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The Hunger Games: Mockingjay movie commentary
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay is a tough look at how societies can overlook the harsh realities of so many. It's a poignant movie to do a movie commentary video for and remains very relevant. We enjoyed this movie and this series, even if it can be tough to watch at times.
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The schedule will be a bit slow for the next two videos but then it's back to normal. Consistently doing our videos this long is hard so we'll let you know of any continuing schedule adjustments. Live channel: kzhead.info/tools/lLU6EveVOrcfRJKvbINJ9Q.html Instagrams: @stefanwolf_tmb @samlanemusic Discord server: discord.gg/GgWp3JzVFV
Honestly I'll totally wait for the longer 1h vids thank you guys for always giving us the best, also I've been re-watching all of your guys vids
Zootopia is oddly my comfort one lol and idk
I’ll just content myself by rewatching older videos, quality content is quality content 😊 also binging season 3 of Umbrella academy and then rewatching the whole thing from start to finish 🤣
I wish you guys would watch Moxie. It's fantastic and I think you would enjoy it.
Thank you :)
I never understood the Peeta hate. He was so selfless the ENTIRE time. I always favored him over Gale. The Capitol f*cked him up so bad and it tears me up because back in the 1st film Peeta tells Katniss "I'm afraid they'll change me into something I'm not " and that's exactly what they did to him. just so unfair. this franchise is literally one of my favorites. all 4 movies were incredible to me.
I loved Peeta in the books so much. Gale wasn't a bad choice, but Peeta was just better for Katniss. I also thought his sense of sarcastic humor was great. His "well, don't step on me" line (when Katniss was searching for him in their first Games, and couldn't see him because he camouflaged himself). I was really disappointed they left that out of the movie. Peeta was just as selfless as Katniss, and I think that's another reason they compliment each other so well.
@@lilscenechick1995 I agree. You're totally right. They're both cut from the same cloth. That's why they fit so well.
Same🙏
same. he's a keeper i hope every women on earth will have a Peeta
This!! I was just thinking this same exact thing earlier this week. The sad thing about Peeta, aside from the obvious, is that no matter what he was a piece in someone’s game. In the first movie/book, Peeta was a piece in the Capitol’s game bc he was forced into the Hunger Games among the other children, he was a piece in Haymitch’s plan to keep Katniss alive, and then became a piece in Katniss’s plan to keep herself alive. In the second movie/book, he was a part of the rebel’s plan to save Katniss in the Quarter Quell, they all kept him alive just so they could have Katniss’s cooperation when the rebellion and District 13 was all revealed to her. In the third and fourth movies/third book, Peeta was abused by the Capitol and just to mentally torture Katniss. Once they rescued Peeta, Coin used him in hopes that he would end up killing Katniss. And if Coin had gotten her wish and rescued Peeta from the arena and not Katniss, he would’ve become a piece in her plan. Poor kid was just being used by everyone all around and he still was kind towards everyone
What kills me is that Prim is echoing what Katniss did for her in the first movie, brushing her hair, soothing her after nightmares, etc.. Prim has grown up so much (how could she not?) and recognizes her sisters trauma and that she has to/can take care of her now.
An interesting bit of symbolism I saw pointed out once is how Prim starts the series with two braids like the child she is, looking vulnerable and innocent. By Catching Fire she has done a lot of growing up, symbolised by wearing a single braid. This also shows her allegiance to her sister by emulating her hairstyle.
@@Jemini4228 Very interesting! It’s the little things that make this series so great
@@kaylaholland8143 my favourite part of the novel is when Katniss points out that her sister can just see people for who they are. No judgement she can just see exactly who you are and what you can do.
I really liked the conversation you guys had five minutes in about who Katniss and Peeta are and who the rebellion needs more. Katniss is a fighter/survivor, Peeta is a healer. It’s not that one is ultimately more valuable than another, it’s about what you need at a given point. In this part of the story and the rebellion, no healing can take place because the cause of the wound is not gone. You can’t heal a shark bite if the shark’s still circling around you trying to finish you off. The only thing you can do is fight back until the threat is gone, and then you can start the healing process. Edit: I love the conversations you guys have in general.
A few things to note: Katniss is still 17 in this movie/the next movie. She was 16 in the first movie. Coin is much more evil in the books; she orders the torture of Katniss’s beauty team and openly resents Katniss. Johanna and Katniss have a really cute friendship, and they actually both train to be soldiers. Katniss is the only one that passes the final test. Editing to add: Effie doesn’t appear in the mockingjay books until the very end. Gale and Beetee have some really horrible ethical ideas including laying b0mbs at food, water, or medical areas of their enemies. It’s revealed Haymitch’s family, friends, and potential lover was killed after his games because he won in a way that wasn’t intended (using the force field against them)
Also Effie was not held in 13 at any point in the book. She is literally not mentioned in this book until the very end after Gales bombs are dropping in the Capitol circle.
@@The020300knp I'm really happy Effie appeared more in the movies. She got her own well deserved character arc, I love her
Can you afford being ethical in a war like state? I mean, i guess i would consider doing the bombing thing as a last resort.
@@19Rena96 Ironcally Gales bombs have a direct correlation to real life double tapping where drone operators will fire missiles into public areas then fire another one after first responders arrive to kill even more people the idea was that they’d hit the “bad guys” and more bad guys who came to help them in reality this method has killed 50:1 more civilians then it has killed any terrorist, it’s one of the leading propaganda tools used to stir hatred against the west and to help bolster Terrorist and extremist recruiting and it has done nothing but spill more blood and done nothing to lower or stop the bloodshed one iota Gales little bombs play a huge part in the last book with at a very significant moment and it’s totally intended to be an ethical condemnation of the tactic.
Also its alluded to the possibility of coin being behind the pandemic that killed a lot of the children in district 13. For population control purposes.
People who know that the hunger games is an antiwar story know that peeta was the only suitable love interest for katniss... EVER. Those who picked gale picked liam hemsworth and not the story suz Collins was telling
Any attempt at being anti war, fails spectacularly. The story is about a situation that can objectively only ever be changed by war/revolution.
@@wyterabitt2149 incorrect. While yes the story depicts revolution through war, that isnt the core of the story . The hunger games is an explicitly anti-war story. At the beginning what causes the horrible hunger games? War. Katniss correct moral standing causes rebellion, starting another war. What comes of this war? All those who survive are tragically affected forever. Even though katniss and peeta eventually have kids, its not a happy ending. They both experience crippling losses due to the war. Peetas core being is stripped away from him because of war. Both have PTSD because of war. Their kids play on a graveyard because of war. Panem might be in a time of peace, but the novels make it clear that peace is not lasting - another unfortunate reality of war. Everyone in the story that deals with the consequences of the war/revolution are broken characters. All of that indicates how war only works to hurt all people involved - there is no good in war, regardless of the outcome. Therefore, the hunger games IS an ANTIWAR story and it succeeded spectacularly.
@@badgaltinginnit It doesn't just depict war though the story makes it clear that war is sometimes necessary. Anti-war would require that you show war is never the way. Whereas the story shows that it is the only option and only way in some situations. I agree it shows the reality of war, but that's not anti-war in itself. That's just honesty on the impact it can have. If I made a film that showed the impact having a severely disabled child can have, that's not anti-having disabled children. That's just bringing to light the reality of what people can go through. There is no good war is a massive oversimplification. It's an act of technically right if you describe it the right way, and somewhat meaningless by any measure of reality - it's only really relevant in fairytales/a utopia. Like how the great moral feeling of turning the other cheek, and violence is never the answer, is not entirely wrong as such - but quickly falls apart when someone pulls a knife and tries to stab you.
@@wyterabitt2149 I never said that it 'just depicts war'. Theres obviously other storylines that interweave to create the story. However, what I am saying is that the core message/story being told is one of ANTI-WAR. In this particular story - as with many irl revolutions - war is inevitable/a necessary evil. But, that doesn't change the fact that the overall message is one that is antiwar. I think its difficult to take your example as a good one because all films have underlying messages and themes in addition to their main one (nuance). So in your example, yes, that film would depict the impact. However, THG is also a class struggle story so there is an overall message that can be shared - the same cannot be said about the case in your example because you're focusing on a singular plot point opposed to a nuanced story. In THG all the storylines meet on the same commonality of being anti war. The love story between katniss peeta and gale is an anti-war message because of the contrast of philosophies in gale and peeta. The hunger games itself is commentary on being anti-war because 1) it was founded on the aftermath of a war & 2) the children selected to compete in the games (which could be called a war in itself) don't want to be there. Unless they are brainwashed careers which again is a message of antiwar. The careers display the effects of indoctrination & exploitation that war propaganda can do to the masses. Which leads them to their own self destruction, like cato, and their own ptsd if they win. I may be too radical for you in my beliefs, but I do believe that there are no good wars because the effects it leaves on the common people are always grave - regardless if they were needed or not. And that is exactly what the hungergames depicts through all 4 movies. Every major decision is framed in the context of being antiwar in theory/philosophy. Even president snow has an antiwar philosophy, but it is framed from his position in power - leading him to think that THG would prevent war.
I think the story tells more of a survival story rather than war. In the end, the Hunger Games is about survival. The first movie is about how Katniss and Peeta both survive the Hunger Games. The second movie is how Katniss and Peeta can survive the rising rebellion. The third movie is trying to survive the beginning of the war. The theme of the movies seem to be survival, with the number of people increasing and the stakes getting higher.
1. the costuming especially Peeta’s all white outfit when he’s being interviewed was amazing if you look at it you could see that the collar was made into a way that it looks like a knife pointed at his throat. 2. Finnick’s story always gets me especially when you remember he was the youngest victor to ever win so he was being sold add extremely young age like all the victors were under age while being sold but like he was a child child 3. Joanna’s line last movie about there not being anyone left that she loves is connected to what Finnick was talking about, she refused the capital so the killed all her family
NOO were finnick sold at 14 then?
oh my God. I never put two and two together about Joanna. oh no. my heart just broke even more for her 💔
@@bea2323 He wasn't seen in public with "lovers" until he was 16, but I'm very sure that a place like the Capital would have people that were willing to pay for him at 14.😢
It’s even more fucked up when you remember a big part of the reason why he won the games was bc he was good looking so he got a lot of wealthy sponsors 🤢🤮
@@bea2323 they waited until he was “of age” aka 16!!!! (STILL A CHILD)
To make a long story short the “Peeta Hate”, which isn’t nearly as big in the fandom as some people things stems from two (largely contented) camps. There is the Team Gale people, which the love triangle isn’t that big of a deal in the books, Hollywood made it a bigger thing, and people chose the Hemsworth over the character. Gale exists as more of a reminder of who she probably would’ve eventually gotten with out if conveniences if the games never happened, because he was safe and an easy choice, they were on paper very much alike (Even though the Mockingjay book takes extra to go over why her and Gale could never work now, not even to mention a very bad spoiler situation he had a big hand in that occurs in the next movie), and some fans think that Peeta is too “soft/meek” for Katniss. Gale has too much personal fire that he and Katniss would burn each other up. She needs someone to be calm with her and that soothe her fire (Her literal words), and as she got to know Peeta she feelings for him overcome and ease that choosing a Gale might have had. People that call Peeta weak were not paying attention. Sorry for the Monologue- love your videos! Hope y’all are doing well. Love from Texas 💜
Another reason Peeta gets so much hate for being "soft/meek" is because his disability from the books (him only having one leg) was never included in the movies and it's very much to its detriment. Film watchers make the "love triangle" out to be this strong v weak thing when gale literally has 1 leg more than Peeta lmfao But completely agree- for anyone who actually read the books the love triangle didn't really exist esp since we're reading Katniss's inner monologue and in MJ her kissing Gale was really just for her to feel something. I always hated how Hollywood's promo for the Hunger Games focussed so heavily on romance instead of what its actually about- overthrowing a fascist government that distracts its citizens with entertainment and food
Honestly I really appreciated the irony, it showed even further the points the story was making.
And the thing is that in the books, peeta wasn't weak. Idk why people think he was weak. Just because he does painting and baking , doesn't mean he's weak. He's strong, a survivor, kind, selfless, creative . What's not to love
It's funny because I've never met a single person who liked Gale. In the grand scheme of things, everyone I know (whether or not they liked Peeta) would choose him over Gale any day.
Yeah I haven't read the books in a while but I totally don't remember there really being a love triangle, more just Gale trying to convince her they're right for each other. I love the movies but I did hate how they played up the love triangle, so much so that a lot of reactors assume Katniss and Gale are actually together in films 1 and 2 and (probably) that she's being wishy-washy in her feelings for the boys. I don't even have anything against love triangles at all...I actually love them depending on the dynamics. It's just that the books didn't really feature it but they made it a bigger thing in the films. As for the Peeta hate, maybe I just don't go to the right places but these days there's a lot more Gale hate than anything else. Definitely remember the Team Peeta/Gale days though. Katniss says in the last book that she already has enough fire of her own and what she needs is a dandelion in the spring (a callback to how she associated daisies with Peeta in the first book). I absolutely love Katniss and Peeta's relationship and how they complement each other. They're forever one of my OTPs.
I've seen some people hate on Peeta bc he's not the tipical manly super hero, he keeps being saved by Katniss and also by Finnick. So they call him "useless" and "weak" wich is ridiculous. Also Josh Hutcherson acted his ass off. He deserved an Oscar (fight me) for this movie or the last one.
That's ridiculous, because Peeta was actively leading the Careers away from Katniss in their first Games. I suppose it's less obvious in the movie (at first), but Katniss realized what he was actually doing when he ran with their group. He bought her a lot of time after the "blood bath" at the Cornucopia. Without him leading Cato and the others astray, they would've tracked her down sooner. He also nearly died fighting Cato so Katniss could escape after she dropped the tracker jacker nest on them...Lol did these people actually pay attention to the movie? (I'll fight them with you, Peeta deserves to have respect on his name lol)
@@lilscenechick1995 he also got a little slower bc he looses a leg in the books.
i agree 100% except for the oscar part, josh is a brilliant actor but oscar is smth more valuable and worthy
@@boardonroad1646 Oscars are not even worth recognition anymore. But he deserves one for how he acted in these movies.
@@evelyndossantos708yeah it really was a disservice to the character that they left that part out in the movie since it was because of his artificial leg that he tripped at the beginning of the tour, needed help swimming, needed carried away from the fog, etc.
The coat was important to her because it belonged to her father. It's mentioned in other books but not the movies.
I LOVE how the relationship aspect with Peeta is depicted in this saga. Is so real and so honest. Not like teen movie romance, that's why i have always hated people calling them ''teen movies'' or wathever other term i've heard. You have politics, war, economic issues, mental health issues, REAL love depiction, power struggles, slavery, abuse, and more. They really are under apreciated. Same as this one in particular. It has always been called ''the boring or slow one''. It's the most real one of them all. Love your reactions.
You said it ALL
I agree with all you're saying. Going with what you are saying about calling it "teen movies," I recently learned that YA books aren't called that because they are meant FOR young adults but because they are ABOUT young adults. So in many ways the stories can be just as raw, real, and complex as other genres, just all these things are happening TO teenagers. So this series (the books and movies) nails that 1000 times over in my opinion.
The first Mockingjay movie is actually my favourite. It's "slow" action wise but I've never been much of an action fan anyway. Katniss' "if we burn you burn with us" scene is my favourite in all of the movies. I love the psychological mindgames and politics of this movie.
So Peeta's weightloss was CGI. You said you don't really like the trend of losing all that weight, so just wanted to let you know he didn't lose all that weight, it was all CGI 🙂 really loving your reactions to this series. I read the books way before the movies were even a thing, and in my opinion, it's one of the adaptations from book to screen that's fairly interpreted from the source material to screen. Obviously things were left out/changed but as for an adaptation it's one that didn't piss me off while watching lol
Jennifer was also told to lose quite a lot of weight for her role as Katniss(in the books she was underweight and a lot smaller than everyone else in the games considering her age), but she refused as she didnt want to advertise unhealthy bodies and that way comply to unhealthy beauty standards as t would affect herself and young impressionable people who were watching the hunger games.
@@grillimauste8871 that’s very respectable from her but i understand why they would’ve asked her to start off with cause the famine in 12, and her very small stature are fairly big points in the books
@@odarkrak5537 It's not respectable, it's utterly stupid. Maybe we should ban images of famines so as to not make people think it is normal or encourage it? If the body type/weight is not important, then an actor or actress should never be forced or pressured into being thin for the sake of supposedly looking "better" - that is important. But that is not what is being talked about in this case at all.
I remember finishing the first book in the parking lot at the movie theater and then going in to watch the movie. My 11-yo-son has now finished the first book and we watched the first movie together last weekend. He wants to wait a bit and read something lighthearted before starting Catching Fire, and I told him to take all the time he needs, but he said he did really love it.
@@odarkrak5537 she was described as shorter than most females in other districts but I don’t remember it ever referencing her being skinny? She hunted for her food along with trading which gave her a lot of added fruit, protein and dairy than many other in 12 didn’t have.
Just wanted to add that it's heavily hinted at that Finnik was er... "passed around"... in the Capitol once he won. Due to his good looks and charisma. I just want to point it out because male child/teen abuse/grooming is very real and very ignored. I give kudos to the author for having the gall to point it out. Especially because historically (and even today) it's WAY more common then people realize.
It wasn’t just “hinted” at he literally said in the movie, and they explained it in the books as well how did you miss that?
@@aniyahwilliams8071 I think they were just saying that because lots of people miss it. I’ve seen people react to it and they completely miss it.
@@hufflepuff5831 oh I know it’s just the way they worded it made me think the og commenter missed that part even tho the reactors even saw, I was half joking since obviously they still know abt it 🫠
I love how subversive Peeta was for the time. In the book especially a lots made of the fact that he’s buff and that’s seen as his main asset in the beginning. But Peetas not an action hero he’s someone who can balance the fine line of manipulating an audience whilst still retaining his core empathy. Such an interesting character and such a good skill set to use in a political drama.
Actually, Peeta was very strong, and was noted for being good at "hand to hand combat. He did injure and survive a confrontation after they were stung and he was trying to save/protect Katniss. We just don't see that as much in the films.
*..a confrontation with Cato,...
Peeta is my favorite character in the series. He's charming, sweet, funny, smart, quite sassy when he wants to; and most of all a genuinely KIND good person. And he was such a subversive male love interest at the time, when the YA scene was full of douchey (and mostly abusive) "misunderstood" bad guys characters. He's too precious for this world and I wish they did a better job adapting his character in the movies.
Everybody breaks under torture. My sister was a pilot with the Navy and they simulate being captured by an enemy force and tortured to prove that EVERYBODY breaks under torture. Because these men and women are young, healthy, and should be in the best mental and physical shape of their lives, they tend to think they can withstand anything. Part of the mental conditioning is learning that they are breakable and accepting that.
I think that certain people can withstand certain degrees of torture. Some people can withstand more than other people.
@@ashleydowney1222 But everyone will still break, everyone has a breaking point, and someone being able to withstand more than others is not a mark of who is better or worse or stronger or weaker.
@@CaptainPikeachu Yeah, if you’re pragmatic about it, you think, “I’ll break sooner or later, so I might as well save myself a lot of pain & possibly some permanent physical impairment by telling them what they want to know.” Also, by being cooperative, it may be possible to keep some really important information secret, since they assume you’re telling them everything.
How did they simulate torture?
@@sophiewelsh8619 Usually waterboarding and intense isolation from what I've heard. Nothing that can cause lasting damage, but will certainly leave an impact on your psyche. What the military tries to teach you is to mislead the enemy and try to escape if possible. Either make yourself completely worthless to them (Act insane basically) or give them info that makes you an asset while not actually providing them with anything meaningful (Such as information about an upcoming attack, but the wrong location).
I really appreciate that you included and discussed Finnick's Speech. Those revelations where important for a few reasons: 1. The treatment of the victor's post games is a really key example of how the Capitol controls everyone, keeping them perpetually in survival mode. Because survival is so often selfish. Especially when it's encouraged. Victors like Finnick appear to be well off in comparison to the people in the districts but their under the Capitol's thumb as well. As you said, the nation loved Katniss because she *cares* even under duress (volunteers to die, mourns a child, refuses to kill a friend). 2. Though not central to the themes of the novel this was the first book I read with a male sexual assult/abuse survivor. Not only that Finnick was a prominent and well rounded character. Though I have not experienced anything close to what he went through I found the depiction of the of trauma he endured and how he coped to be incredibly insightful and realistic. 3. It also showed the many different ways people adapt and survive are ALL valid. Obviously Peeta shows this the most in story but the implication is that Finnick spent years performing loyalty to the Capitol to spare his loved ones. The popular phrase is "Fight or Flight" but it's really more like "Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn". Sometimes you can't fight or run, either your body doesn't react that way or the circumstances don't allow it. Sometimes the only thing you can do to survive is try to appease the perpetrator. Collins shows through making Finnick (and Peeta) smart, and loving, and brave that doing so doesn't mean your weak or lesser.
totally agree about the Finnick thing. Would’ve been very easy for Suzanne Collins to give that to a female victor but she gave it to a man and it started when he was only 14 years old. as a male SA victim although nowhere near Finnick’s level i appreciate it
Thank you for being literally the only reaction video that gives acknowledgement to Finick being sold. So many either miss the intent or just don't mention it. Another thing to consider is how Johanna mentions that everyone in the capital wants to sleep with Peeta and at the party before the quarter quell some random guy reaches out and touches Katniss. Pretty sure the intent was to imply they would have been sold, too. In the books, it's a bit different, but you still get the implication if you are paying attention.
“Hope is the only thing stronger than fear” was my most memorable quote from President Snow. And I got it that Peeta was Katniss’ hope, he reminds her of rest and home. He was brilliantly written no matter how people said he was “a burden”/“useless”, a rare character in franchise stories.
I love how Jennifer did her own singing for this flick, she should really sing in more projects!
I just wrote a comment to you on another video about how I keep seeing your comments, so hi again 😂
Hi Trina!
Agreed. I don't know for sure if it was in this one or when she sings to Rue but she said in an interview that she cried because she DID NOT want to sing at all, and did everything she could to avoid it haha
HI AGAIN OMG
I thought she had an okay voice. Nothing spectacular.
gale proving your point about guys who presume they’d act differently under extreme duress and torture😭
The pain when you connect the Finnick sentence of "President Snow sells your body, and if you refuse, they kill someone you love." and then going back to Johanna in the arena screaming and fighting back, and saying "What are they going to do to me now? I have no one left that I love." She never bowed down, and she lost every single one of her loved ones trying to keep her sanity and integrity. Only to be put back into the arena.
I love that Katniss had to check her little paper to be like oh yeah and my sister gets her cat. 😂
In regards to the fandom hatred of Peeta, I do remember it, Hunger Games premiered the same year Breaking Dawn Part 2 came out and many in the Twilight fandom were desperate for another love triangle war(which honestly is one of the worst things about it) and they JUMPED on the Hunger Games 'love triangle' and they just chose Gale. Ill say it, love triangles are the worst trope ever and honestly can drain the story more than feed it
exactly i mean Peeta is the keeper
it is for sure the worst part about the franchise because it was barely there? she was always going to end up with peeta it was pushed more in the movies than the books but even then barely and because fans grabbed onto it. it made people reject it as what it was which is good sci fi and they then just saw it as a dumb book for teenage girls because people think anything teenage girls like is dumb especially when it involves liking boys and it’s a very sexist view to have
Another sinister detail that is revealed in the book (and it's been a while so I could be wrong) is that a fair portion of the peacekeepers aren't even from the capital but are from the districts. Districts 1 and 2 are closer physically to the capital and handle the more lavish products and therefore have more resources (think favorite children). Knowing that makes the peace keepers shooting into crowds of people that much more sad.
I also remember Darius, the district 12 peacekeeper who Katniss considered her friend. Definitely gave a little more dimension to the peacekeepers instead of them being entirely faceless and dehumanized.
@@lurategh I almost cried when they turned him into an Avox
Pretty sure she is still 17 (She was 16 in Hunger Games) cause they never mention her birthday happening in the Mockingjay book and it happens immediately after Catching Fire, and she turned 17 directly before that book Although she technically could have been slightly aged up in the movies but that isn’t likely because Gale is still two years older than her, just like the books, and he is 18 in The Hunger Games
yup, can confirm. katniss' birthday is in the spring and the mockingjay ends in the winter after her second games, so by the time the story is over, she hasn't even made it to 18 yet
Side note but how much of a relief must it be for a parent in Panem when their youngest child makes it to 19 and ages out of the reaping? I imagine it is quite the family celebration.
@@Jemini4228 my headcanon always was that the 18 year olds had the evening of their last reaping as their big moment in life. And then 19 must be the happiest birthday of their lives, at least as far as the reapings go. Still lots of other stuff do have to survive in that world
"yoU've jUst BEen iN BATTLE"
I can’t with you guys talking about dudebros assuming they could cope with toture AND THEN GALE SAYING THE EXACT SAME THING💀💀
Thank you for giving weight and attention to Finnick’s speech. So many commentaries skip over what he’s saying and how heartbreaking/tragic his story is. Love the level of detail and seriousness y’all give to these movies because they were so much deeper and darker than a lot of people want to get into and so just dismiss it as a silly dystopian teen movie for girls.
I feel like being in the air raid shelter would have been harder for Katniss and her family because her father was blown to pieces in a mine explosion. So being that far underground with explosions going off all around them would have been even harder for them.
Great point
I adore how empathetic you two are, you genuinely pay attention to the character and then provide worthwhile commentary. Truly quality stuff.
They made the shot really confusing at the hospital, but the planes had already bombed the hospital. They shot them down on the way back. She turns away from the plane to give the speech and that was behind her; she was facing the hospital. I mean, I guess showing that it would be very confusing is good, but it's... confusing. There was a scene in the book that I wish they'd had time for--instead of Effie being in 13 (she spent the book in the Capitol, implied to be in prison, though less severe than Peeta's), it was Katniss's preps who were brought to 13, and FAR from the "You know this isn't a prison," she found them chained to a wall in dungeon because they'd been caught stealing bread, and Katniss went ballistic protecting them. After it, Gale basically said, "I don't get it. What do you care that these three harmless idiots were imprisoned, starved, and essentially tortured? They're from the Capitol and worked for the Games, so they deserved it." It's the first time, even before Peeta's first propo, that Katniss realizes there's something super wrong, and it clarifies that it's _not_ just about Peeta.
Thank you, I forgot about this part, Gale is heartless and formidable while peeta is selfless and yes they both love Katnis but her heart flutters for peeta not Gale.
The media frenzy surrounding these movies was almost painfully ironic. They made huge celebrities of the leads at the time and reported on them constantly, putting their faces on the covers of every magazine. And there was so much attention put on the love triangle (Team Peeta and Team Gale) while ignoring all of the actual messages of the films. They even made an upbeat like dancehall remix of Katniss’s song from this movie.
Gal is infuriating to me in the films and books. There are definitely moments that I understand him but, he really holds things against Katniss and Peeta when they were just trying to survive.
Fun fact. At the end of Catching Fire, Katniss (at the end) thought she and Peeta had been captured by the Capitol. Her first thoughts were to kill Peeta so he wouldn't suffer going through the torture the Capitol would put him through.
I remember when the 1st Hunger Games film came out. I had never even heard of the the books, but a lot of people were raving about them, so my mom and I decided to see the movie. No sooner than I left the movie theater, I was determined to read all 3 books because the first film left such an impression on me. Everything that happens in this book/movie franchise isn't anything human beings haven't done to each other before, i.e. invading people's district, forcing citizens into poverty, prostitution, or torture, taking away basic human rights, treating other humans like slaves or animals, etc. Its amazing how relevant this story still is after all these years. I will say Peeta was my favorite character seeing the first film without any prior knowledge about his character or the books themselves. When watching the 1st film in the theater I always got a sense that he was a kind and genuine person who also didn't deserve to be in the games or subject to a terrible home life. I figured out his home/family life was toxic, and that he was doing everything he could to help Katniss because he actually cared about her more than himself whether romantically or platonically. Which goes to show how awesome of an actors Jennifer and Josh are. You could tell the characters had chemistry and you could tell though visual storytelling & body language that Peeta is a great guy and he and Katniss have a little history prior to the Games.. I was heartbroken at what the Capitol did to him. The movies did sorta undermine Peeta's importance to the story and to Katniss, but not to the extent where you couldn't see it at all like some comments suggest in your 1st movie reaction. But thanks for making such an extensive reaction to this series! I love you guy's content, and can't wait for your reaction to the finale! 👏🏼
Same. My mum and I both read the entire book series after watching the first movie because we were obsessed.
Edit: at the time the movies were premiering 1 & 2 (before mockingjay) from what I always read ^^ I don’t know about mixed feelings towards Peeta. Majority of the fandom really disliked him in the movies for being “weak”. I personally LOVED Peeta, in the movies and when I read the books it just solidified my ship. He is so great in the books, you can’t help but love him. Why he always got so much hate I’ll never understand.
I don't know where this information is coming from. All I ever saw on Twitter, Reddit, and other forums was love and empathy for peeta. And hate for gale. Especially in the last movie.
@@Orion_TheyThem I have never seen majority team Peeta ? Maybe during the mockingjay times (like you said) it went majority Peeta bc Gale was really showing his azz but during the first two films? There wasn’t really anyone shipping Peeta and her. From what I saw there was a lot of Gale, but I guess the forums you were on were opposite.
@@Orion_TheyThem so I guess let me correct myself from what I saw personally-- it was team gale until the end when he ruined it . Then I saw a bunch of team Peeta. When you search now that people have seen the series as a whole you see mostly Peeta
I never disliked Peeta. I was surprised that people disliked his character. Gale was fine too. Personally I thought both the actors were attractive. So no complaints from me.
@@__ASHA__T yeah, everything I saw on Tumblr, Twitter, and Reddit back in 2012/2013 were shipping Peeta with Katniss. Didn't really see much for Team Gale.
I read the books after watching the movies and it's interesting how many vital things they left especially with regards to the non existent love triangle between Peeta, Katniss and Gale bruh Hollywood really loves drama. It's a good movie all around tho the books as well.
The love triangle was there. Just very dailed down to a minimum.
@@rexibhazoboa7097 it wasn't an importance I guess?
@@rexibhazoboa7097 the triangle from my memory didn't go past book 1 I believe
@@tiffanykim2773 it definitely was present in all three books, it just wasn’t a focal point.
When you laughed about Effie feeling like she's in jail, I just remembered Katniss' prep team from the Capitol who were all help naked chained to a wall in district 13 🙃
I definitely recommend reading the Mockingjay book. It reveals more about district 13 and all the characters. Also in the book Katniss’s styling team were actually kept as prisoners in 13 and in horrible condition too (I can’t remember if Effie was with them). The author really does a good job at showing the parallels between 13 and the capital
Effie wasn’t part of the team. She was barely in the book but bc the director liked Effie so much they included her in district 13.
44:40 most of the hate comes from people that reduce him to the, supposedly, "forced love interest". As in, they think the romance between them didn't add much to the story. Also people called him a "simp" which makes no sense lol, why is being in love with someone viewed as bad? he never did anything expecting her to change her mind and love him. I guess people don't understand (or like) genuinely good and kind characters and write them off as boring. I think the movies didn't do a good job showing us all of Peeta's personality traits, like yes, he is kind and charming but he's also funny, clever, talented at arts, not only physically strong but mentally as well, and far more. I know the story focuses around Katniss and her pov, but the book is also from her pov and we're still able to know Peeta and understand Katniss's love for him. I'm aware a movie can only be so long but if you're gonna make the protagonist's romantic feelings one of your main focuses then shows us why is so important.
That's one of the changes that I didn't like from the movies, what they did to peeta's character was dirty, they didn't ruin him completely, but did take away a lot of things that made him such a great character in the books.
@@cristinaaristizabal1698 they didn’t ruin him at all. he was still completely likable in the movies.
People talk about this movie so bad but I I love it. All the strategy, & decision making conversations, and the media/messaging component- it’s super realistic.
It's really interesting how Snow lost control of the districts because he talked about controlling hope in the first movie and for him to maintain power he has to give the people the illusion of hope. Since the capitol was too harsh and too militaristic in dealing with the uprisings, the illusion of hope vanished and the people had nothing to lose, which is where the true rebellion and its true danger to existing powers really lies. I love how this movie goes so much deeper into the nuances of what a revolution truly entails and how poor katniss gets stuck in the middle, used as propaganda for both sides of the war and only ever wanted her family to be safe
To be fair, Snow is fully aware of when he is using lies and deception and what is true. It's actually an important distinction for the next movie, he isn't lost in a fantasy unable to tell the difference, he is in control and only lies when he feels it has a purpose.
Fun fact: the dog wandering through the wreckage of District 12 is Donald Sutherland's dog.
I really loved mocking jay part 1 and 2 because it showed the messy aspects of someone being thrust into politics when they genuinely want to do the right thing
And we have to remember that Finnick won his games at age 14, so we have to know that his abuse started at that age.
I appreciate you guys having that discussion about torture and defending Peeta, often times in a lot of these kinds of discussions of bravery/courage/torture/sacrifice things, I see a lot of people (especially folks who are civilians) react like Gale does, and unfortunately our society as a whole has a tendency of stigmatizing people with trauma and equating someone falling under the pressure of trauma as weak, and our media often has these insidious messages of what "toughness" is supposed to look like. And it just all ends up creating this mindset that some people have that "oh yeah I would never do that" despite them never a day in their life having been in sitautions that these characters (or people who've experienced this kind of stuff in real life) have been through. It's the kind of fake toughness arrogance that I really dislike, because it just really shows a lack of empathy and emotional maturity to grasp other people's experiences and points of view and the trauma that drives them to do certain things.
This film is honestly my favourite out of all four, solely because it’s the most realistic, the strategy, the power abuse, tyranny, rebellion. The Hunger Games isn’t as Sci-Fi as people think, a lot of topics (obviously not the games and shit) but a lot of problems bought up in the films are real life problems. This film gives me chills everytime, some things that happen make my skin crawl even after watching it a million times 😬
Fun fact: Effie Trinket (Liz Banks) became a fan favorite in the movies. She was only part of the first two books. Liz Banks' role is extended for the last two movies because of her portrayal
The whole bit where Katniss kisses Gale and he says “I knew you’d do that” to me has always been emotional manipulation on Gale’s part. He deliberately brought it up to Katniss that she kissed him there and I’m not denying that he was in pain, but he used that pain to garner affection and love from Katniss, and then made her feel guilty about it by pouting and acting butt hurt. I get that Gale is allowed to have his feelings but this instance will never be anything other than manipulative to me
Some idiots didn’t like the fact that Peeta wasn’t the physically strong male type and needed the female to rescue him.
You guys should definitely watch Everything, Everywhere, All At Once after finishing the Hunger Games/Maleficent. The entire cast absolutely kills it, the premise is super creative, and honestly while watching the movie myself, Ke Huy Quan's character gave me very strong Peeta vibes (if you watched the movie you know which monologue I'm talking about). If you watch it bring some tissues! Definitely, the best film I've seen this year.
seconded
Great commentary as always! I'm not sure about casuals - but Peeta is absolutely beloved among THG fans. If anyone has mixed reviews it's probably Gale.
and that too becuz of the girls who loved the person playing that character, gale is a neutral character, he is not good not bad, movie is different than books, in movies they just made up or enhanced the love triangle drama just becuz the guy who's playing gale is liam hemsworth
I appreciate that you both would have saved the cat, too. Same here 😂
Same 🥺
Katniss and Peeta are supposed to be 17 here! Also the movies don’t make Peeta seem like a good fighter, Katniss is good with a bow and arrow but Peeta is good at hand to hand combat and is way better than Katniss that way. They didn’t show it in the first movie, instead they made him struggle but in the books he excels when doing that while training. Katniss isn’t really as good at that. The reason Katniss was the symbol of the revolution is because of surrounding rue with flowers and especially the act with the berries since it was her idea. Katniss even before knowing about district 13 thought Peeta would be better to lead the revolution because he’s way better at words and is more charismatic. It also sucks that Peeta said in the first movie was that he doesn’t want them to change him and then he gets hijacked and completely brainwashed. Also it’s horrible what they did to finnick and other tributes like that, getting forced into prostitution to protect people you love like that and it’s bad enough already but if you remember Finnick was the youngest person to win his games at 14. You already know president snow is messed up but the more you head the worse it gets. It’s also why Johanna’s family is dead because she refused to do it.
i'm surprised that they say she was a better "fighter" when Peeta literally killed someone underwater with his bare hands and Katniss only killed people with her bow
Yeah Peter and katniss were 16 in the first movie 17 when they went back in and Mockingjay happened right after So within that same year when they're 17
Objectively the reason why she became the symbol of the revolution over Peeta, wasn't only bc she was a good fighter. But also due to her actions during the games. In the first games, Peeta played and allied with the carreer pack, which are completely with the capitol. Katniss volonteered to save her sisters life. She stayed away from others during the games to avoid participating. She allied with Rue bc of compassion even though she wasn't a logical strategic choice. She grieved her death and mourned when the capitol was pushing the propaganda image that these kids didn't go die, but we're sacrificing themselves for honor and glory, which caused the riots in district 11. Then Katniss went to help Peeta and ultimately the trick with the berries to rather die than kill eachother off to give the capitol a winner was her idea. That's why even though Peeta is more sociable and better with ppl according to Katniss, she already became a symbol. The arrow to the arena was just the ultimate defiance.
I interviewed Mahershala for this film way back when. I apparently asked him a question that was too fan-ish about where he thought district 13 might be on the map. He just laughed and said, "Oh you're really a fan!" And did not answer 😩🤣
Lucky!! That sounds like it would’ve been so much fun to interview him!!
Imagine this. After all Haymitch has been through he makes the greatest effort to support Katniss, the cause and brings his own ideas into it. There was still an ounce of hope left inside him under all the depression and resignation.
being in elementary school when both this movie and pitch perfect came out means that we cycled through the super upsetting hanging tree song and the cup song
why would you bring that memory back for me? lmao i got a couple of years on you but i wasn't safe either
"I love that prim is gunna become a doctor" Mockingjay part 2 be like 😶 🤣🤣
What i really like about this movie in particularly is the mental damage of the characters. I think they portrait it so well. Katniss is so damaged and broken. Never saw something like that in another dystopian movie of this era (well the source material of those was not great as well). Overall i adore this franchise books and movies and i'm glad you're watching. Love your commentary (been watching you since Mean girls ^^).
Gale is just a really good guy with a lot of justified resentment and thirst for vengeance. He's been through a lot and he, on a general basis, targets his anger towards the capitol, but sometimes throughout the story, he doesn't seem to understand that not everyone who isn't right where he's standing is his enemy. For example in the books, he was really resentful towards Katniss's prep team, even though they were literally just pampered clown brought up in the twisted world of the capitol, you don't know what you don't know, it doesn't mean that he had to pity them or like them even, but once they were on the rebel's side, it was pointless to pretend like any of the past mattered.
I always thought that the people who called Peeta a traitor, yelling at the TV (and Gale calling him a coward), they were very naive. And in a totally different way to the Capitol citizens, they too were out of touch with reality. The people in District 13 couldn't really relate to the other 12 districts because their struggles were very different. I don't want to exactly say that they got off easy, but it is the truth that almost all of the citizens have lived their whole lives without the Capitol breathing down their neck. They grew up in isolation with a faraway goal of defeating the Capitol which may or may not happen during their lifetime. Sure, they saw everything that was on Capitol TV, the Hunger Games, propaganda, whippings and executions if they were broadcasted and they really had to live on rations to survive. But compared to the people who saw it happen with their own eyes to the people they personally know, 13's lives were relatively peaceful.
The fire is catching bit always gets me in the feels. I can’t watch it without at least tearing up 😂 Jen has some serious acting skills.
As someone who was raised in a Christian fundamentalist cult since I was 6, brainwashing is done entirely through fear conditioning. Fear that people "of the world" are evil and out to get you. Fear that God will punish you for stepping a toe out of line. Fear of the cult leaders, fear of your parents if they're abusive (which mine were). In the cult, you have no personal identity, no individuality. You're not allowed to be yourself, you have to be better (and by better, I mean the "perfect," ideal, soulless shell they turn you into). Everything that makes you you is forbidden, unless they can find a way to exploit and benefit from it (for me, it was music). Even that though is highly restricted and controlled, and ALWAYS with an agenda. You fall into one of 2 roles in the cult, 1.) the one with the lust for control, or 2.) the one who is sincere and thereby easily controllable through guilt. As far as what was at stake for me to lose, I lost my family. They're still in the cult. I left 3 years ago. Interaction with them was so toxic to the point where I couldn't even talk to them without having my depression/anxiety/PTSD/BPD triggered to SCARILY dark degrees. Being at a friend's relative's house that reminded me of my family was enough to trigger me to the extent of self-harm and suicidal thoughts . . . and I never once interacted with my family that day. I mean, considering my parents were already really abusive before joining the cult, my family no doubt would've still been extremely fucked up. But I'm old enough to remember what life was like before they joined the cult, and it was better. Had my parents not joined a cult, maybe my siblings and I would've had more of a chance to be friends. But honestly, I'm kind-of low-key convinced they probably hate me. I don't need them to like me or to be in my life, I just want them to be happy. I couldn't take them with me, hell sometimes I can barely take care of myself, let alone them as well. I have a lot of survivor's guilt, in a certain sense. I was very much the golden child, both in the cult and at home. I had the highest privilege, but also highest pressure. To my siblings, I felt like I was in a weird in-between place of half-sibling, half-parent. To my parents, I was idolized in a way, but I felt kind-of like a pet. Sorry, I'm just rambling at this point.
What has always drawn me to Katniss personally (and the word I would personally choose over “charisma”) is her authenticity. Charisma is a natural charm that I genuinely don’t think Katniss is without, but where she struggles is in the performance. She’s not good at contrivance, and all the movies up until this point have proven that. It’s an especially difficult weakness in a world that has literally been built around playing pretend in one way or another. But it’s her raw authenticity amidst all of the falsity that is the most striking - she cannot act to save herself so what people see and hear from her in just honest and genuine, and it’s entrancing for how rare it truly is. People follow her because of what she becomes when her emotions are raw and her heart is bared. That’s what Plutark was always after when promising their “Mockingjay”.
Katniss and Peeta are still 17 during the war, Gale is 19. I really liked your comments on this one. In my opinion is the slowest of the movie series however what happens on this movie is pivotal for the ending and also it shows how the love triangle is not that much anymore. I was always Team Peeta, maybe because I read the books first and never liked Gale. And you can always see through the whole story how Peeta was there for Katniss in ways that she probably didn’t know she needed him, and that they relationship instead of being what everyone expected (as her relationship with Gale is always described as) it keeps evolving through everything they go through. Can’t wait for your reaction of the last one, which is my favorite out of the 4 movies
40:39 Man, knowing the story behind The Hanging Tree (because of the new prequel book) makes this whole scene hit different
I really appreciate you guys pointing out how young revolutionaries usually are and how it's usually the younger generations that kick these kind of things off. Just for an example from someone heavily invested in United States history, several of the principle actors/leaders within the Revolution were actually teenagers and young adults when Independence was declared in 1776. Some of the youngest were: Deborah Sampson, 15 James Monroe, 18 Aaron Burr, 20 Alexander Hamilton, 21 Betsy Ross, 24 James Madison, 25 with Thomas Jefferson at only 33, George Washington at 44, and Benjamin Franklin as one of the oldest at 70 Just some US history fun facts, since a common misconception is just how old the Founding Fathers and other leaders in the Revolution were.
katniss is 16/17 by mockingjay also, they definitely kept the victors village intact to make katniss feel guilty
I had only seen the first one when you guys started doing this series. I went and rented the rest with my husband and we finished them in a weekend so I would be prepared to watch the rest of these with you guys! Thanks for keeping me company while I work!
the worst kind of torture could also be the one being inflicted in the people u care about instead of u, if u have such a higher span of taking pain... another one to think about.
"Fancy costumes and arrows and all that...Holy shit guys it's Hawkeye!" 😂 One of my favorite moments here from you two!
In terms of breaking it up into two, a lot of things happen around katniss in mockingjay without her being there/a lot of things are shorter in length as well, such as her visits back to 12. In the books it gives a good affect of her just being a pawn with things happening around her outside of her control, but it would be so difficult to pull it off in a movie with people just telling her things that happened and us (the audience not seeing it). Like the book has none of the scenes of the districts rebelling further, we just hear about them taking this thing out etc. They also had to make a few character changes in the book Effie isn't in district 12 but Katniss prep team is (who are not characters in the movies) as well as we see other district 12 survivors (who are are also not in the movies).
Average bro: I could totally withstand torture. Same dude: wearing a mask during a pandemic is oppression! No I won't get a couple of tiny shots! 😨
Best comment.
Glad someone loves Peeta the way I do lol
Snow uses the roses to cover up the smell of rot from his mouth (he used to poison his enemies/competition in government and drink from the same cup to throw off suspicion, then take antidotes, but all that poison he used left his mouth full of weeping sores) so the roses are specifically also a reminder of what he's willing to do to his antagonists
It's been over ten years since I read this trilogy, and to this day this story remains one of my favorite. I think how gray a lot of the characters are in their actions and behaviors is one of my favorite aspects. But especially Peeta's whole character and story arc is what keeps bringing me back to this story. Even nowadays it's still so unusual to get good, nice, selfless male love interests in YA (and the majority of fiction too, for that matter). It's all uber attractive, brooding, alpha assholes everywhere you look, so Peeta's always been kind of an outlier. I think maybe that's why he got some hate, people considered him too "vanilla". But the gender reversal in the stereotypical roles of each gender in a romantic relationship is what makes Peeta and Katniss such an interesting couple. Back when this series came out it was a bit of a revolution to have a FMC who wasn't a total Mary Sue.
Peeta is the best, I wish we knew more about him and his past.
The synchronized "haha, BRUTAL" at 52:25 was so funny for no reason
I know this video is quite old now but something very dark about the “The Hanging Tree” song, the line “where a Dead Man called out for his love to flee” is a reference to Capitol Jabberjay’s mimicking said man’s last words, where he screamed for his wife to run. Essentially the birds were repeating his last words even after he got hanged. Very dark stuff indeed.
When I watched this movie the first time, I liked it because it was action-packed and all, but rewatching it years later really got me thinking about how it mirrors so much of reality 😥
So glad you guys have been watching these! Honestly these movies are the best book adaptations of a series I've ever seen. They didn't shy away from anything or take liberties with the story to be more "mainstream" or whatever. They just straight up made the books into movies.
I guess the only thing is I wish they went for the whole mutts into the dead victors thing in the first book but yeah might have been too scary :') ?
Katniss is 17 in the first part of The Mocking Jay. I believe that Primrose is 13 now. In the bit about the singing of the hanging tree song, I believe it was a song that she learned from her father. In the books, it's mentioned that Katniss's father had such a vibrant voice that even the birds would stop in mid-song to listen to him sing. It's supposed to be the same for Katniss although it's not mentioned in the movies.
I hope Maria and her family are doing okay! I don’t like to bring it up every video, as I know it’s a hard subject, but I think about them every time I watch one of your videos.
Doing pretty well now! We appreciate you 😊 - Sam
@@themoviebudz1988 good!!! I don’t ever want to bring down the mood, but I have not forgotten what they’re going through. Y’all bring me lots of joy when I am struggling, so I hope you know we appreciate your videos!!!!
For me, blowing up the damn wasn’t to show pain but to prove the capital isn’t untouchable
The movies are actually pretty faithful to the books. And the books, as you have said of the movies, paint a very realistic picture of a rebellion against a dictatorship. There is very, very little black or white in this series. Just a whole lot of shades of grey. The "good" guys have bad traits and the "bad" guys have good traits. The characters are actually human beings, with all of their faults and flaws. This is one of my favorite series and I think it' was very well written. Some people have a hard time with it, though. I think that's partially because of just how realistic it is.
Your commentary made me like/appreciate Peeta a lot more than I previously did. Thank you for that. Not sure why I didn't like him so much before.
@27:24 Pollox is signing, "She's beautiful, you think? while Castor replies "Yes." - for the people who were wondering and doesn't know ASL :)
Aww that's so sweet🥰 Always did wonder what he was saying so thank you for that
Mind you, Finnick won his games when he was fourteen and was the youngest. So they basically pimped out a teenager. I also always loved Peeta so I don't get the hate towards him.
"But where's the lighting in this scene coming from? The same place the music is coming from." LOL that's a great point.
Gale: I'm just built different
I'm so grateful you guys are doing these videos- you have a wonderful channel full of wisdom with an amazing balance of humor. It's difficult to do for a lot of people but comes naturally to you, so anyway thank you and as long as you're posting videos I'll be watching 🥰
Thank you! I hate when people think death is the worst that could happen. People like that have no imagination and don't know history or human nature.
...I freaking LOVE Effie. And you guys. Thank you for uploading this movie reaction, it always feels like watching with friends.
the fact that katniss is really just being used as a pawn throughout the series by both sides STILL gets me heated. even in the advertising for the movies, the media made her a feminist heroine for young girls when, in reality, she had to give up so much and suffered so much because of all these people controlling things when katniss actually had the most effective insight (not even counting how the public already saw her as the mockingjay). like sis wasn’t worried about being a symbol of freedom or feminism, she was just asking for the bare minimum of a good life and her agency was straight up bulldozed by both sides
They left her house and all the houses in the Victor village intact because the capitol assumed after the rebellion was squashed eventually they’d have the district 12 again and they’d be a part of the hunger games
Regarding the first interview Peeta gives, in which he still sounds like himself and tells pretty much the absolute truth of the 2nd movies' ending - I always figured that he was just not told anything. Like, anything at all. They kept him away from *all* information, so to him, there was no rebellion, just like there was no grand plan, or district 13. Then when he's all healed up for the camera, you tell the guy that they don't quite know what is going on with Katniss and that *a few* people are making big statements and reckless actions about A Dumb Violent Plan against the Capitol, point out just how powerful and ready and cool, calm, collected the Capitol is, point out just how outgunned, outsmarted, outsupplied, out-everything-ed any group is against that, let alone a place like district 12 (*the* poorest district of them all) and then you point Caesar (awful guy, but *excellent* show host) and a camera at him and let him talk, completely sincerely, about how many fucking people are about to die for that plan. That's not touching on the morality of this uprising, it's just stating facts about the awful cost of any war, it's the easiest conversation imaginable to manipulate. And obviously there's all kinds of shit going on, on all sides, but that *start* is really, really easy to get to, long before you bring out the threats and torture. It's nicely bookended with Plutarch manipulating Katniss for Coin multiple times as well.
17:15 In books we don't see Effie until very end (she only helps with the final look before the execution). But she was never a proper stylist. Instead in books we see the stylists who worked with Peeta. They are actually in inhuman conditions imprisoned, until District 13 decided they need them to dress Katniss to be Mockingjay. Similarly when we finally meet Effie - she also has vacant look to her, which may indicate she was also imprisoned or even tortured. This actually was one of the few things that properly tipped Katniss off to suspect Coin as future evil dictator. 18:30 Its actually allusion to another plotline - the epidemic has made huge chunk of 13 infertile. This also pushes the agenda that Coin has a hidden motive. She knows that 13 wouldn't survive without other districts anymore. 50:50 You can say anything about Snow, but he does have class and talent to theatrics. I can't wait for the upcoming movie - because he is a character that is really fun to follow. 51:15 From logistical standpoint it would make sense. But those roses are too important for him. I don't think he would go for something like that. 59:35 He also never lied to her. His motives and morality have been broken. But he has been truthful to his ideals. He hasn't played all of his cards, but he never lied to not have those cards and never tried to trick her.