[Review] The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015) – Our lives were never ours

cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson, Julianne Moore

directed by: Francis Lawrence

“Our lives were never ours, they belong to Snow and our deaths do too. But if you kill him, Katniss, all those deaths, they mean something”  – Peeta Mellark

The final chapter of the “The Hunger Games” trilogy – by the books – quadrilogy – by the movies – is now in cinemas. It might be the best performance given by Jennifer Lawrence as the smalltown girl from District 12 turned into the voice and image of the rebellion against the Capitol. The production spared no expanse to wrap up the tale and send a powerful farewell to the army of fans who stuck by every toil and success of Miss Everdeen.

“The Hunger Games” is an interesting subject to broach, movies and books alike. Suzanne Collins opened the young audience to a grim distopic world. Not quite “1984” but using catchy elements like teens caught in a cruel game devised by the wicked members of the Capitol. With names borrowed from the Greek and Roman history, powerful names of warriors, philosophers and politicians, Collins delivered a statement on how the tables can turn and how the masses can take a stand and fight for their lives. President Snow and Interim Coin are the same, one is accustomed to power, having fought to be where he is now, the other one plays the card of the supportive voice of the rebellion only to show her true colors. It’s a statement on the cold, hard facts of the world and politics. It’s not a world for the dreamers, for the pure of heart, for those who believe in fighting the good fight for those whose voices aren’t heard. It’s an arena where you live or you die by your own words rather than by your actions. These books are a statement of the world we live in. A world of rebels and of those who play the games.

This final installment it’s a perfect farewell given by Lawrence, probably more comfortable than ever in the garb and mental frame of Katniss Everdeen. She’s no longer tied to the machinations of those who use her but finds her own voice and accepts her faith. It’s also a perfect use of the ensemble cast who gather around the main heroine and deliver solid performances. Among them, Josh Hutcherson no longer lost and trying to find his pace around the Everdeen. Liam Hemsworth, finally breaks free from the damned love triangle every TV show, book and movie places upon the young audiences and works as a military figure. Jena Malone and Sam Claflin might seem to be given too little to do but again, movies like “The Hunger Games” travel the road of giving a meaty part for the main character and assemble a strong supportive cast around her.

Every story needs a good old fashioned villain and Donald Sutherland doesn’t disappoint. Coriolanus Snow is the embodiment of the cruel dictator until his last moments and like all – or almost all – despots, his demise is a mirror image of his regime. But “The Hunger Games” gave two foes for Katniss. The established figure of the Capitol, Snow, and Alma Coin – Julianne Moore – the rising dark shadow of the rebellion. Moore embraced the darkness and the perverted nature of the supposed figure of the new regime and played the part up to the grandiose finale.

Above all else, “The Hunger Games” is a movie who will be appreciated by the fans more than the regular movie goers. The fans who will pick apart every scene and enjoy every lines up until the closing scenes. It’s a perfect wrap for a franchises which didn’t start with an epic triumph but found its voice along the reign of Francis Lawrence. The soundtrack put together by James Newton Howard is epic and achieves its purpose of giving goosebumps on the key scenes.

Here it’s safe, here it’s warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.”

Edge and Back: 8/10

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