The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2

Dir: Francis Lawrence

2015

**

After watching the final part of the The Hunger Games it is abundantly clear that there was no reason to split Mockingjay into two parts. Harry Potter started it, maybe due to the length of Deathly Hallows it was granted, Twilight followed suit unnecessarily and The Hunger Games should have learnt from their mistake. The cash in paid off or course, people wanted to see the conclusion but interestingly The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 had the smallest cinema takings of all the four Hunger Games films. Much like with the Twilight series, The Hunger Games suffered from having way too much filler and not enough action. I'm not knocking the drama or the idea and I'm not saying it should have been explosion after explosion but many of the scenes between the action sequences were very long and very boring. A punchy script would have helped but I'm afraid there wasn't even a hint of one in either of the four films. I've said my piece regarding the story's theme and my dislike for 'Young adult' literature in my reviews of the previous films and while I thought the conclusion was quite powerful, it wasn't given the treatment it really deserved so a twist that should have had quite the impact turned out to be a huge anti-climax. I've not read the books (and nor am I interested in doing so) but I almost felt like I had, it was that predictable. I think there could be something inherently clever about the story but what little interest I had was diminished by a painfully slow pace, a whispering script and a shockingly familiarity to other, much better films. I sure it wasn't easy trying to piece together a film after the sad and unexpected death of one of the main characters, the brilliant and sorely missed Philip Seymour Hoffman. Some of these scenes really don't fit, hard to avoid but still, I think they could have done better and it is sad that such a great actor has a lazy, cash-hungry mega-franchise installment as their swansong.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
Dir: Francis Lawrence
2014
**
I really didn't care for the first two Hunger Games films and although I thought that part three (the first half of the Mockingjay adaptation) was a lot more interesting in story, it is by far the most dull chapter so far. The first two films were a copy of literature classics like Lord of the Flies and 1984 and cult films such as The Running Man and Battle Royale but they had a certain colourful flare about them. The message is quite positive with socialist idealism and revolutionary thinking, all rather lost in what is a capitalistic money making franchise but then that is taking it all a little too seriously - although many have. Mockingjay changes the formula of the story somewhat and picks propaganda as its main theme. I can picture a young Suzanne Collins now, half listening and half daydreaming in her history class (which followed her English literature class) and only half hearing how Russian propaganda helped overthrow a leadership and how the Nazis used it to take over Europe. I don't blame her really, I'm actually jealous I didn't think of it before but only for the money. I'd be embarrassed to be celebrated for what is a cheap and shallow imitation of some of the best examples of creative writing and important historical events - both of which I believe kids should be reading about instead of watching/reading the Hunger Games. I digress, as interesting as the theme here may be, the film itself is far too simplistic and never really captures what I believe it sets out to project. The direction is also a bit too simplistic and the production as a whole is positively dull.

The Hunger Games:Catching Fire
Dir: Francis Lawrence
2013
***
I'm afraid I still don't get what all the fuss is about. A plethora of great actors but with no really good performance. I liked the political side of the story but I preferred it when it was originally conceived in George Orwell's 1984. It makes me worried that kids are reading Suzanne Collins's books over Orwell's, when they are poor imitations. I'm not knocking The Hunger Games but compared to Orwell they are inferior in every way and that is the truth kids. This sequel is a long winded copy of the first film which in turn was a copy of Battle Royale. Catching Fire is a much better film than Battle Royale II and is far more interesting than the first Hunger Games film but it does not deserve the praise it has received. It's watchable, even enjoyable to a certain extent but I very much doubt I will watch it ever again and really can't see it as a future classic.

The Hunger Games
Dir: Gary Ross
2012
***
I have not read the book. 65 million people can't be wrong though can they? Well yes, they can, when all 65 million of them are either 12 year olds or adults who really should be reading adult books. Okay, without wanting to sound like a grumpy old man (which I find hard not to do) this film is based on a book that is in that new category that I loath more than anything; 'Young Adult'. Basically, copy a story from a 'Real Adult' book, swap the adults for kids, make it in to a series and there you have it, a success, because kids will buy into anything these days. I was reading Charles Dickens when I was a 'Young Adult' and loving every minute of it. I digress. I didn't hate The Hunger Games, I just prefer the films it has blatantly ripped off, The Running Man and Battle Royale to name but a few. Unlike in the films it does rip off, the reasons the children are sacrificed the way they are is pretty far fetched and thin on the ground, another sign that this is the biggest theft in the entertainment business today. The film itself is okay, I like Jennifer Lawrence and even though I love Battle Royale, at least the hunger games doesn't have all the silly high-school romances and over acting love sick school boys, but I again digress, it's an okay film but it does leave me wondering, Is this really what all the fuss is about?