‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2’ movie review
By Aaron Guillen, Staff Reporter
After seeing the Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, I was speechless. Speechless from the fact that a movie franchise I had watched for four years was finally over, and also because of an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction.
The Hunger Games centres around a young heroine, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), and the battle for the freedom of Panem against President Snow (Donald Sutherland), set in the Capitol as the battlefield. Against all odds, Katniss has won the 64th Hunger Games, escaped the Quarter Quell, and managed to stay alive thus far among the allies lead by President Coin (Julianne Moore).
Along the way, she has faced multiple setbacks, including having to deal with her mother after the loss of her father, helplessly watching fellow competitors die in the Hunger Games, and attempting to fix Peeta’s (Josh Hutcherson) mental state once the Capitol has brainwashed him.
By the time the storyline has reached Mockingjay, one movie simply cannot cut it. If you had the opportunity to watch Mockingjay Part 1, you would’ve noticed that the final scenes brim with intense emotion just as the plot thickens and the screen goes black.
Throughout the movie, I felt a rollercoaster of emotions unlike any other. From the moment Katniss’ face appeared in the opening scene, all of the memories in the back of my head rushed to the forefront. Nothing else mattered as I saw her heartache and pain, as well as her self-confidence, build as she travelled among the districts to encourage unity.
About one-third of the way in, the real action begins. The war is at hand. For the next hour and a half, I watched in awe as the Star Squad made its way through trials and errors on the journey to President Snow’s mansion at the heart of the Capitol. Heavy decisions stacked upon multiple outcomes elevates the Panem world to a realistic level. Will Peeta ever be sane? Who will Katniss choose as her true love? Is President Snow truly an evil leader?
Every character you watch go through these difficult choices speaks volumes to our generation today. Amidst turmoil and treacherous times, Mockingjay Part 2 questions society’s morals and who we are loyal to, especially concerning the government.
With a solid cast this movie franchise comes full circle and closes with a bittersweet end that is sure to make you tear up.
