The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, mini movie review

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

All good things must come to an end, right? And after a year we finally have The Hunger Game: Mockingjay Part 2.  This movie acts as a second part.  There's no set up.  No review.  Part 1 ended with Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) choking Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) after he was rescued from the Capital.  Part 2 starts with her getting her neck brace off to check for bruising and vocal damage.  That's all the lead up you get.  Rebellion is building throughout the districts, district 2, the soldiers of Panem, has yet to join the districts in support, and war is about to overtake the Capitol.  The center of Panem is about to become the new Hunger Games.

Mockingjay is based on the controversial book by Suzanne Collins.   Controversial because many fans didn't like it.  I almost didn't read Hunger Games at all because a friend told me not to bother with the series, as she didn't like the last book.  After several months of pondering I finally downloaded Hunger Games to my Kindle, and ironically Mockingjay turned out to be my favorite book.  It breaks from the formulaic structure of the first two novels, where the three act structure was 1. Deal with emotions in District 12, 2. venture to the Capitol for training, and 3. Survive the Hunger Games.

In Mockingjay Katniss finds herself in the secret, recently unknown District 13, and for a book that's actually slow in pace, this single book was split into 2 movies.  Honestly, there could have been one movie with a tighter plot.  Here we get a movie that's somewhat lackluster in parts.  The reasons why I love the book got lost in the movie's narrative and year long intermission.

Where in the first movie (stupid handheld jiggles aside, rendering Hunger Games unwatchable), it was nice seeing the story without hearing Katniss's thoughts and ponders.  In this new movie I started to miss her analysis and inner snark.  The final scene between Katniss and Gale (Liam Hemsworth), doesn't have the same "oomph" as the book.  The fact that I had to explain final points and character motivations to my Dad, who hasn't read the book, is proof story material got lost in translation.  The fact that this single book had to parts, and didn't fully explain or mention a couple points isn't good.  And also, some favorite moments from the book didn't even make the movie!!  Peeta's wedding cake for Finnick's wedding didn't make it!  All of Peeta's character development during his time in 13 didn't make the movie.  There's a few scenes, but it's not the same.

This movie is not a standalone.  And in all honesty, if you haven't watched any of the previous movies this movie would be a waste of time, it's that dependent on Part 1.  As a conclusion it works.  Is it a great sendoff to such a popular series?  I'm not sure. The final narrative in the book's epilogue was more impactful then the film.

I'm glad it's over.

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and for some thematic material.

Catching Fire: Movie Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

It's not often when a movie, in many ways, is actually better then the book.  The movie is Catching Fire, the followup to the wildly successful Hunger Games, based on the books by Suzanne Collins.

This movie starts off soon after the end of The Hunger Games, with Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, dealing with the emotional trauma of The Truman like death Show, where she was pitted against 23 other teenagers in a fight to stay alive, trying to become the lone victor.  Due to her cunning wits she manages to not only survive but save fellow competitor Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) in the process.  This act, threatening to eat poisoned barriers, was not seen so much as an act of love, but as an act of rebellion, and this rebellion is spreading like wild fire through the 12 districts.  A fire sparked by the girl known as the Girl on Fire.  She is, without wanting, the rebellions leader.  Her life is once again in danger as President Snow (Donald Sutherland) keeps a manipulative, controlling eye on her.

We see the districts, the struggle, the lavish Capitol, a more challenging Hunger Games.

Everything in the first movie is improved upon in the second.  What was wrong in the first has been righted, and director Francis Lawrence is to thank for that.

The annoying, shaky hand held camera used in the first movie has been replaced.  That was my biggest complaint in Hunger Games.  The shakiness, though I understand the symbolism Gary Ross was going for, had so much movement the movie became unwatchable.

Thanks to a smoother camera I was able to enjoy the performance of the actors.  Jennifer Lawrence is absolutely breathtaking and gripping as Katniss, completely in tune with her character.  You feel the horror right along with her as she opens the door and lets you in.  She shines.

Another fault I had with the first movie that was repaired in the second was the portrayal of the Capitol.  In the books the Capitol is over-the-top crazy, died skin and wigs, fashion and indulgence all the rage.  They tried to pull that off in The Hunger Games, mainly reflecting that through the character Effie (Elizabeth Banks), but in Catching Fire we see it with the extras as well, though Effie Trinket is still the Queen.

Catching Fire is smart and sophisticated.  Comparing the movies to Twilight is an insult.  The love triangles are not about a listless girl with her vampire and werewolf.  Katniss has substance.  She stands for and is something.  And the love triangle she finds herself in is intelligent and interesting, not selfesh.  She's a girl on the verge of changing the world, and love was never meant to be easy or simplistic.

I've seen this movie twice now, each time I was enthralled through the whole 146 minutes.  You don't feel the time pass.  No scene fills like an add in or throw away.  Everything is calculated and perfectly timed.  What's changed from the book adds to the story instead of takes away.  And the added scenes between Snow and the new game maker Plutarch (Philip Seymour Hoffman) are fascinating, adding even more tension to the film.

And there's a lot of tension in this movie.  I cried both times.   

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some frightening images, thematic elements, a suggestive situation and language.

The Hunger Games Movie Review

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (It would be a 4.5 if it wasn't for the excessive handheld camera work in the first act.)

Yesterday I saw the Hunger Games on a spectacular IMAX screen.  You can find my review of the Hunger Games book series here, this review will focus mainly on the movie itself.

The basic premise of the books and movie is that this story takes place in a shattered future.  The United States is now Panem, and there are no States, only districts.  Each year 12 districts, there was a 13th district that was bombed, must offer a boy and a girl as tribute, and all 24 children, ranging in age between 12-18, must fight to the death, leaving a single victor.  The is done to oppress the districts, discourage revolution, and remind them that the revolution they attempted 75 years in their past was a total failure.  The Capitol has absolute power.  We follow Katniss, from district 12, and Peeta, another District 12 tribute, as they navigate the horrendous circumstances they've been trapped in, and their battle in the Hunger Games.   

I was not disappointed, and the film was worth the hype.  Were there scenes in the book left out? Sure, but this has got to be one of the best book to film adaptations I've seen.  At first I was worried that a book written in first person perspective wouldn't translate well, but it was nice seeing throughout the movie what the Hunger Game makers were up to, and added scenes between President Snow and Seneca Crane, the Hunger Games head game-maker.  Plus having Caesar Flickerman, through his broadcasts, explain aspects of the Hunger Games was affective.

Having read the book was a benefit, because there was information that was referenced, and not highlighted.  My Mom, who had never read the book, kept leaning over and asking me questions, but she would have enjoyed it even without my added insight into the book.  Actually, she was getting really into it, making even the silliest of comments to me, which she never does.   

The violent scenes were tasteful, as tasteful as a story about kids killing kids could be.  The violence wasn't glorified, but the important moments in the book weren't left out.  There was a shaky camera technique used to add intensity, but also helped blur the violence.  The "shaky camera technique," which I'm sure has a proper technical name, was used throughout during moments of anxiety.  Usually I hate when movies do this, but during the game sequences I appreciated it.  (Though this technique was also used in the beginning of the movie, and I found that more distracting then beneficial emotionally).

I had mixed feelings of this movie as March 23rd neared.  A part of me was quite excited, looking foreward to a movie that appeared well made and well casted, which it was.

But there was a part of me who kept thinking of the Capitalist.  No, not Capitalist, those who are pro-business, but those who live in the government center of Panem, which in this stories future is geographically located in Denver Colorado.  After each Hunger Games, the arenas are preserved, like a museum, where those from the Capitol could go and reenact past games, reliving favorite moments.  

There was a moment in the film where Haymitch, who is Katniss and Peeta's menter, watches in disgust a family in the capitol; The parents give their son a sword, and laugh when he chases their daughter with it.

Before the movie came out, at the midnight showings, many theaters were holding Hunger Game parties, where they reenacted the Hunger Games, and the person who won, won a prize for all those in their "district."  I understand that it's all for fun, I went to a Harry Potter pre-midnight release party after all, but I found the idea of it strange and eerie.

Overall I do give the movie a huge thumbs up and worth the ticket price.  

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Sarah