The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opening analysis

Institutional information

Catching Fire is a 12 rated science fiction action film. It is the second instalment in the Hunger Games trilogy and continues to follow Katniss Everdeen through her travels in the dystopian future of Panem. Released on the 21^st of November 2013 in the UK, the film grossed $864 million worldwide. This was a big budget film of $130 million. Personal appeals for the rights to Suzanne Collins hit novel started in 2009, which was when Lionsgate won the production rights. The film was directed by Francis Lawrence who took over the role from Gary Ross; the director of the first instalment of the franchise. Catching fire was a great success winning 14 awards and receiving masses of praise regarding its ‘step up’ in quality from the first film.

Genre and Target audience

The target audience of the original Hunger Games film was primarily teenage girls, however by the second movie the franchise had expanded to a wider audience. With the change in tone and focus being shifted from the love triangle complications to revolution the film appeared to be reaching out to a wider range of potential viewers. However the movie still reaches to teenage girls as the protagonist of the story is a relatable young woman, fighting against an unjust system. This film puts forward the inspiring idea the voices and actions of one young girl could change the world, which effectively appeals to the younger audience as it makes them feel empowered. 

This is a science fiction action movie as it combines a futuristic dystopian world with the fast paced action sequences that take place in the games.

Opening credits

Opening credits have not been used in this film. We are introduced to the film with the iconic Lionsgate indent and then are transferred straight into the movie itself. In fact there are no opening credits used at all in the first few minutes of the movie which allows the audience to jump straight into the action of the film and acts as if this is direct continuation of the last Hunger Games movie. It is not until the 2:40 marker that we are actually met with the opening title. 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' is written in block capitals in a bold white font against a blank black background. The font appears documented and factual, giving no direct clues as to the story or tone of the movie. No other credits are used as are typical in ordinary film production. Anything that could take away from the illusion of this 'true story' has not been included such as the names of actors, creators etc.. 

Location and Atmosphere representation

The first shot that we are met with is a long establishing shot of a desolate forest. This sets an eerie tone and gives an idea of the character’s isolated lifestyle. Also the change in the forest from the first film due to the seasons mirrors the change in the storyline; it represents the change in our protagonist's life from one of hope and fruitfulness to a dreary, bare scene. The slow instrumental that goes along side this generally suggests an idea of stillness and calm; however the underlying low notes give off a dreary and dangerous connotation. The music rises in pitch as we are introduced to our protagonist in the next shot. A long shot shows Katniss looking out into a vast expanse of wilderness. The setting sun in the background and her very still position suggests that she has remained in this state for a long time.
More long shots track the character's movement through the forest environment. The preferred reading of these shots would be that it is an empty and bleak scene as the cold icy sheen on the rocks and greyish camera filter connote a hostile and fatal environment for our woodland hunters. 

Narrative.
In the opening scenes the protagonist is presented to us in a woodland environment through a long establishing shot. She is wearing un-typical attire for what we would consider to be the norm in our society. She wears fur clothes and holds a bow and arrow prop. This links with her dependence on the woodland and her connection with nature as a hunter. It also presents the idea of fantasy as her cloths are unusual when compared to what we see in our society, yet conform to that of what we have seen in the previous film through the 'Capital' fashion.  Her watchful stance and cold, empty surroundings add to the idea of this being a harsh and unforgiving environment. The bitter atmosphere is also reinforced through the eery instrumental played throughout the beginning. Also the absence of vocals in the song mirrors the pureness and lack of humanity in the forest.

Character representation.
A quick series of cuts are used to show Katniss's fast and territorial response to the next character's introduction into the scene. The rapid speed in which this small sequence takes place signifies how weary she is of her environment and that her first instinct is to attack; suggesting that she is in a traumatised state.

The camera tracks the two character through the woods; the slow movement of the camera reflects their careful progression through the woods as they attempt to hunt the animals. In a later scene the protagonist prepares to shoot at a flock of birds. During this scene a deep focus is used on Katniss and her bow whilst the rest of the scene remains as a blurred image. This is also done when the shot transitions to show the birds as a deep focus is put on them whilst the rest of the scene remains blurred. This signifies the pinpointed focus that Katniss has on the animals as she attempts to make a kill. A slow pace continues up until 2:00; when the momentum of the film increases rapidly and abruptly. A series of quick cuts allow the shots to jump between Katniss, the boy she think that she has just killed, Gale and then eventually, in sudden realisation, back to the original birds of the first scene. An eye line match editing technique has been used to intensify the impact of the scene at is it first used to show the audience Katniss's horrific viewpoint of what she has just done; then is used to create more impact on her realisation of the boy being a figment of her imagination. This scene shows Katniss as an unstable person who may have experienced significant trauma in her past. The fast pace of this particular sequence highlights her sensitivity and her fragile mental state. In this scene the depth and development of her character from the last film is displayed to the audience.

Conclusion
The beginning of this film defies most of the usual conventions of an action film with its slow momentum building up to very short and abrupt burst of action. However I believe that this is effective for the storyline of the overall movie as it sets up the new characteristics of the movie's protagonist. It also appeals to the new demographic of the film as it shows a much darker side to this character and to the story with the gloomy mood and cold toned filter on the shots. It sets up the story well as it leaves a sense of intriguement for the audience with questions unanswered such as: what is the tour gale speaks of at the beginning and why is Katniss no longer the same brave protagonist as we remember from the first movie? We are still left unknowing of what will happen later in the film yet fascinates us as we naturally want to know what has cause these significant changes since the first film.