This time around we see how serious President Snow (Donald Sutherland) is, as Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) witnesses with her own eyes the wasteland that has become of District 12 (that looks vaguely like Germany after World War I, probably not a coincidence).

It also comes off as a bit manipulative toward Katniss.  I understand why Plutarch Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) is doing what he’s doing, because he’s well aware of the power and threat that Katniss will eventually have to face, but she’s still being played.