Actors: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julian Moore, Donald Sutherland

Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Teen

Certificate: 12A

As the conflict across all of Panem escalates to the ultimate annihilation of all the other districts by the order of President Snow (Donald Sutherland). The stakes have been raised at an alarming pace and speed, Katniss and her friends are no longer fighting for their individual survival but the fate of the citizens of panem is dangling by a tread. They are leading a rebellion orchestrated by President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore), of District 13 to liberate the citizens of Panem and give them the lives they have only dared to dream about. Will the girl on fire be able to keep her fire burning bright or will it diminish to a slow simmer and be extinguished by a tragic defeat?

Francis Lawrence the director has once again made the seemingly impossible look flawless, by transferring the ideas Suzanne Collins had once penned on paper. Then bringing it to the masses through the medium of the silver screen. Some of the scenes in the movie however felt quite rushed for example the wedding of Finnick Odair (Sam Caflin) and Annie Cresta’s was over before it even began. Missing the opportunity to show the side to Finnick that has been teased in the previous film, the all loving character that puts the needs of others before his own with a sprinkle of witty humour for good measure.

The relationship that Joanna built between with Katniss in the novel’s (Jennifer Lawrence) seemed to be glossed over in a short conversation. This was a pinnacle moment in the novel because Katniss began to see Johanna in a different light she was no longer the straight talking difficult individual that she met as a result of the hunger games. Johanna became a voice of reason and help Katniss gain some much needed clarity, perspective and became the bearer of everything she need to hear but didn’t dare acknowledge.

The movie was accurate to the original text with very few changes or last minute editions to the well-polished story line. At the end of the movie you are left wanting a little bit more, as if you have been deliberately withheld information. Which is a direct parallel to the conclusion of the epilogue in the final book.

Mockingjay, Part 2 relies heavily on the performance of Jennifer Lawrence who plays the hesitant rebel protagonist twisting and turning through the moral decisions that come with being responsible for a war. Jennifer Lawrence’s performance shows the different layers to Katniss Everdeen vulnerable shell of a personality, due to her stint in the hunger games. Laced through this Lawrence effectively shows the impact of a war on a young person and the political struggles that go along a war. The rest of the cast provide more of a supporting role but one with a high class of acting that should be praised in bring to life the much loved novel of teens across the globe.

One actor whose performance stood out for me was Josh Hutcherson portrayal of Peeta Melllark (Josh Hutcherson) who was kidnapped and was left under the merciless control of the capital and had his memories hijacked. The way he delivered his lines was so cold and distant showing the brutality that he was exposed to and all glimmers of his former self no longer to be found. You could see that beyond his blank expression and his emotionless eyes exists someone who may never be the individual who was attentive and had a way with words.

This movie tested the boundaries on what should be classified as a 12A movie in the thrilling scenes of the mutts being unleashed in the sewers as Katniss the rest of her unit scramble to safety. The movie gave the characters some much needed closure, concluding a movie that has made it stars a house hold name. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 2 opens in cinemas across the country on the November. Catch this movie at your local cinema, for details on times visit your local movies website.