The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 ★★★☆☆
A journey to an ultimately satisfying
and action packed conclusion
By Tim Estiloz
The long awaited, and perhaps overly drawn out, finale to The Hunger Games film franchise has arrived and it’s conflicted bow and arrow wielding heroine Katniss Everdeen, at long last, has her revenge. However in this final installment, Mockingjay: Part 2; that vengeance comes to her at great emotional cost and disillusionment.
The Hunger Games film franchise based on Suzanne Collins’ tremendously popular book trilogy has raked in over 2-billion dollars worldwide and made actress Jennifer Lawrence an international film superstar. As Lawrence herself has grown in popularity and confidence as a real life actress; in Mockingjay: Part 2, the same personal evolution holds true for her character of Katniss.
“Part 2” unfolds as Katniss fully embraces her role as the leader and public face of the rebellion against the elite and oppressive Capitol run by the vile but charmingly cunning President Snow (Donald Sutherland). However, in her climatic quest to kill Snow and free the oppressed districts; Katniss gradually discovers her role as a propaganda figurehead for the rebellion is merely a prop to further more nefarious ambitions by her superior, rebel leader Coin (Julianne Moore). Ultimately, Katniss must not only conquer Snow; but also, make difficult and unexpected decisions that will affect the future of everyone around her.
Director Francis Lawrence gives this film a gritty, brooding and dark tone both in its narrative and cinematography befitting the grim nature of the task at hand facing Katniss. Scenes of brutal violence and action add an effective dramatic punch as Katniss, along with her companions in arms, try to elude a multitude of deadly traps set throughout the battle ravaged streets on the outskirts of The Capitol. Noteworthy among these moments is a riveting chase sequence involving fast moving, razor toothed creatures called “Mutts” that attack and ravage her group in the sewers beneath the city.
The film also succeeds as a darkly cynical study of how manipulation of the masses and skillfully crafted propaganda can be a double-edged sword whose virtue or vice depends on who wields the weapon.
Unfortunately, as with most “Young Adult” stories of this kind, Mockingjay; Part 2 is hampered by an annoying love triangle choice involving Katniss, Peeta (Josh Hutcherson ) and Gale ( Liam Hemsworth ). Thankfully, this treacle is kept to a barely tolerable minimum as these two lovesick characters and the actors playing them merely drag the film down.
Sutherland as Snow continues to deliver the goods as the nefarious foil for Katniss. Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks and Stanley Tucci are also good, despite the brevity of their roles. Though, the final film appearance by late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman seems overshadowed by trying to guess which of his moments on screen are genuine or CGI.
In the end, this is Lawrence’s supreme moment to shine as her dystopian Joan of Arc fulfills her long awaited purpose. Mockingjay: Part 2 brings this long, sometimes uneven, Hunger Games journey to an ultimately satisfying and action packed conclusion.
CAPSULE REVIEWS:
THE PEANUTS MOVIE ★★★★☆
A wonderfully enjoyable film for children and adults alike as Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts crew weave a new adorable and heartwarming story one final time.
SPOTLIGHT ★★★★★
Riveting in its story of how a small group of Boston Globe reporters uncovered the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal in Boston. Undeniably, one of the year’s best films.
