, drawing inspiration from Suzanne Collins’ 2010 book of the same name. An outstanding cast includes Lawrence himself, Hemsworth, Hutcherson, and Moore, along with Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, and Julianne Nicholson, as noteworthy members of this cast.
Mockingjay Part 2
Mockingjay Part 2 continues where Catching Fire left off. Jennifer Lawrence stars as Katniss Everdeen, an upstanding young woman living in a dystopian future where the rich rule and those living on the edge struggle for survival. When her younger sister is selected to compete in the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her place and win as an alternative contestant, but at high personal cost as her best friend Peeta Mellark is captured and tortured by Capitol forces, leading Katniss to join the rebellion against Capitol.
Katniss and Peeta Mellark of District 12 have survived the 74th Hunger Games against all odds. However, the Capitol remains in power and plans for another Quarter Quell. While Katniss may be unfamiliar to her fellow rebels, they trust she can lead them to victory.
Now that the nation is revolting against President Snow, Katniss must prepare herself to battle in one showdown. Alongside her closest allies — Gale Hawthorne, Finnick Odair, Beetee Annie, and Haymitch Abernathy – Katniss must lead her team of rebels towards liberating Panem from its oppressive regime and face mortal traps, enemies and moral choices which will test them at every turn.
Katniss battles for freedom against an oppressive dictator with help from District 13 rebels and is supported by their army of District 13 rebels in her fight for liberation from an unforgiving society. While the trilogy has flaws, it provides an intriguing tale about survival and courage under harsh circumstances. The Hunger Games movies are must-watch for any movie fan and are even more impressive when watched in order. The franchise is among Hollywood’s most successful, featuring some of its biggest stars as cast members. Three books and four films created the world-famous Young Adult Dystopian Literature series Divergent.
Furthermore, its four movies can now be streamed via Netflix and other popular services. Don’t delay any longer! Start your adventure now – we promise it won’t disappoint.
