The Hunger Games Movie

          “The book is a film that takes place in the mind of the reader. That's why we go to movies and say, "Oh, the book is better.” - Paulo Coelho
          Sometimes when people read the books first and then watch the movies based on it, they think that the books are better. Watching a movie is watching something that is not based on your imagination but is based on someone else's. However, reading books can make readers imagine things in a way they have never before. Using their creativity they think about the story based on life experiences and by doing so they connect to it and compare it to the real world. Watching the Mockingjay after reading the book made me visualize the actual story through another point of view. Mockingjay is the final book of the trilogy of the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It is about a young teenager named Katniss Everdeen who lives in a dystopian society made up of twelve districts in Panem which is ruled by the Capitol. Each district has their own goods given by the Capitol. In turn, the Capitol organizes the Hunger Games, which picks one girl and boy from each district to fight each other until only one person is left alive. Throughout the series, many people including Katniss rebel against the government due to its prejudiced government. Winning two times in the Hunger Games, Katniss becomes the symbol of rebellion. Moreover, reading and watching the Mockingjay made me think about social justices themes relating to our own world.
          One theme I have noticed in the movie and book was the issue of taking advantage of power. In the Mockingjay, President Snow, the tyrannical and ruthless president of Panem demands many things to happen to the twelve districts when even a small mistake or rebellion is made. Even with so many advantages and power such as their resources, their strength, and their armed, well-trained people, Snow decides to kill many innocent and young people just because things don't go the way he plans them to. For example, when Katniss showed her rebellious side to President Snow, he decides to destroy District 12, the poorest of all districts. He did this just to show Katniss that he is capable of causing harm to her and everybody she loves. Clearly, this was extremely inhumane of him. In the movie, when Katniss comes to visit District 12, all she sees is ashes, the collapses of small houses, dead bodies and skeletons. The way that Snow showed his message was very disturbing and immoral. President Snow took advantage of his power by destroying things. He wanted even more dominance. This made me think about about social justice because Suzanne Collins and the director of the movie, Francis Lawrence, seemed to show everyone that if in any case the government is trying to take advantage of the people, someone should stand up. Every life of every living person matters. Just because there is a leader, that doesn't mean that somehow they are way superior than us. The leaders are there to keep everything in order and control everything. They are supposed to help us- not destroy things like President Snow did repeatedly in Mockingjay.
          To add on, Mockingjay was making quite a deal about publicity and leadership. In the movie, there were many kinds of leaders- the leader of the Capitol and the leader of the rebellion side. Both were very known throughout all of the districts including the thirteenth one, the rebelling people. This is where publicity comes in. The Capitol was obviously known because it was the main government of every district. However, the way it was known was extremely negatively. The Capitol purposely killed hundreds of innocent people, it didn't nurture people who were in need, and mostly it forcefully put people into the Games when that was just killing more people except brutally. On the other hand, Katniss from district thirteen was known for her rebelling side, except her rebellion showed her care for everyone. To the Capitol it may seem that Katniss is a trouble making person, but to the rest of the people she is the "girl on fire". She was the only one who stood up for everyone and took the risk to foil the Captol's plan. Her bravery and strength made her the person known as someone who helps people and lives for others. This is when Collins and Lawrence is trying to show everyone that all publicity is not always good publicity. People are known for things they do. In this world, when people do certain things it gets around fast due to the media. The fame of events occur when it creates a change whether it is a positive one or a negative one and obviously people would want to be known for the good things that they do.
          All in all, Mockingjay showed a great deal of social justices that may be still existing in this world. With many actions, thoughts, and dialogue, the movie and book had subtly showed the everyday problems living in our society. Although, there were many differences in how the movie was set up compared to the plot line of the book, they both shared similar messages. One being, standing up for what is right. I feel like people should be inspired by the movie and book by paying attention to this message. They should know that they have the ability to make a change in our inadequate society like Katniss did in Mockingjay.