Sandy Kenyon reviews ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2’

However the upcoming film will draw the curtains for the Hunger games series.

Cinema Factoid: On February 6, 2015, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer revealed that there could be a potential fifth film in the Hunger Games franchise – a sequel or a prequel.

The books, written by Suzanne Collins, were brilliant inspiration and material for the movies. The best interpretations are the ones that let the stories themselves take a life of its own. They needed something to inspire them like Katniss inspires the rebellion. They needed, Jennifer Lawrence. It was said that the way things ended in the books was deviated by the movie to the extent that “The Hunger Games” was a completely different adaptation from the book. Being a fan of the book, I can honestly say that the movies in the franchise all interpreted the books well, most especially Mockingjay Part 2, whose handsome, realistic sets, great storytelling, and outstanding portrayal from the cast turned the book into a visual marvel. Her story is finished. After principal photography wrapped in Berlin, the actress returned for another sequence a year later that really did conclude the movie and the series. The small details are what counts here. In “Part 2”, it either pushes them to the background or lays waste to them altogether with barely a second thought.

In addition to weaving through a maze of deadly obstacles, Katniss also has to dodge attacks from her brainwashed friend/romantic interest, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), who, for a few odd reason, has been assigned to her squad – despite his mental issues. For what’s supposed to be an action-packed fighting finale, there are far too many scenes of hiding, sleeping, contemplating, and of course more inner-revelations. This is truly an adventure movie. She has become the face of so much throughout these movies that people have gotten used to blaming her for any death and destruction that occurs. Nevertheless, I’m sure this film will make a bazillion dollars; so for the fans, enjoy. Eventually, part 2 put the icing on the cake, it was good enough for fans to swallow and close the book (or is it the end?).

I could continue to gush about the power of this movie or the significance of each part of the film but there is only two main things I’d like to bring up. Somehow, a five-hour movie, split into two parts found a way to rush itself.

Mockingjay Part Two isn’t awful, it’s average and that’s not the way to end a fantastic series. In truth, the best parts of these films has always been the chemistry between Lawrence and Hutcherson as Katniss and Peeta and their working together to survive while falling for each other.