THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2
US, 2015, 137 minutes, Colour.
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutchison, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Willow Shields, Sam Claflin, Elizabeth Banks, Mahershalaher Ali, Jena Malone, Jeffrey Wright, Natalie Dormer, Elden Henson, Wes Chatham, Sarita Chowdhury, Patina Miller, Michelle Forbes, Rob Knepper.
Directed by Francis Lawrence.
Three years ago, audiences who had not read the series of books, The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, were introduced to strong heroin, Katniss Everdene. She lived in an oppressed sector of the dictatorship and became the tribute to the annual futuristic fight-to-the-death games, akin to the gladiatorial combats of ancient Rome, with an effete society, decked out in outlandish costumes, watching or following the breathless television commentary. The president was a tyrant, President Snow.
Then, two years ago, most of us were in the know, watching the developments of Katniss and her friend and survivor, Peeta, and the manipulations of the President and his entourage.
It was last year that we were taken into the rebellion, introduced to a new potential president, President Coin, and the mobilisation of forces to topple President Snow.
And here we are, now, witnessing the uprising, the manipulation of Peeta, the plans of President Coin, the commando raid into the capital and the final confrontations.
Jennifer Lawrence quickly established herself in the imagination of filmgoers as Katniss Everdene and then won an Oscar for Best Actress in The Silver Linings Playbook (2012). We cannot imagine anyone else as this strong character and strong leader.
And most of the cast have continued throughout the film including Josh Hutchison as Peeta, Liam Hemsworth as Gail, Donald Sutherland as President Snow, Woody Harrelson as the adviser, Haymitch, and Elizabeth Banks as the fashion adviser, Effie Trinket. Julianne Moore had been introduced as President Coin as had Philip Seymour Hoffman has adviser, Plutarch. They both continue their roles with Philip Seymour Hoffman having filmed a number of scenes before his untimely death.
So, what is there to say about this final chapter of the saga? The characters continue, although there are complications with the mind-influencing of Peeta, the greater prominence of Gail and his relationship with Katniss and his involvement in the revolt, ambiguities about the role of President Coin, the buildup to the confrontation with President Snow, a long and special effects filled commando sequence as the rebels enter the capital, go through sewers and underground and seem to lose.
The battle sequences are strongly filmed and a certain amount of savagery in the resolution of hostilities – but, not quite what we anticipated, the series comes to an end in an atmosphere of peace and domestic hope.
1. The popularity of the books? And the four films? This finale?
2. The dystopian future? The fascist state? Elites? The poor in subservience? The idea of the games, the celebration of victory? The move towards revolution? Final peace and hope?
3. The parallel with ancient Rome, supremacy, elites, cruelty and the games? The inevitable fall of the arrogant ruler? Revolution and peace?
4. The settings, District 2, District 13, the city itself as the capital, the outskirts, the centre, the buildings? The sets? The musical score?
5. Costumes and decor, for the rebels and the military, for the scientists and the military hardware, the President and the rich, the elite, the raiders?
6. The title, the focus on Katniss, her becoming the symbol, Mockingjay?
7. Dissenter background, District 12, her role in the games, success and survival, with Peeta? President Snow and his using her? The move towards rebellion, going into action, the role of the media, filming action, relaying it on television screens? Her suffering? The relationship with President Coin? With Plutarch? The decision to be a leader, to execute the President, her being used by Coin? But a symbol, in the commando raid, the ultimate execution?
8. Katniss as a person, her age, giving herself to the games instead of Primrose, love for Gale, the past, sharing the experiences with Peeta? Her family? Her skill as an archer? Her relationships? Her friends, her enemies? Snow as an antagonist? The importance of the friendship with Haymitch, with Effie, her costumes and fussing? Plutarch and his support of her? His plan? The raid, the final talk with President Snow, to be executed? President Coin and her final speech, Katniss firing the arrow? The shared experiences with Peeta, his being brainwashed, his action against her, the final kiss, reconciliation, Gale and his siding with Coin, the final domestic scenes with Peeta and the children?
9. Peeta, his past, the baker, attraction to Katniss, participating in the games, surviving, being an ally for Katniss? His being taken, taken over, the effect, his stances against against Katniss, in the hospital, the visit Prim, Katniss and her visit and his outburst? His being cuffed? Recuperating, with the group, his memories? Checking what was real or unreal? Joining the commando raid, experiencing the dangers? His final presence at the council meeting, the vote for new games? His voting no? Love for Katness, with the children and his delight?
10. Gale, in the past, hunting with Katniss, protecting the family, becoming a warrior, love for her, his going into action? With President Coin? On the raid, experiencing the dangers? Not visiting Katniss in hospital, his observing her kiss with Peeta? His becoming an ally of President Coin?
11. President Snow, his rule, his lifestyle and luxury, the council and his cruelty, the Roundtable, killing the General? His appearances on television? His assistant? The nature of the broadcasts, confident in victory, the surprise of Katniss surviving? His decisions about the people, the suburbs, coming into the city, the final confrontation with Katniss, standing at the execution post, the crowds coming and savaging him?
12. President Coin, the rebels, her speeches, military, strategies, with Plutarch, the encounters with Katniss, her using her, her TV speeches, the political aims, winning, heading the council, the discussion about new games and executions, her winning the vote? Her coming to make the speech – and Katniss shooting her?
13. Plutarch, with President Snow, organiser of the Games, his succeeding, being with President Coin, his continued advice, watching? The final success of his plan?
14. Johanna Mason, her role, appearance, rivalry with Katniss, sneering – but, at the celebration, helping her?
15. Finnick Odair, his role as a warrior, the marriage, his wife, the celebration? His participation in the raid, his death? His wife in the aftermath?
16. Boggs, his leadership, loyalty to Katniss? Lieutenant Jackson, joining the rebellion, with Boggs, Boggs and his death, his passing the leadership and the instruments to Katniss? Jackson and her finally agreeing, her death?
17. Commander Paylor, her role with the rebels, her speeches? Vanquishing at the end? Her being voted the new leader?
18. The brothers, helping, one mute, the idea of going underground, the leadership, survival in the sewers, in the railway station, death?
19. Tigress, the story, her appearance, her help?
20. Caesar Flickerman, his role on television, his speech in celebrating the downfall of Katniss?
21. Haymitch and Effie, their roles in the past, continuing to help, Haymitch and his observing, his advice, the final vote against the new Games? Effie, fussing, costumes, make up, the farewell?
22. The commando raid, the preparations, the detail, getting in, the outskirts, the maps, the range of pods and explosions, the tar flood, devastating? The fights, the deaths? Trapped, watching the television broadcasts? Going underground, with Tigress and her help? The eruption of the floor of the underground? Katniss and Gale going in disguise, the people thronging into the city, the children? The parachute, the bombs and destruction? The malice of Snow? Katniss, the explosion, burnt, the being saved, Primrose’s death, her mother looking after her?
23. The finale – not a bombastic and triumphal ending but rather domestic and quiet?
