The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
As the war of Panem escalates to the destruction of other districts by the Capitol, Katniss Everdeen, the reluctant leader of the rebellion, must bring together an army against President Snow, while all she holds dear hangs in the balance.
Cast
Jennifer Lawrence – Katniss Everdeen
Josh Hutcherson – Peeta Mellark
Woody Harrelson – Haymitch Abernathy
Julianne Moore – President Alma Coin
Donald Sutherland – President Coriolanus Snow
Sam Claflin – Fininck Odair
Liam Hemsworth – Gale Hawthorne
Jena Malone – Johanna Mason
Everdeen’s Everstream
Actress Jennifer Lawrence must have been emotionally drained after filming The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. She spends a very good percentage of it in tears, blubbing over various people and situations. This movie makes enough of an impact with its dark storyline and visuals, but at times feels a bit depressing due to Katniss crying – for what seems like constantly. If the camera doesn’t give a close-up of her face as she’s deep in thought with tears in her eyes, the woman is staggering across battle land sobbing like a child at the loss of one of the characters. Still, it’s not all glum. There are moments where Katniss switches crying for that classic open-mouthed droopy facial expression of horror, which gives viewers a refreshing change.
Slightly.
Yes, Catpiss Everstream floods the movie with bodily fluid frequently but hats off to the actress playing her; Lawrence gives it her all and gives it good as she barrels her way through 134 minutes. Running, jumping, hiding, climbing, firing – it’s all go and gives younger viewers an action-packed feature to enjoy. I however, have been more entertained whilst having my prostate examined during a sexual health check-up.
Some scenes are not lengthy as such, but more boring as the lead character storms around moodily trying to prove the point that she has had a rough time lately but is willing to “bounce back and use all her strength to fight”. I have seen this in so many ‘fit for teenager’ movies that it didn’t surpirse me at all. A lot of rebellious attitude here which dissolves the whole ‘games’ theme – it completely disappears and the story becomes about a young woman who disagrees with how her world is run and hating the president as she sets out to kill him.
What can I say, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 is moody cliché bollocks from opening scene to end credits; following in the footsteps of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Divergent, Insurgent, etc. It literally is one of those ones you sit down, watch, get up and leave again having not been hit with much of an impact. I was neither enthralled nor displeasured – the movie just happened, and I left the cinema.
Trap Capitol
As Katniss and her group of rebels scale the streets of the Capitol, they get attacked by various obstacles. Gigantic pelting machine guns and fire sprays are amongst the deathly surprises which try to prevent the group reaching Snow’s mansion. The visuals used during this scene are great and perfect for viewing on a big screen. The thundering booms and splitting of land, gushing fire and collapsing floors are all very effective. And actually, they add relief to a movie that would otherwise be piss-boring due to the storyline. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 is one of those movies which saves itself from spiralling into the mundane by throwing in visual effects that boost the feature and add a captivating atmosphere halfway through.
Although Katniss actually entering the mansion is quite a long process, the build-up is just what the viewer needs. Fire, oil, explosions, heated chases, people being swallowed up by the ground.. and a brilliantly tense scene where she and a fellow rebel don hooded cloaks to disguise themselves as they march with hundreds of others towards Snow’s mansion. When Katniss realises she may get caught, she turns back – then realises she can’t hide her face anywhere with all the people flowing towards her. And then all hell breaks loose for different reasons.
I enjoyed this scene, it contained all the ingredients of intrigue to keep my eyes fixed on the screen. Not bad at all.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2: The end of a journey, and a series of movies. From the beginning they have each been a good slice of entertainment; the sort of movie you watch and enjoy but take absolutely none of the production or labours of the cast into regard. They could have worked really hard on this movie, but who cares? It fills an hour or two.
This installment brings the story to a close with some good visuals and strong supporting cast. Apart from Josh Hutcherson; the actor somehow fades into the background during the movie, his bland appearance and personality not doing him any favours at all. I understand the actor is playing a character but he just doesn’t shine through enough performance-wise. Julianne Moore on the other hand, is on screen for less than a quarter of the time HE is and yet manages to capture the moment and create a sinister atmosphere perfectly just by delivering a single line.
What more can I say? The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 keeps the viewer ticking over if you’re a fan. If you’re not, it’s probably just a load of cliché teenage bullshit. I’ll leave you to decide that for yourself.
But the ultimate question:
Who dies?…
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