Movie Review- The Hunger Games: MockingJay Part 2

PLOT - This is the final installment in the film franchise adaptation of Suzanne Collins' young adult series, The Hunger Games. Picking up in the middle of the third book, MockingJay Part 2, finds heroine Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), siding with the resistance and recovering from a violent attack by Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), who during his captivity with President Snow (Donald Sutherland), was conditioned to hate and mistrust Katniss.

The leader of the resistance, Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) wants to use Katniss and the other former tributes, to rally all of the districts to topple Panem and oust President Snow. As Katniss fights for the resistance, she begins to discover that not everyone is trust-worthy and that President Snow, might not be her only adversary.

LIKE- I don't often read YA fiction, but as The Hunger Games was an enormous hit, I gave it a go. I really enjoyed both the book series and the film adaptations. Although I read the book first, it was so long ago, that I truly didn't remember anything about this fourth film. I have no idea if it stayed true to the book, because my memory wasn't even jogged while I was watching it. The plot was a completely surprise. I enjoyed the various "game" traps that were set up around the capital to thwart the rebels. Collins did a great job with world-building in her series and I loved seeing it come to life in the films. It's very imaginative.

This last film is bleak and heavy. It's graphically violent ( not for children younger than older teens) and deals with heavy subjects, like PTSD. I did like the first two films more for their inclusion of fun/lighter moments- the Effie Trinket and Caesar Flickerman bits, used to balance the horror. This final film is 100% heavy and couldn't have been otherwise. It's the natural conclusion to the story.

The casting of the franchise couldn't have been more perfect, tons of star power. Phillip Seymour Hoffman was one of my favorite actors and it is bittersweet to see him in his last role.

DISLIKE- Admittedly, it ran a little long, especially in the first third. It's always a little funny when they split a single book into two films. 

 I enjoyed it, but Dan didn't. He enjoyed his nap instead. Afterwards, he asked why we would go to a teen movie. True, we were a little older than the target audience and there were some teenage girls getting all excited over Peeta and Gale ( Liam Hemsworth). For the record, #teampeeta!

RECOMMEND- If you're a fan of the franchise, you've got to see MockingJay Part 2.  If you haven't seen the others, don't bother coming in at the end. This last installment took three films to build to the conclusion and you're missing too much info (character development) to enjoy this as an isolated experience.  

Movie Review- Life of Pi

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If there was one book that I couldn't imagine being turned into a movie, it had to be Yann Martel's Life of Pi. The discovery aspect of Martel's novel is so reliant on proper pacing and the play between the readers perceptions vs the reliability of the narrator, that it's not made for a film format. Even director, Ang Lee, couldn't believe it when the script came his way.

I was hesitant to see this movie, because I found the book to be so remarkable. However, the high critical praise, award nominations and James Cameron's pitch on the amazing use of 3-D, pulled me into the theater. Ang Lee is one of my favorite directors and also big draw for me.

Firstly, let me address the 3-D. I am sad to report that Life of Pi was not significantly improved by utilizing 3-D. It is a beautifully shot movie, but would be so, in a normal format. There is zero reason to pay the extra money to see this movie in 3-D. Zero.

I am so over this 3-D trend.

I can't think of another movie that does a better job with CG animals. The animals were rather incredible in this movie. When we came home, we had to double check to see if the animals were real or CG. It turns out that the Tiger was almost completely CG, except when it was in the water. The artists nailed it in this movie.

The only one bad CG moment, was when the tiger pulls the goat through the cage. There is no way possible that goat would have easily fit through the bars. I think this was more of a case of not thinking it through logically, but both Dan and I immediately mentioned it when exiting the theater. It's always a fail when a moment rips you out of the fantasy of the movie. 

It's rated PG, but this is definitely not a movie for young children or overly sensitive adults. Yes, it's nature, but it's often very graphic and brutal.

If you have not read the book, don't see the movie. it's apples and oranges. The movie was okay and I guess it captured the essence of the book. The actors are all just fine and there are many gorgeous scenes. There was nothing technically wrong, it just wasn't even remotely as impactful as the book.

Both the movie and the book are 2/3 a slow build to the turning point. The difference between the two, is in the book, the build leads to a "whoa, a-ha" moment and in the movie, it's more of a "oh, huh". The movie format and pacing completely undercuts the climax. The story has huge themes that get a bit muddled in the film. 

Bottom line- Read the book, it's fantastic. If you've read the book, wait for the DVD and watch with lowered expectations.