Since fans were kept in the dark for so long about the final installment of The Hunger Games, it's nice to finally get a few trailers to show us how the third movie is going to shape up. But I have a problem with the new Mockingjay Part 1 teaser, because it shows Katniss as a District 13 puppet instead of the headstrong character she actually was in that scene.
The teaser is the part from the film where Katniss visits her home of District 12 to see the devastation firsthand. But in the trailer, her motivation is very different from what it is in the book. As she walks toward the hovercraft Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee's voiceover says, "We need to make it personal for her. Let her see what the Capitol did to District 12." I get his point. He's trying to nudge her to becoming the leader they need. They want her to have a personal stake in the issue. But I can't help but be annoyed at how different this scene is from the book.
In the novel, this is what opens the story and Katniss makes it very clear that going to 12 was her own decision and not one that the officials agreed with. She says in the book, "The authorities in District 13 were against my coming back. They viewed it as a costly and pointless venture ... I had to see it, though. So much so that I made it a condition of my cooperating with any of their plans."
The trailer almost makes it look as if Katniss was forced to go. Perhaps the full scene will have her asking to go, but as it's shown now, it's disappointing. Katniss looks miserable and broken, but readers know that even though this part was hard for her, she knew she had to do it. In the book she even requested to do it alone. "Gale asked to be dropped off in 12 with me, but he didn't force the issue when I refused his company," Katniss says. "He understands I don't want anyone with me today. Not even him. Some walks you have to take alone."
I know that Katniss does spend a portion of her time in District 13 recovering from all the traumas of the past few months, but I just don't want the movie to lose her spirit and strength. This was an excellent chance to show us her resolute determination, to see her hometown against all advice. Instead, she is made to look like a puppet. Plutarch is using the visit as a ploy to get her to join the war. She's shown as a pawn, a weak version of herself, and we all know how angry Katniss would feel about this.
Hopefully the rest of the movie showcases her strength to make up for changing this scene so much. We'll just have to find out come November 21. And in case the film forgets, at least we always have her inspirational leadership quotes from the book to remind us how strong Katniss is supposed to be.
Images: Lionsgate; magicandstardustgifs, hellenacro/Tumblr
