Darick Earney
Associate Editor
The Hunger Games saga finally comes to an end with “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2,” released on Nov. 20.
“Mockingjay Part 2” is directed by Francis Lawrence, and adapted for the screen by Peter Craig and Daniel Strong, based upon the novel “Mockingjay” by Suzanne Collins.
The film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Julianne Moore, and features a final performance by late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman as Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee.
Following the events of “Mockingjay Part 1,” the movie’s protagonist, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), known by her peers as ‘the mockingjay,’ struggles to help her love interest, Peeta Mellark (Hutcherson), remember who he is after an evil empire known as the Capitol brainwashed him into believing Katniss to be his worst enemy.
In thirst for revenge, Katniss sets up an elaborate plan to assassinate the Capitol’s President, Coriolanus Snow, with the help of her closest friends from District 13, an abandoned city run by a rebel leader known as Alma Coin (Moore).
Verdict:
2 ½ reels.
While it has many great action sequences, special effects, and acting performances, “Mockingjay Part 2” does fall a little short in plot and character dynamic.
Even though Jennifer Lawrence, in my opinion, gave one of the finest acting jobs of her career during the latter end of the film, I still feel like the rest of the characters could have grown a little more and been given more backstory.
There were also many points where I felt that the movie moved forward using unexplained plot devices that sort of just appeared because the writer needed the characters to keep moving.
However, despite its flaws, “Mockingjay Part 2” has plenty to offer to fans of the books and action movie buffs.
“I think movie adaptations are a good thing. They add to readers’ enjoyment of the story (usually) and reach those who don’t do much, or any, reading.” Emily Corby, Associate Professor of English, said.
The score, composed by James Newton Howard, is loud and energetic, and cinematography is shot superbly to put the audience right there on the Capitol’s battlefield with Katniss and her band of rebels.
Overall, I give this movie 2 and ½ reels, because I wouldn’t give it an Oscar for Best Picture, but I enjoyed seeing this saga come to an inspiring close.
The dark and political subject matter of the film may not be for everyone, but the message it sends is something I think everyone could relate to, and that message is to be bold and courageous as the mockingjay to always keep fighting in times of hardship.
