Three-Word Summary: Let’s rescue Peeta

Rating: 2/5

This is the beginning of the end of the blockbuster-movie-series based on the latest teen-dystopian-romance book trilogy.

Despite the popularity of the first two Hunger Games books, most people (myself included) disliked the concluding third book Mockingjay.

In my opinion, this is because it removed the most unique and well-developed aspect of the previous installments: namely, the eponymous Hunger Games.

With the Games, the series is focused and powerful. Without them, the storyline dissolves into uncertainty and chaos.

Without a major plot engine, the final installment is primarily driven by the characters hiding underground and trying to film propaganda films in an effort to rescue the captured Peeta. Action has to be artificially manufactured as some unbelieveable war between the Capitol and mysterious District 13.

The final chapter relies too much on characters who are not teens fighting too the death in an arena, which was the original appeal of the series. These characters are flat and utilitarian. Not to mention protagonist Katniss, who has finally lost her nerve upon finding herself far out of her element.

She is no longer balanced out by the likeable Peeta, but instead is driven insufferably annoying by repeatedly insisting upon his rescue. Yet, somehow a group of militant adults believe that their entire rebellion hinges upon her unhinged persona.

The limited visual effects and action sequences of Mockingjay were well done. The plot followed the same steps as the first half of the book. And the fine acting of the late Philip Seymour-Hoffman was almost enough to overcome a bland Julianne Moore.

But the fact remains that this supposed thriller was just the set up to a boring conclusion to a decent young-adult serial. Not much happens in the film because not much happened in the first-half of the book.

I knew all of this this going into the film, so I wasn’t greatly disappointed by the outcome; just in the people who were greedy enough to split this into two movies and only further drag out this dog-and-pony show beyond its reasonable end in the name of making money.