by Jen
I hate to admit it, but with all the hype over the new Star Wars movie that I almost forgot Mockingjay Part 2 was opening this weekend! Fortunately, Facebook reminded me, and I managed to score a ticket to a nearly sold-out showing tonight.
Last year's Part 1 left us hanging, and Part 2 picks up literally right where it left off - no huge opening sequence, just the story resumed where they last left us. And just like that, I was pulled back into the story of Katniss and her quest to kill President Snow.
Of the Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay was my least favorite book - the macabre examination of the dark side of human nature that begets the horrors of war, and the post-apocalyptic horrors that leave no possibility of happy endings, is not as intriguing to me as the earlier books in the series. This darkness translates well onto the screen - I may not have loved the story, but I couldn't take my eyes off it.
If you read the books, and enjoyed the last three movies at all, you should see this one. There are no big surprises for those familiar with the story arc, but the tale is still moving and there are a few jump scares and unexpected smiles along the way. The ending was as unnatural on the screen as it was on the page, but I appreciate Suzanne Collins' desire to wrap things up as neatly as possible.
Overall, I give it a thumbs up - definitely worth watching on the big screen!
Last year's Part 1 left us hanging, and Part 2 picks up literally right where it left off - no huge opening sequence, just the story resumed where they last left us. And just like that, I was pulled back into the story of Katniss and her quest to kill President Snow.
Of the Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay was my least favorite book - the macabre examination of the dark side of human nature that begets the horrors of war, and the post-apocalyptic horrors that leave no possibility of happy endings, is not as intriguing to me as the earlier books in the series. This darkness translates well onto the screen - I may not have loved the story, but I couldn't take my eyes off it.
If you read the books, and enjoyed the last three movies at all, you should see this one. There are no big surprises for those familiar with the story arc, but the tale is still moving and there are a few jump scares and unexpected smiles along the way. The ending was as unnatural on the screen as it was on the page, but I appreciate Suzanne Collins' desire to wrap things up as neatly as possible.
Overall, I give it a thumbs up - definitely worth watching on the big screen!
