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As the intelligent and inspiring main character ofTheHunger Games, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) fights for survival along with 23 other tributes, she learns even more about the evils of the Capitol and her life is never the same again. WhileThe Hunger Gamesfilm franchise, adapted from the young adult series by Suzanne Collins, features many strong characters and terrifying battles, the all-powerful Capitol is always up to no good.
There are several compelling characters in The Hunger Games, including coupleHaymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) and Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks). However, no character is able to escape the Capitol. Every epic scene and terrifying moment inThe Hunger Gamesis thanks to the influence that the Capitol has on the residents of Panem. After Katniss discovers the truth about the Capitol’s problematic behavior and years of lying, she changes the course of Panem’s history and there is no going back.
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What Is The Capitol In The Hunger Games?
When characters inThe Hunger Gamestalk about The Capitol, they are referring to the story’s government and also the richest city in Panem. While The Capitol becomes a republic afterthe end ofThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay, it is a terrible dictatorship before that led by President Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland).
There are a lot of compelling aspects to life in the Capitol. Suzanne Collins created several drugs for her story, includingthe painkiller Morphling, and the author also came up with a liquid that the Capitol residents drink so they can throw up and keep eating. People who live in the Capitol are well-off and care more about their physical appearances and being fashionable than being compassionate and kind.
How Does The Capitol Control The Residents Of Panem?
The Capitol controls the characters living in Panem by forcing them to compete in the Hunger Games. When the story begins, Katniss decides that she will fight in the 74th Games so her younger sister Prim (Willow Shields) doesn’t have to. After The Capitol claimed that they won their battle against District 13, who rebelled against them, one male and one female from every district was chosen to fight in the Games. Since all the devastating and disturbing action is filmed, everyone back home can keep up with the events.
Other Important Tributes In The Hunger Games Franchise:
WhileThe Hunger Gamesprequel has some flaws, the franchise has a rich backstory, and it was a smart idea to explore it in a separate film. The backstory of District 13’s fight against the Capitol is also a key part of the franchise since District 13 is such a mysterious place. As Katniss continues to fight for her survival in the Games, she becomes more and more suspicious of the evil Capitol.
How Does Katniss Everdeen Fight The Capitol’s Power?
Although at first, Katniss appears to listen to what the Capitol wants her to do, she ultimately becomes rebellious as the story continues. Beforethe end ofThe Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) and Katniss agree to pretend to be engaged so their Victory Tour can be more interesting and entertaining. But when they both give speeches, those in charge aren’t sure that they are doing a good job faking a love story.
InThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1andPart 2, Katniss joins District 13’s President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) in fighting the Capitol. It’s fascinating to watch how Katniss stands up to the Capitol and doesn’t back down. She doesn’t believe any of the Capitol’s lies about District 13 having been attacked and knows that there are a lot of things that those in charge aren’t telling the residents of Panem. WhileThe Hunger Gamesprequel has great characters, Katniss is uniquely tough, caring, and impressive. She speaks truth to power and wants to help her fellow Panem residents, even when she’s staring death in the face. Coin is a compelling character because, by the end of the franchise, Katniss realizes that Coin is just as evil as Snow and kills Coin.
Gary Ross, who directed the first movie in theHunger Gamesfranchise, said in an interview withThe Hollywood Reporterthat he was interested in working on the first film adaptation of the young adult series because of the themes. Katniss’s battle with the Capitol serves two purposes: allows fans to see Katniss’s strength and also drives home the message about wealthy, powerful people harming those who are less fortunate.
When talking aboutThe Hunger Gamesfandom, Ross said:
“But the deeper question here is about taking the themes in the movie seriously. I think one reason this franchise was so successful is that this generation feels they are fighting for their survival all the time — and that survival is far from certain. From climate change, to authoritarianism, their generation feels a real sense of dread and jeopardy. Suzanne’s book spoke that and it resonated. It’s one the reasons I wanted to do it.”
The Hunger Games
In a Dystopian future, food has become the world’s most valuable resource, and children must fight to the death in a televised event in order to win resources for their home districts. When Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her sister’s place, she sets in motion an uprising to change the world. Based on the hit YA novels by author Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games quickly became a phenomenon with four star-studded movies based on the original series and a prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, released in 2023. The series has featured performances by Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence, Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson, Peter Dinklage, and Rachel Zegler.
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