The war for Panem has escalated – the Districts against each other and the Capitol against them all. President Snow (Donald Sutherland) continues to try to sway the hearts and minds of Panem on TV, barricaded in the Capitol.
Sometimes his broadcasts are interrupted by President Coin (Julianne Moore), the leader of the united rebel force, urging citizens not to believe Snow’s lies and to follow the Mockingjay, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), to freedom from his tyranny.
Unknown to both presidents, Katniss and a small group of rebels break off from the main force in order to infiltrate the Capitol, hoping to bring an end to the war.
We say, “It’s the best of the series.”
TAYLOR: It took three years and four movies but The Hunger Games slowly won us over and finally concluded. I went to vernonmorningstar.com to reread our previous three reviews. At first we were sort of appalled at the idea of gladiator children and how we got to such a sad society in the first place.
The lack of backstory continues through to the end, but we don’t care anymore about where we came from, we just want to kill that tyrant Snow.
HOWE: Has it really been that long? I agree, when I watched the first one I was appalled with the concept of child against teenager fighting to the death for the entertainment of others. As the story progressed through the chapters, towards the more political aspect of the story, it became much more interesting. I found Mockingjay Part 2 the best of all of them. Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, who plays Peeta, seemed to grow into their roles as the movies progressed, their acting improving along the way. There were moments here where I thought, “This kid can actually act!”
TAYLOR: Nothing has really changed in the story; kids are still dying for their belief that party A is more correct than party B, or vice versa. The difference now is Katniss has gone rogue. She’s not only leading people, she’s now making policy. It’s a little more political, but Katniss is a little more grown up. She’s also tired and wants to be done with it. Thus, Mockingjay 2 is less fighting and more intellectual, as well as emotional.
Now it’s time to end this thing and reflect upon it. It concludes appropriately. I don’t think we needed four movies to tell this story, but the series is the hallmark of teenage post-apocalyptic contests.
HOWE: That’s the thing with blockbusters nowadays. We didn’t need two separate movies for this ending. I would prefer they made one movie three hours long rather than two movies totalling five hours, but it’s another cash grab for film mongrels. I wonder if they will do that with the Divergent or Maze Runner series?
TAYLOR: Let’s hope not.
– Taylor gives Mockingjay Part 2 five homemade arrows out of five.
– Howe gives it four white roses out of five.
Brian Taylor and Peter Howe review the latest movies for The Morning Star every Friday and Sunday.
