Jennifer Lawrence reprises her best known role as Katniss Everdeen for one final time in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2. The fourth and final movie in the Hunger Games book trilogy comes to a close.
Was it exciting? Here and there. Did it finish the series properly? Definitely. With the death of just enough key and beloved characters to leave not a dry eye in the theater.
*WARNING: MAY CONTAIN MINOR SPOILERS. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!*
I can’t say I was thrilled with this movie. It had far too many drag moments for the non-book-reader to really enjoy it fully. According to one of my fellow press screening watchers, though, it was the closest book-to-film adaptation he’d ever seen, so, I’m guessing fans of the book series will love it as he did. I’ll give it this, if it’s aim was to get an emotional response from its viewers, it did it beautifully. I was throughly depressed by the time it was over. Even the bittersweet ending didn’t have a lifting effect.
It does, however, show you that there are no real good guys in war. Snow (Donald Sutherland) was just as evil as he showed himself to be. President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) was just as evil as he but under the guise of “freedom and equality for all.” The only one who knew them for who they truly were was Plutarch Heavensbee (The Late Philip Seymour Hoffman).
The movie does have some seriously beautiful effects and explosions. Too many in some cases. Lawrence plays her sad and war torn character well enough, though, the sad expression seems to be with her even in the happy moments. Josh Hutcherson, who plays Peeta Mellark, plays a very confused and damaged character throughout to the point that you wonder why no one offs him earlier on. Liam Hemsworth, as Gale Hawthorne does his duty to the rebels but fails to do his duty to Katniss. It’s a very confusing time for them all.
The Bottom Line:
Overall, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 was a fine enough end to the Hunger Games series, but just felt a little lacking in all the wrong places. Personally, if I hadn’t been so depressed at the end, I might have given it a higher rating, but that’s just one reviewer’s opinion. If you liked the books, or are a big fan of the film series, then you’ll definitely want to catch this one. Everyone else, this one isn’t for you. Not the worst movie I’ve ever seen, but certainly not the best, either. – 5.5/10
-Hannah Collins
Staff Writer: Nerd Nation Magazine
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