The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 Movie Review

Released: November 20th 2015

Length: 137 Minutes

Certificate: 12A

Director: Francis Lawrence

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Willow Shields, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Donald Sutherland.

The end of another book adaptation is upon us; after four years of popularity, the big screen rendition of Suzanne Collin’s dystopian thriller bows out with Mockingjay Part 2. It isn’t quite the highest reaching entry of the bunch, but it does a perfectly serviceable job of wrapping things up.

Immediately following the somewhat unneeded part 1, the second half of Mockingjay comes to fruition as the united resistance districts gear up to make a fatal strike against the tyrannical President Snow and the residents of the Capital. Relegated to the position behind the main frontline, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), Gail Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) and a recovering Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), along with the rest of their squad must navigate the treacherous, war torn streets leading to the Capital, which is filled with traps and triggers at every turn;  a makeshift 76^th Hunger Games if you will. With a tone largely centred on militaristic movements and a spot of propaganda here and there, Mockingjay Part 2 is divided up between tense escapes and slower reprieves. It doesn’t carry the urgency of a final chapter, but what I appreciate the most about Mockingjay Part 2 is how it becomes quite unpredictable from a narrative standpoint; if you were expecting a straightforward build-up to an epic final battle then you may well be pleasantly surprised. As the lines between friend and foe blur, the film becomes much more thoughtful than any other entry in the series, with themes surrounding civilians in war and the nature of seized power. It’s undoubtedly the darkest and most harrowing entry as well, with the most sinister obstacles being chucked at Katniss and company with reckless abandon. The plot is not without one major weakness though; without spoiling anything, several of the more emotional fatalities get brushed over a little too quickly, removing much of the emotional punch they could have had.

While the plot of Mockingjay Part 2 could have had more substance, the cast definitely brings some of its best performances. Jennifer Lawrence owns the role of Katniss just as she did in the previous films, another outstanding performance from beginning to end. Interestingly it’s often the supporting characters that undergo more detailed journeys; Gail reveals his true, often insensitive colours as a result of the war that rages on, whilst Peeta, mentally battered and manipulated by the brainwashing of the capital, must fight an inner battle to reconcile with his friends and this forms another emotional dynamic over the course of the film. Unfortunately the performances that were quite underdeveloped in part one haven’t managed to improve very much for this film. Where some key plot elements are rushed, the side characters such as Commanding Officer Boggs (Mahershala Ali) and propaganda officer Cressida (Natalie Dormer) aren’t really worth caring about, nor do they receive a proper send-off once the film comes to an end. I was hoping to learn more about these characters considering how they’re with the main leads for most of the plot but sadly the film doesn’t bother to fill in this gap left over from the previous film.

Continuing its predecessor’s adoption of destructive imagery, Mockingjay Part 2’s visuals are once again effective at portraying a world consumed by war. The crumbling streets that Katniss and company travel through carry a tense and foreboding atmosphere with their dull, unsaturated look that is matched only by the intensity of the action scenes that often catch the protagonists completely off guard. These sequences are well shot, with both peril and disorientation being captured well, particularly a deadly chase through a claustrophobic sewer system. The soundtrack is again brilliant, with some pieces bringing copious amounts of solemn and sombre notes to the final chapter.

Mockingjay Part 2 is a surprisingly subdued, yet effective close to The Hunger Games quad-trilogy. While some moments in the plot feel incredibly rushed and the lesser characters still can’t make their presence feel meaningful, the main performances and action sequences still impress.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars