*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*
When The Hunger Games was first released almost four years ago, I had no idea it was going to be the successful franchise it is now. I was fourteen when I watched the first film and began reading the books and each film just got better and better. This is definitely the case with Mockingjay Part 2, the thrilling and emotional conclusion of the franchise.
I would also say that this is the film that, I think, is the most faithful to the original book of the same name. There were so many parts in the film that I remembered reading about when I first read the book three years ago. Whilst I was reading the books, I didn't know how the cast and crew were going to make a film adaptation in a creative and successful way. Nevertheless, they managed to do it.
Jennifer Lawrence returns, for one last time, as Katniss Everdeen, the main protagonist. In the first Hunger Games, she only intended to protect her younger sister, Primrose (Willow Shields), from fighting in the violent games. She didn't think she would survive, let alone start a revolution against the Capitol. However, by the end of the Games, she and fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), won despite the rules clearly stating that there should only be one Victor. This is what starts the rebellion. In Catching Fire, Katniss is forced to go back into the games for a special version known as the Quarter Quell, much to her dismay. She forms allies with new characters, Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin), Beetee Latier (Jeffrey Wright) and Johanna Mason (Jena Malone) who are part of a secret rebellion plan formed by the Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Katniss doesn't know this until the end of the games and she is rescued by Plutarch who explains she is the Mockingjay, the symbol of the revolution. In Mockingjay Part 1, Katniss is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is finding it difficult to cope without Peeta as she doesn't know if he's dead or alive. She meets the President of District 13, Alma Coin (Julianne Moore), who is unsure that she is the right person to be the face of the revolution due to her struggles. However, Katniss proves her wrong and films short films, known as 'propagandas', to distract the Capitol and to persuade the people of Panem to join her fight against President Snow (Donald Sutherland). However, things don't all go to plan because, when Peeta is rescued, he tries to kill Katniss. This is because he's been hijacked which means that the Capitol has corrupted his memories of her to make her appear violent or a threat to him.
Now, Mockingjay: Part 2 picks straight up where Mockingjay: Part 1 left, with Katniss recovering from her injury. Despite her struggles, she is still willing to be part of the fight against the Capitol but President Coin refuses and sends her to District 2 to film a propaganda, much to her annoyance. She is desperate to kill President Snow for everything he has done and goes on a rogue mission to join her fellow soldiers to take over the Capitol. President Coin is not happy with this and sends Peeta who still has negative views on Katniss and continues to have violent acts of rage towards her. However, he is slowly recovering from his disordered views of Katniss and he begins a game called 'Real Or Not Real' to help him know the truth. This was one of my favourite parts in the book as I thought it was a clever way to help Peeta understand his disorded image.
Director Francis Lawrence has stated that this is the most violent out of all The Hunger Games and he's not wrong. At one point in the film, Finnick mockingly states, 'Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 76th Hunger Games' and it truly is like that. The Capitol itself is like an arena with thousands of booby traps and bombs, known as Pods, lying on every corner. Katniss and her team of soldiers, one of which includes friend Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), must avoid all of these traps in order to make it to the President's mansion.
I had read the books so I knew what was going to happen but I was still shocked at how brutal certain people's deaths were. One specific death scene had me in tears when I first watched it as the character was one of the most likable in the series and the character died in such a violent way. There was also another death scene which had me in tears but wasn't as violent as it was so sudden. These deaths may come as a shock to people who haven't read the books.
There are several new characters played by some of the best actors. Despite being only on screen for a short time, they still manage to pull it off. In fact, every actor in this film was amazing, especially Jennifer Lawrence. She is perfect as Katniss and really understands her character well. Throughout the films, I think she's definitely matured and grown into the role. I've also got to mention Josh Hutcherson as Peeta. In The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, Peeta had a charming personality but in this film, he's lost that charm due to the Capitol torturing him. He goes from being violent one minute to being really emotional. Josh really managed to make me feel sympathy for him.
I think this is a great conclusion to one of the biggest film franchises and I would definitely say that it's the best of the four films as there's plenty of violence, suspense and emotional moments.
With brilliant acting, intense scenes, amazing special effects and great directing, this is one of the best book-to-film adaptations I've ever watched.
9/10
Read my review of The Hunger Games here.
Read my review of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire here.
Read my review of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 here.
Now, Mockingjay: Part 2 picks straight up where Mockingjay: Part 1 left, with Katniss recovering from her injury. Despite her struggles, she is still willing to be part of the fight against the Capitol but President Coin refuses and sends her to District 2 to film a propaganda, much to her annoyance. She is desperate to kill President Snow for everything he has done and goes on a rogue mission to join her fellow soldiers to take over the Capitol. President Coin is not happy with this and sends Peeta who still has negative views on Katniss and continues to have violent acts of rage towards her. However, he is slowly recovering from his disordered views of Katniss and he begins a game called 'Real Or Not Real' to help him know the truth. This was one of my favourite parts in the book as I thought it was a clever way to help Peeta understand his disorded image.
Director Francis Lawrence has stated that this is the most violent out of all The Hunger Games and he's not wrong. At one point in the film, Finnick mockingly states, 'Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 76th Hunger Games' and it truly is like that. The Capitol itself is like an arena with thousands of booby traps and bombs, known as Pods, lying on every corner. Katniss and her team of soldiers, one of which includes friend Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), must avoid all of these traps in order to make it to the President's mansion.
I had read the books so I knew what was going to happen but I was still shocked at how brutal certain people's deaths were. One specific death scene had me in tears when I first watched it as the character was one of the most likable in the series and the character died in such a violent way. There was also another death scene which had me in tears but wasn't as violent as it was so sudden. These deaths may come as a shock to people who haven't read the books.
There are several new characters played by some of the best actors. Despite being only on screen for a short time, they still manage to pull it off. In fact, every actor in this film was amazing, especially Jennifer Lawrence. She is perfect as Katniss and really understands her character well. Throughout the films, I think she's definitely matured and grown into the role. I've also got to mention Josh Hutcherson as Peeta. In The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, Peeta had a charming personality but in this film, he's lost that charm due to the Capitol torturing him. He goes from being violent one minute to being really emotional. Josh really managed to make me feel sympathy for him.
I think this is a great conclusion to one of the biggest film franchises and I would definitely say that it's the best of the four films as there's plenty of violence, suspense and emotional moments.
With brilliant acting, intense scenes, amazing special effects and great directing, this is one of the best book-to-film adaptations I've ever watched.
9/10
Read my review of The Hunger Games here.
Read my review of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire here.
Read my review of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 here.
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