Turning a three-book series into four movies is a trend that has now become traditional (let’s not even get started on The Hobbit) and ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2’ is due to bring the current trilogy/saga to a close when it sees a release on 19 November. A new trailer for the final chapter has been released, and it seems to be suitably rousing.
Films have been known to suffer when a book has been stretched too thin.I hate to mention ‘The Hobbit’ again but it was obviously lacking depth (“butter scraped over too much bread”). Even the Harry Potter franchise couldn’t settle on leaving the last book alone, making parts 1 and 2 of ‘The Deathly Hallows’, despite already having six movies behind them. The Hunger Games is in danger of the same scenario. ‘Mockingjay Part 1’ was a film in which the last hour or so was fantastic but the first hour was turtle like, often with Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, wandering around looking horrified. There was plenty of political subtext but it lacked intensity. When it finally did start to ramp up the tension it abruptly ended, leaving the audience feeling like they’d spent their whole time on holiday travelling to their destination before having to leave again. Essentially this film only served to build up to the final showdown we’ll see in ‘Mockingjay Part 2’. Let’s take a look.
Katniss has become very adept at giving emotional calls to action and seems things are no different here, with just enough gravel in her voice to maximise her passion as she implores everyone to annihilate President Snow. This brings us to the next problem. From what we’ve seen here, just as the first part was all build-up and no release, part 2 is looking like all action, no tension. Now we all know any good film, or other experiences, can’t have one without the other. It’s the reason part 1 fell short and it looks like part 2 may be doomed, unable to avoid the same fate.
The fact is money has taken priority over filmmaking in this instance. Audiences will grumble but will still go because they’ve already invested in the previous three films. The film studios knews this, they knew the money was guaranteed so why not cash in on the opportunity to split a book in half? Never mind that it basically destroys any chance of an effective narrative.
It’s a bane that is sure to continue because critics and genuine film lovers are the only ones that really care and that’s not where the money comes from.
The talented cast, which also includes; Natalie Dormer (Cressida), Julianne Moore (Alma Coin), Jena Malone (Johanna), Gwendoline Christie (Commander Lyme), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta) , Liam Hemsworth (Gale), Woody Harrelson (Haymitch), Stanley Tucci (Caesar), Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Plutarch), and Donald Sutherland (President Snow) will probably do a fine job but it’s a matter of what they’ve got to work with that will dictate if they sink or swim.
There doesn’t appear to be a way of avoiding the situation of the movie turning into something less than a movie but here’s hoping it springs some surprises.
