THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2 BRINGS THE FRANCHISE TO A THRILLING END

Another franchise comes to a dramatic close in this, the fourth installment of The Hunger Games series. After three years of an ongoing, bubbling revolution against the Capitol, Katniss Everdeen’s story comes to a bittersweet end for fans everywhere.

            The film followed suit with other past franchises, opting for a “part 1” and “part 2” to the climatic finale. Thus, the story picks up where Mockingjay Part 1 ended, which had left Katniss attacked and nearly killed by a brainwashed Peeta Mellark. Katniss – still a teenager, let’s not forget – is confused, tired, and angry.

After all, the series has followed her from nothing more than a sixteen year old with the weight of her family on her shoulders, to suddenly a 17 year old with the weight of Panem on her shoulders, as she leads the revolution as the Mockingjay. With the overall baddie of the series, President Snow, still fully in charge and in power, things seem to just barely have the spark of the rebellion to fuel the hope for fans watching the film.

The story continues forward, launching Katniss and friends (known as the Star Squad) into the battlefield to shoot more “propos” in an effort to continue the revolution whilst all the rebels storm the Capitol. This, of course, presents more dangers of its own, all vicious attacks designed by previous Gamemakers of the Hunger Games, on President Snow’s orders. Katniss struggles with tainted governments left and right between the obvious, President Snow, and District 13’s President Coin, whose underlying motives are unknown to her. With less than a handful of people to trust, Katniss is thrust into the forefront of battle to end the war between the Districts and the Capitol, one way or another.

Jennifer Lawrence’s performance as Katniss Everdeen was simply selfless and inspiring. Lawrence’s charisma bleeds (like many of her roles) into Katniss’ character, which is already strong on its own, resulting in a powerful interpretation of everyone’s favorite girl on fire. It’s also worth noting that Josh Hutcherson’s performance as warped, twisted, and tortured Peeta Mellark was exciting to see as fan, as well as Donald Sutherland’s execution of President Snow, easily making him one of those villains that you just love to hate.

The accuracy of the film in comparison to the book (because yes, as a fan, we are all heavily in tune with watching for its accuracy) was well done for a Hollywood adaptation. It’s always exciting as a fan to hear lines coming straight from the book into the film, which was done quite a few times. The strength of the film’s powerful descent from glitzy, jeweled interviews for The Hunger Games to dark meetings in District 13 about bombings and riots, is powerful storytelling at it’s finest. It represents straight from the books, the lack of innocence charred by the horrors of the Games.

Throughout the epic battles fought in the film leading to the ending of the large scale war, The Hunger Games easily stands its ground. Its tense vibe has you on the edge of your seat and each moment, awaiting the next swerve in the plot, or explosion. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, provides the flair of the first film with a heavy dosage of a tenacious and cold atmosphere to the film that has been sifting and falling into place since the first film began the story.

And not only as a fictional franchise does it win over the audience, but as a down to Earth, and fairly honest depiction of war, all things considered. This includes the representation of Katniss’ constant nightmares, and how she was molded by what happened in the Games. Many of the quotes and (spoiler alert) deaths, were symbolic and could easily be translated into real life situations in a heartbeat.

During the series, the Hunger Games’ overall plot and subplots containing prime examples of capitalism and corrupt power has transferred the same passion and grit into fans that the characters surrounding Katniss had, in many ways giving fans the tools to become more politically aware and more courageous to speak out about issues. A franchise that transpires even the tiniest of movements is one that is strong in my books.