It's finally over! This is a series of films that I enjoyed but I never loved as much as many other people did. I remember watching the first film and enjoying it well enough but I was surprised when it became this big phenomenon. I have a similar feeling to the last movie in the series that I did to the first one. I liked it but I'm not going to write home about it or anything like that. Besides, this film, like its predecessors, has some flaws that keep them from being among the best movies ever made. Francis Lawrence has once again returned with this film so if you liked the others you'll probably enjoy this one. Let's talk about the conclusion to the story.
Wow, Katniss Everdeen's (Jennifer Lawrence) life really sucks right now. One of her former flames, Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), has been brainwashed to kill her and the rebels are about to make their final march on the capital. Katniss is still being used mostly for war propaganda but decides that she will end the war herself by personally infiltrating the Capital of Panem and assassinate President Snow (Donald Sutherland). Easier said than done thanks to the Capital's defenses. However, she soon finds out that war is rarely as black and white as her propaganda movies make it appear.
The acting has always been decent in these films and everyone has definitely improved on their characters since the first movie. It's interesting to see how these characters have grown throughout the series. Jennifer Lawrence returns as the brave and surprisingly good public speaker, Katniss Everdeen. What can I say? Lawrence is great and she does a fantastic job once again. Her character has come a long way but she's still able to judge people pretty well and find the best course of action. Hutcherson's Peeta has changed a bit in this movie since he was brainwashed during the events of the last one. Hutcherson does a pretty good job showing us the much more damaged and self-loathing character that he's become. Liam Hemsworth also returns as Katniss's other love interest, Gale. Gale is still trying to do the right thing by Katniss and her family but he does seem a bit more bloodthirsty this time around. I guess having your friends die in a firestorm will do that to a guy. I would be remiss not to mention the talents of Woody Harrelson, Julianne Moore, and Donald Sutherland in this movie. Harrelson's Haymitch is still the voice of reason in many situations but we don't really see his character a whole lot this time around. Moore's Alma Coin is fleshed out much more in this film, which was nice, but a little telegraphed also. I mean, who didn't see that coming? Finally, Donald Sutherland as the ridiculously evil President Snow. This is one of those villains that I love to hate. Sutherland himself is grade A talent and he's easily one of the best parts about the entire series and he certainly doesn't disappoint this time around.
I actually liked a lot about this movie even though I didn't think it was as good as the first two. The traps in the capital give us action that's similar to the first two movies but the change in location and circumstance makes it feel very different. The scenes in the sewers are especially tense and some of the best action scenes in the entire series. There's also a lot going on with these characters with family members and friends dying as well as this incredibly awkward love triangle going on. They've adapted the books very closely which is nice to a degree but it doesn't work quite as well in film. There are some things we should really be shown rather than told but most of the drama is still well done. It just drags a bit during some parts of the movie. It's also interesting that we literally didn't see a single scene of the larger war taking place inside the Capital. It makes sense that we follow the Mockingjay's journey to its end but it would have been nice to know how certain characters ended up right outside the gates to Snow's mansion. The actual journey doesn't really have any purpose in the end since the rebel army got to the gates just as fast as she did. However, I suppose the journey was a bit of a metaphorical one as well, something she had to take to learn more about the opposing sides, her friends, and herself.
I enjoyed this film and the entire series as a whole but it still never struck me as groundbreaking as many people considered it. Obviously, we have this series and the Twilight films to thank for all the young adult adaptations we get nowadays but I still don't see why people go crazy over The Hunger Games. They're good movies though and I enjoyed seeing the journey through to its end. If you liked the others then I would recommend giving this one a shot.
Wow, Katniss Everdeen's (Jennifer Lawrence) life really sucks right now. One of her former flames, Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), has been brainwashed to kill her and the rebels are about to make their final march on the capital. Katniss is still being used mostly for war propaganda but decides that she will end the war herself by personally infiltrating the Capital of Panem and assassinate President Snow (Donald Sutherland). Easier said than done thanks to the Capital's defenses. However, she soon finds out that war is rarely as black and white as her propaganda movies make it appear.
The acting has always been decent in these films and everyone has definitely improved on their characters since the first movie. It's interesting to see how these characters have grown throughout the series. Jennifer Lawrence returns as the brave and surprisingly good public speaker, Katniss Everdeen. What can I say? Lawrence is great and she does a fantastic job once again. Her character has come a long way but she's still able to judge people pretty well and find the best course of action. Hutcherson's Peeta has changed a bit in this movie since he was brainwashed during the events of the last one. Hutcherson does a pretty good job showing us the much more damaged and self-loathing character that he's become. Liam Hemsworth also returns as Katniss's other love interest, Gale. Gale is still trying to do the right thing by Katniss and her family but he does seem a bit more bloodthirsty this time around. I guess having your friends die in a firestorm will do that to a guy. I would be remiss not to mention the talents of Woody Harrelson, Julianne Moore, and Donald Sutherland in this movie. Harrelson's Haymitch is still the voice of reason in many situations but we don't really see his character a whole lot this time around. Moore's Alma Coin is fleshed out much more in this film, which was nice, but a little telegraphed also. I mean, who didn't see that coming? Finally, Donald Sutherland as the ridiculously evil President Snow. This is one of those villains that I love to hate. Sutherland himself is grade A talent and he's easily one of the best parts about the entire series and he certainly doesn't disappoint this time around.
I actually liked a lot about this movie even though I didn't think it was as good as the first two. The traps in the capital give us action that's similar to the first two movies but the change in location and circumstance makes it feel very different. The scenes in the sewers are especially tense and some of the best action scenes in the entire series. There's also a lot going on with these characters with family members and friends dying as well as this incredibly awkward love triangle going on. They've adapted the books very closely which is nice to a degree but it doesn't work quite as well in film. There are some things we should really be shown rather than told but most of the drama is still well done. It just drags a bit during some parts of the movie. It's also interesting that we literally didn't see a single scene of the larger war taking place inside the Capital. It makes sense that we follow the Mockingjay's journey to its end but it would have been nice to know how certain characters ended up right outside the gates to Snow's mansion. The actual journey doesn't really have any purpose in the end since the rebel army got to the gates just as fast as she did. However, I suppose the journey was a bit of a metaphorical one as well, something she had to take to learn more about the opposing sides, her friends, and herself.
I enjoyed this film and the entire series as a whole but it still never struck me as groundbreaking as many people considered it. Obviously, we have this series and the Twilight films to thank for all the young adult adaptations we get nowadays but I still don't see why people go crazy over The Hunger Games. They're good movies though and I enjoyed seeing the journey through to its end. If you liked the others then I would recommend giving this one a shot.