"Tonight, turn your weapons to the Capitol! Turn your weapons to Snow!"

Year: 2015

Directed by: Francis Lawrence

Written by: Peter Craig & Danny Strong, Suzanne Collins (novel an adaptation)

17-year-old Katniss Everdeen continues her task as the face of the rebellion - as the Mockingjay. She has to unite the districts against the Capitol, while Peeta has been manipulated by the Capitol to think Katniss is a monster.

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It's weird to write about this film now. First of all I feel strange that now the whole story is finally done, and there won't be any more. Second of all I saw this film about 14 hours ago, and between then and now I've been sleeping and going to school and all that. I wish I had had the time to write about this immediately after seeing it, so it would be fresh in my memory. On the other hand, now I've had enough time to think about what I'm going to say, so I won't have to figure that out at the moment.

I love The Hunger Games trilogy mostly because it is so dark and brutal, and even if Katniss does what she has to do, she still suffers from everything that has happened. I mentioned this on the post I wrote about my The Hunger Games marathon. In a badly written version of the novels Katniss would behave like nothing ever bothered her, which would make her just seem violent and rash. When we know everything has gotten to her, we know what she is sensitive, we know that everything has actually touched her. 

The most horrifying thing is when you realise how young Katniss actually is. The original point of the novel series was how kids were forced to fight in the arena, and how a kid actually became the most important person to the resistance. Think about when you were 17, would you have been able to unite people against your oppressors? That's a really horrifying thought - and that was the point Collins was trying to make. Jennifer Lawrence is excellent as Katniss. She portrays her social clumsiness well, but also her emotional weaknesses and her bravery. She's a great actress, but there should've been someone else playing her, someone younger (and Native), because then it would look as terrifying at it was meant to.

Not all the events from the novel were included in the Mockingjay part 1 or 2. It's understandable especially when it comes to the part 2. For example, Katniss, Finnick, Johanna and Peeta being trained for the war? It would take too much time to show everything, considering how long the film already was. Sure, there's one emotionally heavy part I wish they had included towards the end, but I can see how hard it would've been to make that. I still wish we could've seen that. 

Some people are complaining about how they should've made the Mockingjay into a one film. I disagree. It is one film, but in two parts. And it works this way, because the second part starts so well - it starts exactly where it should start considering what happened in the end of Part 1. It works as two parts, and there was no need to wrap the story up any more. It was very dense already - things happen quickly but there is still time for important dialogue. And you never see critics complaining about Kill Bill being two movies instead of one. It definitely has to do with mainstream action film versus marginal "art" action film.

Here's a question I wish you would answer for me, even if you don't mind the two parts: If you'd make one film out of Mockingjay, what would you leave out? 

The 3D effects bothered me a bit. It sometimes makes it very hard to follow what was going on. I hope film makers stop using 3D that much (I doubt it) or they start using it better (I doubt that too). 

There's one thing that always manages to make people cry in The Hunger Games. It's the music, well, it's that one song. Rue's Farewell is so touching and beautiful that the audience is near the tears every time it plays. The film makers use this very well. The music in these films is almost unreal because of how beautiful it is.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 2 is dark and brutal, but it has hope, some amazing hope that after all that darkness makes everything better. It's an amazing finale for the best young adult science fiction stories I have read or seen.

I feel weird that it's all over now. Suzanne Collins has created amazing characters who were portrayed so well over the years - or left out, as the case may be. Thanks for the ride, it has been amazing.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

9 / 10

"I think it's our tradition. It comes out of a particularly painful part of our history..."

It feels like it wasn't too long ago when I went to see The Hunger Games for the first time. It's hard to think that in few days, I've seen the last part. It seems almost surreal.

I've loved The Hunger Game since I saw the movie. My love has not died but grown with each new book and movie.

This summer I had a marathon of all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The biggest difference between those and The Hunger Games? And I'm not comparing stories, directing, writing or anything like that. I'm just comparing the feeling you get from the movies. The Pirates of the Caribbean actually make you kind of happy. They are funny and end happily most of the time. The Hunger Games? It just keeps getting more and more horrible. The marathon is emotionally crucial. There's a lot of crying involved.

My favourite thing about The Hunger Games is Katniss. She's written so well. She's an interesting character. She's a native American (a-hem, casting, take note) who is definitely asexual and / or aromantic. AND she doesn't just do things. She actually suffers from the games, everything that has happened to her. It's realistic. It's amazing. She's strong and weak at the same time. It's amazing. Kudos, Suzanne Collins, you have truly created amazing character.

There is a clear difference between the directors. Gary Ross' style is different from Francis Lawrence. Both have done excellent job, though. Both show what was in the books. They both show what wasn't in the books, but probably did happen - everything between president Snow and Seneca Crane / Plutarch Heavensbee / all those people in Mockingjay. It's actually amazing to see more, when in the books you only know what Katniss is doing and thinking. Katniss' POV is amazing though. I'm not sure why, but I've always enjoyed reading the books and hearing what she's thinking. If you haven't read the books, you should. Katniss' thoughts give a lot depth to the story. And if you haven't seen the movies, you also should see them. Seeing things from other perspective is also important.

 I wish I knew what else to say. I think I would know better on Wednesday. I'll write more then, after I've been amazed. As you can see, my hopes and expectations are set high. I hope I won't be disappointed.

The Hunger Games

Year: 2012

Directed by: Gary Ross

Written by: Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins and Billy Ray

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

8 / 10

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Year: 2013

Directed by: Francis Lawrence

Written by: Simon Beaufoy & Michael deBruyn (screenplay), Suzanne Collins (novel)

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

8 / 10

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1

Year: 2014

Directed by: Francis Lawrence

Written by: Peter Craig and Danny Strong (screenplay), Suzanne Collins (novel & adaptation)

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

9 / 10

"Remember who the real enemy is."

Even after winning, The Hunger Games still haunt Katniss and Peeta. They have to go on a tour around the districts. Also President Snow gives Katniss a warning, that if Katniss' love for Peeta isn't convincing enough, he might just have to kill her family and friends. Also it's soon time for 75th The Hunger Games, and something really special is being planned for the quarter quell. 

When I first saw The Hunger Games and Mockingjay I fell in love with them at once. But Catching Fire actually took three times before I truly recognised how amazing it was. I can only guess why that is. I'd say it's because the director changed between The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, but Catching Fire and Mockingjay had the same director. So I'm going to have a wild guess that I wasn't used to Francis Lawrence in Catching Fire, but in Mockingjay I was already sort of used to his style. I have no idea. Also maybe Francis Lawrence's style was more "suitable" for Mockingjay than Catching Fire. I mean Catching Fire had so many similarities to The Hunger Games, because the Games still are there. Maybe the director could have more of his touch on Mockingjay, since they didn't have to follow Gary Ross' idea of the Games etc. I have no idea, but maybe this is so.

I wouldn't want to compare three books (or the movies) since Catching Fire and Mockingjay aren't sequels, but just the same story. But still I think I'm starting to like Catching Fire more than The Hunger Games. The rebellion is much stronger in this one than the first book / movie. I'm really starting to like the rebellion more than the arena stuff. Maybe it's because I'm growing more mature, and I now understand what The Hunger Games trilogy is truly about. 

They left out a lot of stuff from the book, and I understand why. You can't have every little detail there. But it almost bothers me how they kept all the kissing scenes. Katniss isn't in love with either Gale or Peeta. I mean I understand the kisses between Peeta and Katniss whenever there's a camera on them. But there were about three kisses between Katniss and Gale. I understand the first two. But the third one... I don't remember that from the book (which I'm currently reading, and though I'm not at that part yet I have a feeling that kiss is not in the book). Maybe it was there to make up for how they don't let the viewers know Katniss' thoughts. At one point Katniss thinks in the book: "Gale is mine. I am his. Everything else is unthinkable." But if I remember correctly that thought didn't really evolve much, it was only how Katniss thought her place was fighting for the rebellion side by side with Gale. That thought didn't make it to the movie. But a kiss doesn't really cover that. They made Katniss just look like she was is love with Gale. That's not how it is. And these kind of additions only make the media focus more on stupid questions like "Team Peeta or Team Gale?" This makes me sort of angry. Katniss is a fighter, she has no time for a love triangle, this is bullshit. 

Like I do understand that Gale loves Katniss and so does Peeta. I have nothing against that. But Katniss doesn't really love either one of them, not the way they would want to. Not the way the media likes to make it look.

But the best thing in Catching Fire is how they introduce more victors. I mean that is interesting. We know how the games and winning affected Katniss and Peeta, and maybe Haymitch. But now we have more faces to look at, though most stuff is told better in Mockingjay, especially for Finnick. If I have to choose a favourite character amongst the victor and not count Katniss, I'd go with Johanna Mason. Amazing character, and I'm looking forward to Mockingjay pt. 2, if we'll see more of her in that.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

8 / 10

"Are you fighting Katniss? Are you here to fight with us?" "I am. I will."

After blowing up the force field in the arena, Katniss Everdeen is rescued to the District 13, home of the rebellion against Capitol. In exchange for getting Peeta and the other victors back from the hands of Capitol, Katniss becomes the Mockingjay, symbol of rebellion.

First of all, I kinda thought that I would be disappointed with how the movie was divided to two parts. I mean I've always thought it was useless, since they never get all the important details there, so why bother trying to do everything so precisely if you seriously can't? That was pretty useless on Harry Potters, which were shit. I haven't seen Breaking Dawn, but I've read the book and I can understand why it was in two parts. I mean it's long and if it was all in the same, it would have to be so close-knit. But Mockingjay isn't that long. Lot of things happen, but it's still kinda slow book, so why does it need to do two parts? Anyway, it seems that the director Francis Lawrence is a pretty smart guy. I can't imagine a better way to end the part I of Mockingjay. The distress couldn't have been more perfect and agonising, if they had just gone on and done the whole thing. I mean Mockingjay isn't like The Hunger Games or Catching Fire. No, those have a lot of little things to "weed out". Mockingjay on the other hand doesn't have that much action, but it has a lot of important things. 

So, I'm very happy how the dividing turned out. Now what about Katniss?

I've read a lot of complaints about how Katniss doesn't really do anything in this movie and cries a lot, etcetera. I have a newsflash for those people who complain. Katniss Everdeen isn't an action hero. Katniss Everdeen is a 17-year-old girl suffering from PTSD. She had been forced to kill for her life and for others', she has seen people die around her, and she's lost her home district. So if we think about that, Katniss does an awful lot of things. For one thing, president Coin doesn't even want to get her in danger, because then they would lost their symbol. But Katniss does propaganda videos with the help of Cressida, Plutarch and Gale, to help unite the districts.

There isn't a lot of action in this movie, except for when they visit district eight, and seriously, that is the most action that has happened in the book in the first half. Of course that was extended a bit. The books are written completely on Katniss' point of view, so we don't see everything happening. So about two scenes with some sort of action were added, but Katniss weren't with them. And I actually like it this way. since Katniss wasn't chosen as a soldier but a symbol of rebellion. 

As a movie Mockingjay was very, very agonising. I'm pretty sure we heard someone cry during the ending. And Mockingjay doesn't have any of those really, really sad scenes, like Rue's death in the first one. It doesn't make you cry like that. But it is so fucking distressing, but that is the point. And I'm glad they didn't try to make it more "suitable" for the audience, that includes really young teenagers. It was agonising because it had to be. It was distressing from the start until the end. And it needed to be like that. Maybe this kind of agony makes the media forget the question "Team Peeta or Team Gale?" That question has nothing to do with The Hunger Games, and if anyone thought so, I hope at least the first part of Mockingjay makes people realise what truly matters. And what does truly matter? Katniss. Not who she loves, not who she chooses, but she as herself. She's the spark, she's the symbol, she is the story. 

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

9 / 10

Psst, my friend Elli also did her own review (in Finnish)