THE HUNGER GAMES:: MOCKINGJAY Part 2   3.0****

     The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt. 2 delivers an ending that satisfies, but does not truly blow you away. There are plenty of tense action sequences, but not as many as was expected. There are emotional scenes, but not quite as dramatic as anticipated.. It is very well-shot with excellent special effects, but not the special effects that blow away the competition of late.  

Katniss and the rebels begin the film trying to do everything they can to get all the Districts on their side against President Snow and the Capitol. Sounds a  lot like the Mockingjay Pt.1 and that's because it is. As Katniss and the other main rebel characters from the earlier movies go on their mission in route to the Capitol, it feels like a rehash of the first Mockingjay. That is one of my main issues with the film in that there was a huge  built up to an epic ending and satisfying closure, but we don’t get it There is an exception though in that the middle part to the film delivers some epic action and CPI scenes . Katniss’ team is forced to take their invasion underground to the sewer lines to get to Pres. Snow’s Mansion in the Capitol. The most intense segments/action of the film follows.. The sewer scenes are brilliantly shot and directed to create a claustrophobic feel and an intense “hold your breath” tension.  

The film's themes are the impossible choices faced by leaders during wartime, the corruption of personality for those who suffer captivity and torture, the vengeance and hatred of the oppressed, and opportunism and corruption among those who seek to manipulate crises for their own benefit. Overall,
Mockingjay: Part 2 does a solid job of revealing the darkness and cruelty of war without glorifying it.

From Julianne Moore and Donald Sutherland to the final screen performance from Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Hunger Games movies have always had great established actors. They all do great work as usual, but I don't think anyone quite realizes how much the filmmakers lucked up with the first film in locking down the main trio of Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth, before they all went through the star-fame stratosphere (in particular Oscar winner Lawrence). These three are just such good actors that it has always looked effortless for them, with Jennifer Lawrence once more affirming with this film that Katniss Everdeen was a once-in-a-lifetime role for her. The three stars all manage to round out the series with some of their finest work to date

 The ending is what you make of it, but I will say it follows the plot line of the book. Nonetheless, the problem with the film is that it never quite blows you away. The trailers and the advance hype promised such, but it doesn't happen and you feel let down. It’s one of those ”it that all it is” moments.

Clark