The Hunger Games: Mocking jay -
Part 2:
As the war of Panem escalates to the destruction of
other districts by the Capitol, Katniss Everdeen, the reluctant leader of the
rebellion, must bring together an army against President Snow, while all she
holds dear hangs in the balance.
Director: Francis Lawrence
Writers: Peter Craig
(screenplay), Danny Strong (screenplay).
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence,
Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
Storyline:
As the war of Panem escalates to the destruction of
other districts by the Capitol, Katniss Everdeen, the reluctant leader of the
rebellion, must bring together an army against President Snow, while all she
holds dear hangs in the balance.
Movie Reviews:
A Gut Punch Of A Film:A Grim Depiction Of A
Revolution And A Civil War - This Is NOT Your Usual Blockbuster
Well, I might have some bad news for all the people
who mainly liked the first two Hunger Games films for the gladiatorial action
and disliked 'Mockingjay: Part 1' for the lack of it: if you didn't appreciate
the politically charged human drama and grim tone of the last film, you will
probably not like this one either. While the bleak, gut-wrenching conclusion to
the Hunger Games saga does bring the action back (although of a far grittier
and more realistic kind than what we saw in the first two films), its tone and
themes are a perfect continuation of 'Mockingjay: Part 1'.
I've never read the books, but I guess I'm in the
minority among the non-book-readers, because I really liked the third film. I
liked it precisely for its non-action-based narrative and very credible
portrayal of a fascist system with all its horrific oppression and propaganda
tools. I had hoped the final instalment in the series would continue to explore
the human drama the way 'Mockingjay: Part 1' did - but I was actually not
prepared how far Part 2 would exceed my expectations: the emotional impact this
film has tops what came before in every conceivable way. 'Mockingjay: Part 2'
is a gut punch of a film and a near masterpiece, and it may very well be the
least "popcorny" popcorn film and least likely blockbuster ever to
receive that label.
This is supposed to be a spoiler-free review, so I
won't go into any story details, but the most astounding thing - especially
compared to the first two films - is how layered 'Mockingjay: Part 2' is. This
is not the simple good-against-evil story anymore: this is a really smart study
on how propaganda works and how one fascist system is about to be replaced -
albeit with the best intentions - by another. A very wise person once said:
"War makes Fascists of us all" - I believe 'Mocking Jay: Part 2' does
an excellent job at getting that point across. Apart from the delightfully evil
President Snow, there are no mere black and white characters here; instead, we
get a story that really has something to say and a sincere and complex
exploration of an escalating civil war that threatens to consume everyone.
Unlike most YA adaptations, the film doesn't shy away for a second from showing
what that means: the audience is left in no doubt about the human toll this
revolution will take in the end.
Maybe the current situation in Syria made this film
resonate more with me than it should have, but I was surprised at how
un-Hollywood-like and really, really well this was done. As I said before, I've
never read the books, but if Mockingjay: Parts I&II come closer to
capturing their essence than the first two adaptations, they're definitely
deserving of the success they got. With its well-drawn characters (portrayed by
an outstanding ensemble of actors), credible dialog and a story that takes its
time, this felt like so much more than just your usual popcorn movie. And I
can't stress this enough: Jennifer Lawrence MAKES this film; the whole
franchise, really. The emotional intensity she brings to Katniss feels so real;
it's the kind of performance that, in this kind of film, sadly often gets
overlooked, but I sincerely doubt a better Katniss could ever have been found
and I hope Lawrence wins her second Oscar for this.
So my final verdict on the film: 'Mockingjay: Part
2' is great, smart entertainment that doesn't have to rely on special effects
and one mindless action scene after another. It's a fitting ending to Katniss'
journey and a satisfying conclusion to the saga, but it's also a heartbreaking,
emotionally exhausting experience that will stay with you long after viewing
(even the champagne-fuelled premiere crowd in Berlin was eerily quiet for a
short while when the credits started rolling). 9 stars out of 10.
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