When The Hunger Games burst onto screens in 2012 off the back of Suzanne Collins’ fantastic novel, we were thrilled. It was well acted, well directed and delivered on the drama, action and spectacle fans expected to see when the book came to life. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was just as good, if not better, delving deeper into the thought-provoking themes the franchise is known for. By this stage Jennifer Lawrence was a star and we could hardly wait for the next, and final, instalment. There was only one problem, a big one. The next instalment wouldn’t be the last. The final book in the series Mockingjay was being chopped into two films. It proved the undoing of the series. Part 1 was hugely disappointing and this week Part 2, while a marked improvement, proved the strategy is just not conducive to a making good movie.
The whole gang is back for Mockingjay Part 2. Natalie Dormer, Jena Malone, Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Julianne Moore, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Donald Sutherland are all there but, you know, the war of Panem is mostly about Katniss Everdeen isn’t it?
As the fighting escalates and more districts come under ruin, it’s decided they should band together and riding the wave Katniss’s fervour attack the Capitol and rid the world of President Snow. To do this they need to take an army through the perilous outer reaches of the city plagued by pods (nasty booby traps) and peacekeepers (nasty soldiers). It’s risky business so Katniss will be used only as a figurehead, shooting propos (propaganda videos) with her friends as they trail miles behind the real fighting. Katniss isn’t completely chuffed about this idea so decides to take matters into her own hands.
For the most part, this finale is well acted as always by the stars and well directed too by Francis Lawrence. There are some fine pieces of political commentary and some thoroughly intriguing sub-plots as we start to wonder what the difference between President Snow and Alma Coin really is, but there are also some frighteningly dull, glacially slow moments that can only be a result of one book becoming two films. There are shots that remain on an image for much too long, searching for depth that isn’t ever going to appear. At one point Peeta and Gale are simply sitting around musing on who Katniss will choose once the war is over. By now Katniss’ speeches are no longer rousing but tiresome, and the amount of times she can be almost killed but wake up fresh as a daisy is getting slightly ridiculous. The audience isn’t even treated to any of the actual battle scenes. The final minutes of the film are also a drag, with many unnecessary scenes that don’t add anything the audience can’t work out for themselves.
Despite this, the action sequences when the battle heads underneath the city are tense and thrilling, and this when, finally, the movie doesn’t feel like it’s crawling. The stakes are high and the audience is invested in what the outcome will be.
However, when it’s all said and done you come to a huge revelation. Katniss and her team achieve very little throughout the movie. A lot of people lose their lives for no reason in aid of her and it takes the gloss off the charismatic heroine. Despite all that she’s done, it’s come at a price. Maybe that’s the lesson though, harsh it may be.
Overall, you have to watch the finale if you’ve come this far and it all ties up into a somewhat satisfying ending but don’t expect to be awe-struck. The first two journeys into this world will remain the best. As a singular film Mockingjay could have equalled them, but as separate entities they fall short.
Have you seen the finale yet? What did you think?
