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Last year, the previously action-heavy Hunger Games franchise took a dark turn with Mockingjay – Part 1, focusing its attention on the unrest among the people of Panem and the escalating rebellion. Now the action, politics, and drama of the franchise come together for the series conclusion, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.
The final installment in the Hunger Games saga finds Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) preparing for one final battle against President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and the Capitol. As poor, brainwashed Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) continues to blame Katniss for a variety of horrors, she becomes even more determined to kill the president and end the battle once and for all. So she leaves the underground safety of District 13 and heads to the front lines, where she becomes part of an elite squad of warriors who travel through the Capitol, trying to avoid the traps that Snow has set for them.
After taking a step back from the gripping action of the first two films in the series for a toned-down third installment, audiences might expect the Hunger Games series to pull out all the stops for the conclusion—to end the series with a bang. But that’s not necessarily the case. The third book (here’s my review) was definitely the weakest installment in the original series—and that’s also true for the book’s two-part adaptation.
At times, the film mirrors some of the action-packed moments of the first two films in the series, as Katniss and her squad make their way through the burned-out streets of the Capitol, trying to avoid the grand and sinister (and sometimes wildly creative) obstacles that Snow’s game makers have placed throughout the city. Or they do battle in dark underground tunnels. These are Hunger Games moments—but there simply aren’t enough of them.
Instead, the beginning of the film focuses more on politics and military strategies than the action itself—more like Mockingjay – Part 1. Once the characters are sent into the war zone, things start to pick up. In the process, though, the story suffers. Characters aren’t given the kind of development that they were in the book—especially Liam Hemsworth’s Gale, who’s surprisingly bland, making him a rather dull and uninteresting part of the film’s love triangle. Meanwhile, those who become victims of the war are barely acknowledged. No matter what kind of part they played in the films—or how long they’ve been involved—once they’re gone, they’re just gone. Some get the slightest bit of mourning, while others aren’t even mentioned.
In much the same way, once the action is over, it’s just over. The story continues longer than it should after the excitement of the characters’ deadly race through the city comes to an end, and the film’s conclusion seems to fizzle out.
Still, like its predecessors, Mockingjay – Part 2 is a striking film. It’s a grand spectacle of massive sets, eye-catching costumes, and epic drama. But it doesn’t live up to the action and suspense of the franchise’s earliest installments—and it makes for a rather anticlimactic conclusion to a thrilling series.
Blu-ray Review:
Mockingjay – Part 2 may not be the strongest film in The Hunger Games franchise, but it’s both a visually stunning film and the end of an epic adventure. And this series conclusion is definitely deserving of the feature-filled Blu-ray release that it was given.
The release comes with more than five hours of extras—including a commentary track, some short featurettes, and a massive eight-part making-of feature. Pawns No More explores every aspect of the filmmaking process in surprising detail, taking fans behind the scenes to discuss the impressive visual design, the ensemble cast, the costumes and makeup, the locations, the effects, and the emotional final days of filming. If you’re fascinated by the filmmaking process, you won’t want to miss this one.
For a lighter look behind the scenes, meanwhile, there’s Jet to the Set, which follows two hosts as they jet to Atlanta to tour the film’s sets, get the full Effie Trinket hair and makeup treatment, and check out the local hotspots. It’s a fun, entertaining feature—especially for the average fans, who love the movies but aren’t especially interested in technical aspects like editing or scoring. And, if you happen to be a diehard fan, it even provides more information on the various locations, so you can plan your very own Hunger Games vacation.
So if you’re not ready to let go of The Hunger Games, you’re in luck—because, thanks to the film’s special features, you can spend hours reliving the action, the drama, and stunts, the costumes, and more. Some of the more in-depth features may seem like overkill to the casual fan, but serious fans will enjoy taking one last trip through Panem.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
