Hunger games (film)

This Wikiversity page contains spoilers of all of the Hunger Games films, including The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

The_hunger_games

History

Jennifer Lawrence at Comic Con

The Hunger Games is a popular Young Adult Book series written by Suzanne Collins. The film adaptation from the book series led to a popular trend of Dystopian Young Adult films in the 2010s. The protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, sparked a boost in female lead films for teenagers and young adults in the 2010s.

Hunger Games

Hunger Games was Directed by Gary Ross in 2012. It stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, and Woody Harrelson. It made $694.4 million USD in box office.

Film Plot

Katniss Everdeen gets reaped to fight to compete in a nationally televised event - the 74th Hunger Games. Every citizen must watch as 24 teenagers fight to the death until only one remains.

Themes

Themes of inequality between rich and poor, suffering as entertainment, and Anti-capitalism.

Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Hunger Games: Catching Fire was directed by Francis Lawrence in 2013. It stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Sam Claflin, and Jena Malone. it made $865 million USD in box office.

Film Plot

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem. To combat this, the 75th Hunger Games reaps past victors, sending Katniss and Peeta back into the games.

Themes

Themes of power of appearances, the struggle for control, and anti-capitalism.

Hunger Games: Mockingjay (Part 1 and 2)

Francis Lawrence: Director of the Hunger Games films

Hunger Games: Mockingjay (Part 1 and 2) was directed by Francis Lawrence in 2014 and 2015. It stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, and Sam Claflin.Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One made $755.4 million USD and Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part Two made $160 million USD.

Film Plot

After outsmarting the Capital, the Rebellion rescues Katniss and Finnick to bring them to District 13, and plan to rescue Peeta and overthrow the Capital.

Themes

Themes of anti-capitalism, rebellion, war, compassion, callousness, and revenge.

Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was directed by Francis Lawrence in 2023. It stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Hunter Schafer, Peter Dinklage. As of writing this, Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is currently in theaters total box office unknown.

Film Plot

Years before becoming President of Coriolanus Snow is given a job to mentor the female District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird in the 10th Hunger Games.

Themes

Themes of propaganda, spectacle, and morality.

Aesthetics

Music

Music is a huge overarching motif in this series. The films' plot radicalizes music and uses it as a weapon. Music leads to the spark of the revolution, and the main protagonist, Katniss uses music passed down to band the different districts together to build an army.

The Valley Song

In the series, The Valley Song (also known as "Deep in the Meadow") is a lullaby written by Lucy Gray during Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The song was passed down in District 12 over the years. Katniss grew up singing it at school and to her little sister, Primrose. It's a soothing melody with equally soothing lyrics. During the 74th Hunger Games, when Rue dies, Katniss sings the song to her before she passes. The song, itself, begins to fuel riots and unsteadiness in District 11. At the end of Mockingjay Part 2, Katniss sings this lullaby to her and Peeta's children on land where a huge part of the revolution took place, signifying a common healing and calmness to the people of Panem post war.

The Hanging Tree

In the series, The Hanging Tree is a song written by Lucy Gray during Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. She writes it after watching a man get hung after committing a crime. She sings this song to her fellow Covey band members and Coriolanus Snow before attempting running away with him. The song's lyrics reflect this story urging Snow to meet her at the Hanging Tree to run away.

65 years after Lucy Gray disappears, Katniss sings The Hanging Tree on a live streamed propaganda video attempting to rally the Districts together for a revolution. It's theorized the members of District 12 passed down Lucy Gray and the Covey's songs in secret. Katniss reveals that her father taught it to her. This song became an anthem for the revolution.

Suzanne Collins, author of The Hunger Games series wrote the lyrics to the song. “The Hanging Tree,” which featured vocals from Jennifer Lawrence was used in Mockingjay. It became a haunting folk ballad with influences from Appalachian music.With the films release, The Hanging Tree climbed to No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2014.

The Mockingjays' Singing

Mockingjays are a important motif in the series. Mockingjays are a mix bred between mockingbirds and Jabberjays - a fictional species of bird created by the Capital with the ability to record and replay full sentences it hears. Jabberjays were used in the first rebellion to hear the rebels plans. After the war, they were released in the wild for ten years before the Capital attempted to catch them all again. In the Districts, these Jabberjays mated with Mockingbird creating the mutt bred Mockingjays. Mockingjays are able to carry a tune perfectly and sing any song after hearing it once.

In Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Lucy Gray has a fondness to Mockingjays. She evens tells Coriolanus a popular saying in District 12, "it's not over until the Mockingjay sings".

Fast forward to the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss is given a Mockingjay pin before the reaping and takes it into the arena with her. She learns more about Mockingjays in the arena when Rue tells her about them and how District 11 uses them to relay the message that the work day is over. Rue and Katniss use them by whistling a tune to message to each other when separated.

After the games, Katniss gets connected to the Mockingjays. It becomes a symbol of hope in the Districts, and her stylist Cinna, dresses her in mockingjay dresses encouraging this symbolism. After the 75th games in Mockingjay Part 1 and 2, Katniss becomes a martyr and ends up being the face of rebellion under the codename of "The Mockingjay". While attempting to rally the Districts together, Katniss sings, getting mockingjays to layer under her vocals, which create a powerful message to the people of Panem. Like Lucy Gray's saying, "it's not over until the Mockingjay sings", the revolution didn't come until Katniss (the Mockingjay) sang.

Texture

Cosplay of Effie Trinket's Catching Fire Look

Costumes and makeup create a very interested texture aesthetically wise in these films. The capital fashion includes the use of high fashion designers like Alexander McQueen. The fashion is layered of many different fabrics creating an unique texture to see on screen. The use of makeup also creates an interesting texture to watch. By using uncommon colors and makeup techniques, it makes The Capitol citizens stand out from the people who make up the Districts.