NEW MOVIE: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay--Part 2

This past weekend saw the end of one of the more successful YA book adaptations since Harry Potter. In the past few movies, The Hunger Games series showed that it could be taken seriously as a movie for all to enjoy. Does the trend continue in the finale Mockingjay--Part 2?

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and for some thematic material

Mockingjay--Part 2 picks up pretty much where the first part left off (it's a very sudden opening, as if one merely switched the discs in a 2-part movie). We clearly have our conflicts for the final chapter at the open: can Peeta (Josh Hutcherson, Bridge to Terabithia) be trusted after his brainwashing at the end of the last film, and how will the Capitol be taken down? The pace at which these things transpire and are resolved take much longer to find their footing, so the first hour or so is kind of boring.

The thing I loved about Mockingjay--Part 1, my favorite of The Hunger Games movies, was the propaganda war. It allowed us to see the evolution of Katniss's character from tenuous winner to revolutionary icon. Unfortunately, though, the sequel doesn't cut the cord, leaving less of a distinction between the parts. Meaning, the film wants to go its own way, but it's bogged down by elements from its predecessor. I liked the filming of the propos before, but their appearance here makes the film progress slower than it should for being the final battle. That said, the film is exciting at a few points, frightening even, though derivative. I swear the final season of Falling Skies on TNT followed an extremely similar plot as the first act, all the way up to the sewer scene and corrupt rebellion, that this film lacked a lot of surprise, even if the source material came out before the alien show.

That said, even though the film lacked surprise doesn't mean it wasn't still suspenseful and powerful when it needed to be. The acting performances from the whole lot, especially from Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Donald Sutherland (as Katniss, Peeta, and perhaps less villainous President Snow), kept me invested even when the film dragged. Donald Sutherland embraces the evil that his character surely is, but at the same time, lets Katniss and the audience see his point of view, making a delightfully justifiable villain that maybe we want to let live in the end. A shocking scene towards the end is disturbing in all the best ways (my mouth was actually open in shock), and really lets us understand why Katniss does what she does as the film closes.

Considering that this is the final film in the series, it needs to have a good ending that wraps the series up well. Thankfully, it does, closing the series out with a fantastic final scene that is completely believable, and really, the series could not have closed out any other way: peaceful, a reprieve after the storm. The long tumultuous road, from bravery and sacrifice, from anger and unrest, from confusion and chaos--from war--to love and peace.

So all in all, The Hunger Games closes with a rather fine finale, that at times is derivative and slow, but makes up for all of it by being well-acted and exciting, while effectively closing out the series in a grim yet beautiful and bittersweet way. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay--Part 2 gets 3.5 out of 5 stars.

One last shot for the franchise!

Did you see this one? What did you think compared to the others? Whatever you have to say about me or the movies, comment below!