The explosive end to “The Hunger Games” brought the series to a heartbreaking yet satisfying end in theaters the weekend of November 20. This fourth and last installment completed the adaptation to Suzanne Collins’ world famous trilogy, which explores the reality of the effects of war on young adults in a dystopian environment. This is concept all too common in the movie theatres today, but “The Hunger Games” brings something new to the table: humanity and realism in terrible circumstances.
Jennifer Lawrence stars as Katniss Everdeen, the unwilling Mockingjay and face of the rebellion of her nation of Panem at only eighteen years old: a journey she began in the first movie when, at sixteen years old she volunteered to participate in The Hunger Games, effectively saving her twelve-year-old sister’s life but surely sending herself to her death. She evaded death once, but in doing so put a target on her back that rejuvenated her dying nation to rebel against their oppressors.
The thrilling conclusion was intermixed with intense war scenes and very human moments shared between the characters in which they discuss the horrors of the rebellion and the effect it has upon an individual, their community, and their broken nation. A nation divided must unify and become stronger in order to heal and attempt to begin anew. The powerfully vivid war scenes are a masterful combination of fantasy nightmare and harsh reality as the soldiers invade the Capitol, which is rigged with hundreds of death traps in the streets made to humiliate the rebels even after death. The effects of the brutality of war on young adults is clearly shown by Katniss as she struggles to keep her composure throughout the movie.
The grim future that lays before the citizens of a destroyed Panem is dire, and still audiences find the courage and recklessness of Katniss to be inspiring and revolutionary. The concept of Mockingjay unique compared to other war movies in the fact that a dire situation becomes considerably worse as the tragedy and cruelty of war seems endless even at the end of the movie. There is only a faint feeling of hope that success will be achieved, and even then it is questionable if that outcome is truly desirable. A war is won, but at what cost? The profound emotional effect on The Hunger Games’ audiences makes viewers question the consequences violence and war has upon young adults who are caught in the middle of a revolution.
The true icon of the story is Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. The subtleties of Katniss’s mental state are so well received by audiences that Katniss’s struggle is palpable through the screen. The moments in between harrowing fight sequences are filled with tear-inducing moments shared between Katniss and those closest to her.
Other stars that have played their roles throughout the whole series include Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark, Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne, Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy, Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket, Julianne Moore as President Alma Coin, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee, Donald Sutherland as President Coriolanus Snow, Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair, and Jena Malone as Johanna Mason.
With a plot twist with so shocking at the end, “The Hunger Games” Mockingjay – Part 2” is a movie that will surely enthrall audiences as they are kept on the edge of their seats holding their breath for the fighting to be over. Be sure to catch this one before it leaves the theaters!