[GIVEAWAY] The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 review

The trilogy which has held audiences in its thrall since the first movie was released in 2012 has finally put paid to all the anticipation for its final instalment. Open in theatres last Thursday (Nov 18), you might have already caught it and were amazed by how many fans in the audience whistled the Mockingjay’s four-note cry at regular intervals. For no good reason.

If you were keeping your eyes peeled for a scene where Jennifer Lawrence, aka Katniss Everdeen aka The Mockingjay, wears the red armour and carries a sheath of red arrows, you would be disappointed. Unfortunately that costume seems to only be for the promo materials. But no worries. You’ll get to feast your eyes on red Katniss if you win one of the posters we are giving away together with the release of this post. More on that later.

The last time we left Katniss and Peeta, Peeta had been hijacked by the Capitol. His tormentors had injected him with tracker jacker venom and altered his memory of Katniss, resulting in him brutally attacking her. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 starts with a scene where Katniss has just regained the use of her vocal chords after recovering from the attack. The rest of the story is about how Everdeen defies Alma Coin’s orders and embarks on her personal mission to assassinate President Snow even as the war on the Capitol ensues.

If you’ve breathlessly read all three books by Suzanne Collins, well, my friend, you already know the ending. It’s not any different in the movie, except that everything happens way faster on the silver screen. (Thank goodness for that.)

What started as a tale about power, heroism and sacrifice in the first Hunger Games instalment later disappointingly evolved to a Sweet Valley High type love story which, I’m glad to say the movie valiantly tried to avoid. Unfortunately, there’s only so much that the movie’s screen play can do to deviate from the main story arch.

The main story arch is difficult to remedy because much of the action happens when Katniss is knocked out a lot. I’m thinking that this started from about the time she got struck by a bolt of lightning at the end of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The story progresses while she lies unconscious in hospital, but she and the reader play catch up only when she comes to. As a result, much of the story development involves the love triangle between her, Gale (Liam Hemsworth) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson).

Well, does this mean that The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 is not worth watching? No – Jennifer Lawrence continues to put up an irreproachable performance as Katniss Everdeen. She is not only the saving grace of the entire Hunger Games franchise but the key to why the series has been so popular. I never get sick of watching her. Her nuanced acting carries much-needed gravitas to Everdeen’s character.

How do I love Lawrence as Everdeen, let me count the ways:

• barefaced with wonky eyebrows
• full-on makeup with smoky eyes and pink cheeks, which is so in tune with her as the new face of Dior cosmetics
• natural makeup with Kim Kardashian-esque contouring
• dark hair pulled back in a low ponytail, with a few tendrils framing her lovely oval face

If not for Jennifer Lawrence’s enduring screen presence, the Peeta/Katniss/Gale love triangle would have been so much more painful to sit through.

All things considered, I would say that the movie adaptation of The Hunger Games trilogy trumps the books because of Jennifer Lawrence. So, unless you’re super keen on getting every detail blow by blow, ditch the book and catch the movie today.

Giveaway time!

We have four sets of The Hunger Games movie goodies, courtesy of Cathay-Keris, to give away to our dear readers. Each set contains:

• 1 A4-sized plastic folder
• 1 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 movie poster
• 1 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 pin
• 1 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire pin
• 1 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 dog tag keyrings

For details on how you can win these yummy collectibles, check back on Alvinology’s Facebook page for details. For a start, you should follow Alvinology on Facebook and Instagram.