Review of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015) by Austin D — 18 Jan 2016

Review - Hunger Games: Mocking Jay-Part 2.

Well, here we are again. Mocking Jay-Part 2 is supposedly the final film in the Hunger Games series to be centered on its protagonists, Katniss Everdeen. She's survived two Hunger Games events, had her home district destroyed by the capital, been rescued by the rebelling District 13, and is now preparing to infiltrate and overthrow the capital city and its leader, President Snow.

I was not a fan of the previous film, Mocking Jay - Part 1. Although it was well made on a technical level and mostly well acted, it severely lacked in character and narrative substance. It was essentially a bunch of people sitting/standing/sometimes walking around talking about what they're going to do or giving several speeches about what they're going to do without actually doing anything. The entire movie felt like the first act to a bigger story. Many said that Part 2 would justify the slow burn of Part 1 as Part 2 would be the big payoff.

LIES!

Mocking Jay - Part 2 validates mine and many others' belief that this should've been one 2 1/2 hour movie as both films seem to move along at a snails pace with very little progression in story or character with tons of padding which reeks with movie studio cynicism. All that being said, Part 2 is a noticeable improvement from Part 1. Although it has disheartening slow first half, thing do pick up somewhat in the second. Jennifer Lawrence still has a solid screen presence as Katniss, but the same can't be said for nearly all the supporting characters with the exception of Finnick, who's surprisingly likeable. There are several moments in which the audience is suppose feel a strong emotional blow from certain characters dying, but nearly every death is poorly handled/staged. One character in particular appears out of nowhere only to die ten seconds later with he audience still trying to figure out how they got there which sabotages the emotional impact.

Highlights include Katniss and company descending into the Capital's sewer system and navigate its eerie tunnels in a intriguing sequence reminiscent of the Alien franchise as well as a clever little tribute to the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman. The best scene of the entire film occurs toward the end when Katniss enters the center of the city alone with its citizens gathering around her as she marches towards city hall for her final face-to-face meeting with Snow and President Coin. The scene is big, epic looking, and filled with a strong sense finality that was lacking up until that point.

Mocking Jay - Part 2 is a step up from Part 1 and it does end the Hunger Games series on a respectable note, but it could have been so much better.

Score: 6/10.