The final moments are upon us in Panem as the war has broken out with Katniss Everdeen a reluctant leader in bringing together an army to bring down President Snow. Whilst also fighting her own demons and wondering if everything she has done is worth all of the death.
Part 1 of Mockingjay left us hanging on as while it was slow-moving as a whole the ending was more interesting when Peeta was rescued from the Capitol. We pick back up just after the moment he had attacked Katniss and see as she struggles to talk properly after it. There’s no messing about it getting close to the war and having to unite the remaining districts and make the people realize that they can make a difference to the way they all live.
I think the best thing about The Hunger Games is Jennifer Lawrence’s incredible performances as Katniss, we like her we are with her. She is a very strong character and has a lot of depth and layers. We get to see more of this in this film as she really is struggling to contend with how many innocent people are being killed. Still haunted by her Hunger Games experience and thinking that all death is personal. This shows that she is different to Gale and the others who are behind the slaughter directed at the Capitol.
She also has to deal with Peeta not being himself. Still struggling to battle whatever the Capitol did to him and hating Katniss, some kind of mind games were happening with him as he keeps lashing out trying to hurt her. But another good thing comes from those moments as they begin to talk and he is starting to separate his actual life and events that were real to the fake ones that he can for some reason remember. I thought this was a good way to bring them closer together again as they are still protecting one another. It really is a strong relationship. Is it wrong to think I liked Gale a lot better to begin with?
I can’t really mention a massive amount surrounding Snow and Alma Coin, but they are two very power-hungry people wanting to be able to control people. I have to admit that I didn’t see a couple of things coming. It did feel that we were entering another Hunger Games as we followed the elite and famous team into the Capitol which had plenty of traps, so the game-makers were still extremely busy. Obviously with everything still being shown live on TV and in special broadcasts. Oh and watch out for the cat-woman, totally creeped me out that part!
It does have a lot of death and did feel quite similar to the final Harry Potter film at times, which is never a fun thing but I guess that just helps to show how truly brutal war is no matter what the situation or person. It could happen to anyone and that is certainly the case in this film. It does have some good moments, but I felt the way the war ended was pretty anti-climax after the huge build up. I guess it was just a little bit annoying, hopefully if you have seen the film you will know what I mean!
Gale had a much bigger role again in this film and I thought it was a good thing to help show what the Hunger Games and the Capitol did to someone living in the worst district. He is a perfect example of someone who has responded to his treatment and wants to do something about, not only for himself but for his family and fellow people. It wasn’t a surprise that he managed to push Katniss further away with the difference in opinion on war!
Overall it was a decent film and fitting ending to probably the best franchise we have had in this sense. I actually wanted to see The Hunger Games films and enjoyed them. The same cannot be said for Insurgent, The Maze Runner et al. This franchise might have started something, but it has also finished something as well. One day I might read the rest of the books (read the first one) and see what gaps they fill in for this thought-provoking story.
May the odds be forever in your favour.
