The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2 [Blu-ray] [2015]

This is a very solid movie, if you have seen the other three (3) Hunger Games Movies, this is a MUST Watch to to learn how they complete the movie series. Is worth a buy if you have the other movies. (Per JRZ) ------------------------------------------------------------- Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 did a surprisingly great job staying true to Mockningjay, the novel. Even details I was sure were wrong were actually right. The key plot points to get right in this film were Katniss and her final decisions and the book’s prologue. Both were executed extremely well, and I was honestly impressed with the wrap up. (Per readbreatherelax.com)

I like this movie because it's very awesome. Hunger Games is my favorite movie ever and Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, WOW, what can anybody ask for because she is my favorite actress. She plays in other movies but this movie happens to be my favorite movie that she ever did. I would see this movie a thousand times because it's that good.

Great movie lots of action this is the kind of movie I will watch again. The whole series is very good and well written. I will watch all four again some time soon.

A very good movie to collect, it has very good action and is very funny. I really recommend it.

Excellent. I love these films. One of the best ever

Ultimately, The Hunger Games films as well as the books are about sacrifice and that this final installment of the film franchise encapsulates this theme to its fullest while still maintaining a clear narrative drive that is moved along by several exhilarating action sequences allows it to be nothing short of wholly fulfilling. In all honesty, as a reader of the books, I don't know that one could have asked for a better interpretation of the novels. Even in retrospect, the splitting of Mockingjay into two parts now seems a genuine decision rather than a financial one as it allowed more time to fully grasp the multiple changes and conflicts our protagonist, Katniss Everdeen (the ever-steady Jennifer Lawrence), would experience while also allowing plenty of space to develop the idea that both sides of a war use the same kind of propaganda to strike fear into their followers hearts. This development as well as the fact both parts of the Mockingjay films were not shackled by the narrative constraints of the actual games make for a much more involving and complex set of moral decisions and real world repercussions that don't typically apply to young adult literary stories. Whether it be through the casting of the terrific Donald Sutherland as President Snow who makes the overriding threat seem all the more vile as he eloquently executes his intentions of power over the classes of Panem through his politics or the unexpectedly layered Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) that brings about not only an epiphany in Katniss concerning the vicious circle that human beings naturally put themselves in when systems inevitably become corrupted, but also in realizing the necessary differences in the two men in her life that will finally bring about a peaceful decision. As much as The Hunger Games series is about sacrifice it is also about holding true to ideals no matter the sacrifice it takes to keep such principles relevant. Some may counter Katniss with the argument that there is no need to fight for ideals if there will be no one left to carry them on and if that is to be the result it seems Katniss thinks we might not deserve to exist at all. It's a bold statement, one that the films could have easily smoothed over with a toothless and sentimental final act, but instead they embraced the complexities and let them play out in an honest sense only making it all the more interesting to watch come to an end.

Theatrical review. Possible spoilers. Francis Lawrence returns to direct the final chapter of the post-apocalyptical thriller. Along with “Part 1” the film expands on what was originally Suzanne Collins final novel in her series. Let me get a few digs out of the way first. As I noted in the “Part 1,” there really was no reason to create 2 films other than it being a money grab for the studios. “Part 1” was a weak entry, buoyed only by Jennifer Lawrence’s strong performance as our heroine, Katniss Everdeen. Lawrence is every bit as good here as she struggles with family devotion, a constant love triangle and her role as the voice of the revolution against the central Panem government. As far as the love triangle is concerned, I have a hard time understanding how she still has strong feelings for Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) who has tried to kill her. Yes I get the fact that he was brainwashed and that she believes he will eventually come out of it. But still, he’s still trying to sabotage the revolution! What I did like was we get back on the action track, missing from “Part 1” for the most part. District 13, now the rebellion’s core under the leadership of President Coin (Julianne Moore) is unifying the challenge to Panem’s President Snow (Donald Sutherland) by way of a military attack. Aside from the frontal assault, Katniss and a small band of fighters will go in more quietly and be there to film the ultimate victory. Her partners include the third side of the romantic triangle, Gale (Liam Hemsworth), a handcuffed Peeta, Finnick (Sam Claflin), military protector Boggs (Mahershala Ali), documentarian Cressida (Natalie Dormer) and others. “Game of Thrones” fans will recognize Dormer and keep an eye out for a cameo from GOT icon, Gwendoline Christie as well. While Katniss is just along for the ride early on, events change where she must take over and disclose her ulterior motivation, which is to kill Snow. There are some innovative scenes of battle as her squad penetrate the capitol’s defenses. One in particular, kept my grip tight on my arm rest. The conclusion seems somewhat controversial. In the interest of not revealing too much, I’ll just say that if you have read the book, you may get it. If not, you may be scratching your head. Bottom line is that while the film is far from perfect, it is a satisfactory conclusion to one of the better sagas of its kind.

I will start off by saying that I did not read the books. So I don't know if anything was changed for the movies. But this being the fourth and final installment in the series I thought it was a good ending to a good story. I really liked the first movie, felt the second was kind of disjointed and felt a bit confused after the third. So I was really hoping that this would answer some of the questions and explain some of the plot lines. And it does. Was it everything I was hoping? Yes, pretty much but I won't rank it up there with the Marvel movies or Star Wars saga. It would have been nice to know some of the story about how the games started. It would have been nice to learn a bit more about the characters prior to the first film. Heck, maybe even get a better grasp on what the underlying issues were between the districts and the capital. None of that was really answered. Truth be told, it might not have made as good a film to watch. Sometimes too much backstory ruins the story. Especially if you are having to make it up after you've done three other films. I am glad that I bought and watched all of the series. No regrets putting up money to own them. I'm sure I will watch them again in the future for pure enjoyment. I doubt I'll ever read the books now that I've watched the DVDs. Maybe that's where some of the things get fleshed out more.