Film review: The Hunger Games – Mockingjay Part Two (12A)

Against all of the odds, The Hunger Games films have been consistently awesome action spectacles over the past few years.

In the crowded young adult (YA) genre that contains quite a few stinkers (Twilight, I’m looking at you), the quadrilogy based on the Suzanne Collins books have always impressed.

With the always-impressive Jennifer Lawrence an inspired choice as lead Katniss Everdeen and a very talented supporting cast, it’s a series that you should check out if you haven’t already.

But with Mockingjay part two being the end of the road for the story, does the collection get the finale it deserves? Well, yes and no.

I’ll not waste any time going over the back story, but it’s safe to say that you’ll need to have seen the first three films to have any idea what is going on.

There’s certainly no recap or hand-holding here, with director Francis Lawrence picking things up right where they left off in part one.

And, with this being the end game, the story is pretty straightforward – Katniss has decided that it’s time to take the Capitol herself by cutting off the head of the snake. That’s right, she’s out for President Snow’s (Donald Sutherland) blood.

That’s not what President (in waiting) Coin’s (Julianne Moore) really wants, though, and she’s keen to keep her chief propaganda tool wrapped up in cotton wool.

Naturally, Katniss does what Katniss always does and defies those in power, instead heading to the front line with an elite team.

That includes Finnick (Sam Claflin), Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Pollux (Elden Henson), Castor (Wes Chatham), Boggs (Mahershala Ali), Cressida (Natalie Dormer), Jackson (Michelle Forbes) and the Leeg sisters (Kim and Misty Ormiston) –but the catch is that Snow has essentially turned the city into a traditional Hunger Games arena.

As with the first two films, the innovative traps and death scenes are once again the real highlights here.

There’s even an extra layer of horror added to the equation, with a tension-filled underground section – including some creepy zombie-like creatures – a real highlight.

Snow may be a weak old man, but getting to him was never going to be easy.

And, while she’s on the mission of all missions, Katniss also has the (slightly tiresome) love triangle with Gale and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) to deal with too.

The main storyline plays out pretty well, with a few genuinely shocking moments. I was largely satisfied with that element of the series’ finale – even if one of the biggest moments is largely telegraphed.

Not quite so enjoyable is the ultimate ending, which feels horribly out of sync with the tone displayed throughout every other moment that preceded it.

Obviously they had to stay true to the books, but you sense director Lawrence would have gone a different way with it.

As ever, Jennifer Lawrence carried a lot on her shoulders in this final slice of Hunger Games action – and boy does she deliver again.

So much so that the rest of the cast do get sidelined somewhat. That includes the late, great, Philip Seymour Hoffman in his last-ever film.

You sense he’d have been in many more scenes had he not passed away – and Mockingjay part two would have been better for it.

Effie (Elizabeth Banks), Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) and Caesar (Stanley Tucci) also fall into that category, with the trio not overly prominent. I do understand why, though. This was Katniss’ story and her arc is largely enjoyable.

The Hunger Games has always been a dark series and this is a fitting finale to a great set of films. But I can’t help but think it misses a few tricks along the way.

Voice Verdict: 8/10 (reviewed at Boston’s West End Cinema)
+ Lawrence is impressive as ever
+ Great action
+ Added horror
– Telegraphed twist
– Ending is bad

SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, Nov 27 to Thurs, Dec 3)

FILMS SHOWING

**THE GOOD DINOSAUR 3D (PG)
12.20pm (Sat/Sun), 2.45pm (Fri/Sat/Sun)

**THE GOOD DINOSAUR 2D (PG)
10am (Sat/Sun), 5.30pm (daily)

**BRIDGE OF SPIES (12A)
2.20pm (Fri/Wed), 5.20pm (not Thurs), 8.20pm (daily)

**BLACK MASS (15)
2.40pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed) 5.40pm (daily), 8.40pm (daily)

**BROOKLYN (12A)
12.40pm (Wed), 3pm (Wed)

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2 3D (12A)
2pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed)

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2 2D (12A)
11am (Sat/Sun), 5.15pm (daily), 8.30pm (daily)

THE LADY IN THE VAN (12A)
1pm (Sun/Wed), 3.30pm (daily), 6pm (not Tues/Thurs), 8.30pm (not Thurs)

SPECTRE (12A)
2pm (Sat/Sun), 8pm (daily)

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 2D (U)
10.10am (Sat/Sun), 12.30pm (Sat/Sun)

KIDS’ CLUB
10.15am (Sat/Sun) – Polar Express 3D (U)

SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – Brooklyn (12A)

**free list suspended

EVENT CINEMA

GOYA: VISIONS OF FLESH AND BLOOD (12A)
Dec 1 (6.30pm)

ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA: MIKADO (12A AL)
Dec 3 7.30pm