**Note this review contains spoilers, you have been warned**

Being a big fan of the Hunger Games Trilogy, It was obvious that I had to see the last movie on the opening night since I didn’t get that chance with the other 3 movies. After seeing the first movie in 2012, I read the books and became tangled in the story line. And that is when my inner geek kicked in.

The series starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth, is a huge hit for teens and young adults today… Does the final movie live up to expectation?

The new Mockingjay had its ups and downs as, every movie has it’s flaws. Over all personally I would like to say that the movie was not terrible from the viewpoint of one of the readers of the series. The cast put together a captivating and intense movie for the epic conclusion of the series. The movie followed the story line from the book fairly well as far as that goes, however don’t get your hopes up too high because there is always a few things that the book lovers out there dread.

Having read the book I knew what was coming when it came to character deaths. That did not stop the flow of tears streaming down my face as I witnessed characters close to my heart be brutally killed. When Boggs’ death came by it filled the theater with gloom, however that was only the beginning of the heartache that the movie granted the audience. Primrose passed away as well after a horrible event involving the Capitol’s children, Prim was left blown to pieces.

This movie is very touching, in both satisfying and horrendous ways. Throughout the whole movie the audience watches as Katniss Everdeen: The Girl On Fire, struggles to find her lover, along with her peace and happiness. Finnick Odair, a previous victor of The Hunger Games, that was introduced in the second movie, Catching Fire, found his sanctuary in the middle of the movie with the love of his life, Annie who was also a previous victor of the games. They got married in District 13. However, wherever there is peace, there must be tragedy in this film. My heart was torn out of my chest when I recognized the death scene of out beloved Finnick. He was torn apart by creatures that the game-makers released, trying to kill Katniss and her squad. Just a short time earlier in the movie, Katniss addresses Finnick on how short his honeymoon was. Finnick answered by telling her that he would have a better honeymoon after they won the war against the Capitol. Obviously, he was not able to fulfill his desires.

There is also Peeta’s hijacking that touches the heart of Katniss. Peeta’s memories of Katniss were “hijacked” so that he saw her in a negative way, as seen at the end of Mockingjay Part 1. Throughout the movie we see Peeta struggling as he tries to differentiate reality from the hijacked memories that were tampered with in his head.

One disappointment that even the people who didn’t read the books can relate to is that, though shown on the movie posters, Katniss never actually wears her crimson Mockinjay armor, instead she wears an identical outfit, but in black instead. I have to admit, I was looking forward to this getup as Katniss was walking down the path to assassinate the President. But only to have my excitement crushed when the end credits came up and the audience didn’t get to see our beautiful red Mockingjay.

The movie followed the book well, for today’s standards on that subject. The movie did great paying attention to details, all the way down to the pearl that Peeta gives Katniss in the Quarter Quell. The movie also did a great job on not over-doing the acts of Katniss’s squadron. Going into the movie, I was worried about this. I was worried that the movie producers would add too much razzle-dazzle, as Hollywood often does, to the stealthy intentions of the squad. They did not disappoint.

Another worry that occurred to me was that through all the action in the second half of the Mockingjay book, they would forget to add the meaningful scenes full of dialogue to get a further understanding of the characters. They did not cease to have any of these scenes, but on the contrary, there could’ve been more.

Perhaps the saddest of the series, Mockingjay Part 2 wasn’t the best movie of the four in my opinion, there needed to be more plot to it than what was offered, mainly the movie was solely solid action. Catching Fire will still always be the best of the books, and movies in my judgement. However, it is worth seeing still despite it’s flaws, especially to those who want to see the ending results of the rebellion. Mockingjay Part 2 is definitely an action-packed ending to the popular series that started off with one girl volunteering as tribute.

Some memorable quotes:

“Our lives were never ours.”- Peeta

“Mockingjay, may your aim be as true as your heart is pure.” -President Coin

“We keep each other alive. That’s what we do”-Katniss

“All I know is that I would’ve saved myself a lot of suffering if I’d just given that bread to the pig.” -Peeta

“It’s a war Katniss. Sometimes killing isn’t personal.”-Gayle