movie review: Mockingjay Part 2

   :SPOILERS ALERT:

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 76th Hunger Games"

    It's over. I say that as tears start filling my eyes. If you're someone I'm close to, you'd know that I am a heck of a die-hard Hunger Games fan. It all started in 2012, when they released the first Hunger Games movie in the series. Since the release, it has been a phenomenon in the blockbuster world. I, like many others have been very caught up with the series ever since. 

I'm not the only one upset about it being the end of Hunger Games.

   First off, the Hunger Games isn't like most young adult fictions out there. Rather than being a narrative about someone who is given a special power or a special mission, in other words, "the special one", Suzanne Collins has made it about an ordinary girl's determination to change how things work. It's the hope and determination that leads to these things on the bigger scale.

    Mockingjay Part II, the 4th and ugh also the last movie of the franchise was rather emotional. Since it came out 3 days ago, I've watched it twice and it still brought me to tears the second time. Besides the fact that this is the end, the conclusion finale of the story which is of course, heart-rending to know, there were many plots that were being twisted. Like in the beginning of the movie for example, the kind hearted, innocent, loving baker boy turned into aggressive, cold hearted Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) who attempted to kill the love of his life, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence). 

    The movie started right where it left off in part 1, where Katniss was slowly recovering physically and emotionally from the pain she got from brainwashed Peeta's attempt in murdering her. Yep, right off. Not a second missed. The story went on as Katniss continues to be the symbol of rebellion, or as what they would call, the mockingjay. The rebellion plan goes on smoothly, mostly as planned under District 13's leader, President Coin (Julianne Moore) who claims that she aims to seek for justice. President Coin portrays herself to be the opposite of President Snow, but... is she?!

    Unit 451(the superstar soldiers squad) included Katniss herself, Gale Hawthrone(Liam Hemsworth) and Finnick Odair(Sam Claflin), had to deal with many obstacles throughout their mission to assassinate President Snow. On the other hand, Peeta being brainwashed by the Capitol doesn't help much, it just adds up to the list of the obstacles the crew has to face.

    The movie was 136 minutes worth of politics, civil war, and of course the love triangle. "Welcome to the 76th annual Hunger Games" says Finnick Odair. There were no "actual Hunger Games" going on but the nation of Panem itself has turned into a huge Arena as people strive for their lives. Mutts, oil floods, booby traps were all waiting for them anywhere they go.

The girl on fire

    Josh, Jennifer, Liam, Woody Herrelson (playing Haymitch), Elizabeth Banks (playing Effie) all showed strong chemistry as this being their fourth movie together, playing the same characters. The cast can never be more perfect. It's like these people were born to play these characters.

    The passing of the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman (on February 2014) is a very devastating loss. His absence was felt deeply in this movie and it's clear that the writers had to find another solution to keep the scenes adapted from the book. However they did it, they've done a brilliant job!

    As good as it was, the movie isn't a stand alone movie. If you have not watched the previous movies yet, don't watch it. That's the truth, because you will get nothing out of it if you do.

    One way my family and I rate movies is by how much popcorn we eat throughout the movie. The more popcorn there is left the better the movie is. So we had a medium popcorn for the 3 of us and we barely ate a quarter of it. So as you all can assume, it was a great movie and I was astounded pretty much the whole time!

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