Haiku Revieu | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay–Part 2

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2
★★★★1/2

No, please, not Finnick
The Capitol is done for
Real or not real? Real

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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.

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WARNING: Possible spoilers ahead.

I have opened the draft of this post multiple times since seeing this movie nearly a month ago, and closed it each time, either unsatisfied with what I'm writing, or not quite in the mood to write about the film. It's not that I didn't like it—I actually really did—I just feel like I posted much of what I'd write here in my review of Mockingjay–Part 1. Much of my opinion of aspects of that movie remain true with this second part, namely:

• "The third book in the Hunger Games series is a divisive one—seems like most people I know either hate it or love it. I fall in the latter camp."
• "The cast in this series continues to be awesome—yes, even wooden Liam as Gale—and 'newcomers' Natalie Dormer as Cressida (that hair!), Julianne Moore as President Coin, Mahershala Ali as Boggs, and Elden Hensen and Wes Chatham as Pollux and Caster, respectively, make excellent additions to the group."

In that review, I also said, "There wasn't a whole lot of action in this film, but, if you've read the books, you know what's coming in the next one." This turned out to be very accurate, as Mockingjay–Part 2 is action from the very start to nearly the very end. Where the first part  was build up to war with a few skirmishes portrayed, the second is all-out war, and the rebels have taken it to the heart of Panem, The Capitol. Of course, The Capitol's not willing to just roll over and die, and conscripts their Hunger Games gamemakers to add a little spice (and a lot of brutality) to the rebel's attempts to move through the city.

The movie isn't an easy one to watch. People—friends, even—die in pretty gruesome ways. (I cried, a lot.) Katniss is a mess. Peeta is a mess. Even with the fantastical aspects, this is a war film. Semi-related: The conversation between Katniss and President Snow was especially chilling, and so well done.

Mockingjay–Part 2 continues the trend of these films being impressive and faithful adaptations of the books; I'm definitely going to miss this franchise, now that all is said and done. Would I have made different choices with some casting and with some scenes? Sure. But overall, this is one of my favorite series ever.

Check it out: